Fig. 3

CAFs secreted exosomal miR-92a-3p promoted metastasis and chemotherapy resistance of CRC. a Effects of NFs-exos, CAFs-exos, CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p, CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p + miR-92a-3p mimics treatment on cell migration and invasion of SW480, SW620 and LOVO cells. b Gross and microscopy observations of primary colon tumors and liver metastases in mice injected with SW620^NFs-exos, SW620^CAFs-exos, SW620^CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p n = 8). The number of metastatic nodules in individual mice was counted under the microscope. The liver sections were stained with H&E. (C&D) Effects of NFs-exos, CAFs-exos, CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p, CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p + miR-92a-3p mimics treatment on abilities of cell survival c, colony formation and apoptosis d of SW480, SW620 and LOVO cells. e SW480 cells were injected into the flank of mice to establish xenografts. 5-FU/L-OHP (5 mg/kg) or same volume of PBS every 3 days were injected subsequently. When tumors formed, NFs-exos, CAFs-exos, and CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p were injected into the vicinity of the subcutaneous tumors every 3 days. Tumor volume was calculated using the formula V = length × width²/2. f Effect of PBS, 5-FU/L-OHP, NFs-exos/5-FU/L-OHP, CAFs-exos/5-FU/L-OHP, and CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p + 5-FU/L-OHP treatment on SW480 cells derived tumor apoptosis assessed by TUNEL assay. Red arrows pointed out the apoptotic cells in indicated group of tumors. g-k Effect of NFs-exos, CAFs-exos, CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p and CAFs-exos/antimiR-92a-3p + miR-92a-3p mimics treatment on sphere formation ability g, percentage of CD133⁺CD44⁺ cells h, CD133, CD44, OCT4 i & j and EMT markers expression k in SW480, SW620 and LOVO cells using sphere formation, flow cytometry, real-time PCR and western blot assays. GAPDH was used as internal control