Figure 9.

Exosomes with downregulated hsa_circ_00074854 suppressed the growth of HepG2 cells via inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization in vivo. Animals were subcutaneously injected with HepG2 cells and different hsa_circ_00074854 levels exosomes-treated macrophages. (A) Tumor volume was measured in different groups every week. (B) Representative image of xenograft tumors at day 21. (C) The tumor weight was measured. (D) Immunohistochemistry of CD206. (E and F) RT-qPCR assay was used to detect the level of IL-10 and TNF-a in tumor tissues. (G) Western blot analysis of ZEB-1, E-cadherin and vimentin in tumor tissues. (H) Schematic model of hsa_circ_00074854 functions in tumor progression. **P < 0.01 vs HepG2 + M group; ^##P < 0.01 compared with HepG2 + M^Exo group.

Abbreviations: M, macrophages (PMA-differentiated human THP-1 monocytes); M^Exo, macrophages co-cultured with exosomes derived from HepG2 cells; M^{Exo-circRNA shRNA1}, macrophages co-cultured with exosomes derived from hsa_circ_00074854 shRNA1-transfected HepG2 cells.