Fig. 4

Exosomal lnc-MLETA1 promotes lung cancer metastasis in vivo. A The right lungs of NOD-SCID mice were orthotopically xenografted with lnc-MLETA1-knockdown (n = 9) or control CL1-5 cells (n = 7), and the metastases in the left lungs were observed. B Representative bioluminescent images and C quantification of bioluminescent imaging signal intensities each week for 4 weeks. D Representative bioluminescent images (left) and quantification of bioluminescent imaging signal intensities (right) of the left lung of mice were evaluated by the IVIS system ex vivo. E Representative images (left) and the number of metastatic tumors (right) in the left lungs of mice were counted. Deep blue arrow heads indicate primary tumors. Red arrow heads indicate lung metastatic tumors. F Representative microscopic images of H&E staining (left) and the diameter of the largest metastatic tumor (right) in the left lungs of mice were counted. Red arrow heads indicate lung metastatic tumors. Scale bar, 100 μm. G NOD-SCID mice were subcutaneously xenografted with CL1-0 cells and injected intratumorally with exosomes derived from lnc-MLETA1-overexpressing or control CL1-0 cells twice a week (n = 3 mice per group). H Representative bioluminescent images (left) and quantification of bioluminescent imaging signal intensities (right) of the lung of mice were evaluated by the IVIS system ex vivo. I Representative images (left) and the number of metastatic tumors (right) in the lungs of mice were counted. Red arrow heads indicate lung metastatic tumors. J Representative microscopic images of H&E staining (left) and the diameter of the largest metastatic tumor (right) in the lungs of mice were counted. Red arrow heads indicate lung metastatic tumors. Scale bar, 100 μm. Results are presented as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Two-tailed Student’s t-test