Figure 6.

Hypoxic conditions stimulate the release of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) cells with pro-angiogenic functions. (A) Number of proteins related to pro-angiogenic pathways identified in sEVs produced by HNSCC cells exposed to various levels of hypoxia. Data are presented as fold of normoxia (21% O₂). (B) Representative microscope images of wound healing assay of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) co-incubated for 16 h with 3 μL phosphate buffered saline (CTRL) or 3 µg of sEVs at a concentration of 1 µg/µL isolated from 5% O₂ HaCaT, FaDu, PCI-30, SCC-25. (C) Quantification of wound closure. All values represent means ± SEM (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01).