Fig. 6: CircDhx32 regulates the inflammatory response via the AdipoR1-AMPK-NF-κB signaling pathway in cardiac I/R model mice and H/R-induced cardiomyocytes.

a, b The mRNA and protein levels of AdipoR1 in I/R model mice were measured by qRT‒PCR and Western blotting. n = 5‒8. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 vs. Sham+shNC-V; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 vs. I/R+shNC-V. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test was performed to evaluate significant differences. c‒f Western blot analysis was performed to test p-AMPK/AMPK and p-p65/p65 protein expression in I/R-treated mouse hearts. n = 6. ^**P < 0.01 vs. Sham+shNC-V; ^##P < 0.01 vs. I/R+shNC-V. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test was performed to evaluate significant differences. g IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression levels in I/R-treated mice. n = 5‒9. **P < 0.01 vs. Sham+shNC-V; ^##P < 0.01 vs. I/R+shNC-V. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test was performed to evaluate significant differences. h, i AdipoR1 mRNA and protein expression in H/R-treated cardiomyocytes after transfection with si-circDhx32. n = 6‒7. **P < 0.01 vs. si-NC; ^##P < 0.01 vs. H/R+si-NC. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test was performed to evaluate significant differences. j‒m Western blot analysis was used to determine p-AMPK/AMPK and p-p65/p65 protein expression in cardiomyocytes after H/R injury upon circDhx32 silencing. n = 6. ^**P < 0.01 vs. si-NC; ^##P < 0.01 vs. H/R+si-NC. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test was performed to evaluate significant differences. n The mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in cardiomyocytes were measured by qRT‒PCR. n = 5‒8. ^**P < 0.01 vs. NC; ^##P < 0.01 vs. H/R+si-NC. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test was performed to evaluate significant differences.