Fig. 4

miR-18b-3p is downregulated and LEP is upregulated in placenta tissues of PE rats. a Expression of miR-18b-3p and LEP mRNA in placenta tissues was detected using RT-qPCR. b Protein band of LEP in placenta tissues. c Western blot assay was conducted to detect LEP protein expression in placenta tissues. d Expression of miR-18b-3p and LEP mRNA in placenta tissues after exosome treatment was detected using RT-qPCR. e Protein band of LEP in placenta tissues after exosome treatment. f Western blot assay was performed to detect LEP protein expression after exosome treatment. g The binding sites of miR-18b-3p and LEP predicated by an online software. h The target relationship between miR-18b-3p and LEP verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. i targeting relationship between miR-18b-3p and LEP verified by RNA pull-down assay. n = 10, *p < 0.05 versus the normal group. ^p < 0.05 versus the miR-NC group. ^@p < 0.05 versus the miR-18b-3p antagomir group. ^&p < 0.05 versus the si-NC group. ^#p < 0.05 versus the PE group. ^$p < 0.05 versus the PE + Exos-antagomir NC group. Measurement data were depicted as mean ± standard deviation, and comparisons among multiple groups were assessed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test