FIGURE 4.

Depletion of THBS2 reduces the tumour‐promoting ability of BM‐MSCs in both gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice and chronic H pylori‐infected mice. A, BM‐MSCs were transfected with scrambled shRNA (negative control) or THBS2 shRNA. Transfection was confirmed by the presence of red fluorescent protein. B, RT‐qPCR confirmation of successful THBS2 gene depletion following THBS2‐specific shRNA transfection (sh‐THBS2) compared with NC transfection (sh‐NC). C, Western blotting confirmation of successful THBS2 depletion following THBS2‐specific shRNA transfection (sh‐THBS2) compared with NC transfection (sh‐NC). D, The effect of exposure to H pylori (MOI: 50, 12 h) on the mRNA or protein expression of BM‐MSCs transfected with scrambled shRNA or THBS2 shRNA. E, Representative tumour images from nude mice 2 weeks after injection with SGCs alone, co‐injection with SGCs and sh‐NC‐BM‐MSCs, or co‐injection with SGCs and sh‐THBS2‐BM‐MSCs. F‐G, Tumour size and tumour weight in the SGC (Control), SGC +sh‐NC‐BM‐MSCs and SGC +sh‐THBS2‐BM‐MSCs groups (n = 5 per group). H, IHC analysis of Ki‐67 expression in tumour sections from the SGC, SGC +sh‐NC‐BM‐MSCs and SGC +sh‐THBS2‐BM‐MSCs groups. I, Representative images of gastric mucosa histopathology in the SHAM, sh‐NC‐BM‐MSCs, sh‐THBS2‐BM‐MSCs, Hp, Hp +sh‐NC‐BM‐MSCs and Hp +sh‐THBS2‐BM‐MSCs groups. J, Statistics of histopathological analysis of the SHAM, sh‐NC‐BM‐MSCs, sh‐THBS2‐BM‐MSCs, Hp, Hp +sh‐NC‐BM‐MSCs and Hp +sh‐THBS2‐BM‐MSCs groups. The results are representative of at least three independent experiments. Results are expressed as means ±SD. NS, not significant, *P <.05, ** P <.01, *** P <.001