Fig. 5

HSCs Activated by CRC-derived exosome miR-188-3p facilitate CRC progression. (a) LX-2 cells were first transfected with miR-188-3p mimic or the respective control. Then, CM from these transfected LX-2 cells were added to HCT116 cell cultures, and transwell assays were used to examine the effect of exogenous miR-188-3p on the migration of CRC cells. (b) SW480/LoVo cells were pre-transfected with miR-188-3p or anti-miR-188-3p, respectively and exosomes were isolated and LX-2 cells were co-cultured with these exosomes. Then the CM of these LX-2 cells was added to HCT116 cells, respectively. The effect of α-HSCs on the migration of CRC cells was determined using transwell assays in vitro. (c) Representative in vivo imaging system (IVIS) results of mice educated with PBS or SW480, LoVo cells pre-transfected with miR-188-3p or anti-miR-188-3p, respectively. (d) Immunofluorescence was used to detect the activation of LX-2 trained under different conditions in the liver of nude mice. e, f. Representative images of live imaging (e) and HE staining (f) of the liver metastases in nude mice. g. Quantification of metastatic colonies in the livers of nude mice across various groups based on live imaging and HE staining. (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001)