Fig. 7

Tumor-derived SPP1 induces LX2 differentiation towards CAF in a co-implantation xenograft model. (A): Control 97 h or SPP1-KD1 97 h cells and LX2 cells were co-implanted (1:2 ratio) subcutaneously into 6-week-old male BALB/c nude mice (n=5) to construct the Ctrl 97 h and LX2 Co-implantation xenograft (CLX) model and SPP1-KD1 97 h and LX2 co-implanted xenograft (SLX) models. (B): Representative images of tissue samples obtained 3 weeks after the construction of the co-implanted xenograft models are shown. C-D: Statistical analyses of tumor weight (C) and tumor volume (D) between the two groups of samples were conducted (n=5). (E-F): RT-PCR (E) and WB (F) analyses were performed to detect the differences in mRNA and protein expression of CAF markers between CLX and SLX models (n=5). (G): HE and Picrosirius red staining were used to identify variations in collagen deposition between CLX and SLX models; Immunohistochemical α-SMA and KI67 staining were carried out to determine differences in the expression of CAF markers and the proliferative capacity of the tumor cells between CLX and SLX models, respectively (n=5). *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ns: p>0.05