Fig. 4. FSTL1 promotes CRC cells metastasis in vivo.

In total 5 × 10⁶ of RKO-FSTL1 or RKO-Vector stable cells were injected into spleen subcapsular respectively of nude mice to evaluate tumour metastasis. Multimodal Image Station System (Bruker, Germany) was used to obtained images of tumour progression and liver metastasis. a Two representative images of each group are shown at every 10 days after injection (n = 5). b Spleens and livers derived from indicated cells were harvested at 8 weeks after spleen subcapsular injection. The typical pictures of xenograft tumours of spleen and metastatic nodules of liver in gross morphology and HE or FSTL1 staining are shown (×400, scale = 20 μm). The image in black pane of the lower left corner is a partial enlarged detail. c The photons/s/cm² of individual mice were recorded and analysed at every 10 days after injection, each P < 0.05. Error bars represent the mean ± S.D. (n = 5). d The number of liver metastatic nodules in individual mice was counted under the microscope and analysed, P = 0.010. (n = 5). e Log-rank test was performed to estimate the relevance of FSTL1 expression and survival time of nude mice, P = 0.041. (n = 5). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001