Fig. 5.

Astrocytes promote migration of the glioma cell line U87 and upregulate CD44 expression. (A) Immunostaining for GFAP. Serum-containing astrocytes were fibroblast-like. (B) Trans serum-free astrocytes had more processes. (C) After transfer into serum-free medium, the GFAP expression level in astrocytes decreased significantly. (D) The effect of ACM on U87 cell migration by a wound healing assay. (E) When cultured in ACM for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, U87 cells had increased healing ability. (F) RT–qPCR analysis of CD44 expression in U87 cells with or without ACM stimulation. (G) The effect of astrocytes on U87 cell viability after ACM stimulation for 24 h. *: p < 0.05; **: p < 0.01; ****: p < 0.0001; means ± SEMs; n = 3/group. The statistical analysis of RT–qPCR and cell viability assays used an unpaired t test, while migration assays used two-way ANOVA test followed by Šídák's multiple comparisons test.