Journal: Regenerative Therapy
Article Title: Lung cancer cell-derived exosomal EHF drives M2 macrophage polarization via transcriptional activation of RNF41 to promote tumor progression
doi: 10.1016/j.reth.2026.101104
Figure Lengend Snippet: Exosomal EHF reprograms THP-1-M0 macrophages to promote lung cancer cell malignancy and angiogenesis via paracrine signaling. (A) Schematic of the paracrine co-culture system: Exosomes from control (Ctrl) or EHF-knockdown (KD-EHF) A549/H520 cells were co-incubated with THP-1-M0 macrophages. The medium from these macrophages was used to treat A549/H520 cells or HUVECs. (B-E) THP-1-M0 macrophages were treated with three conditions: blank control (no exosome), exosomes from control-transfected A549/H520 cells (Exo Ctrl ), or exosomes from EHF-knockdown A549/H520 cells (Exo KD−EHF ). (B–C) Flow cytometry analysis of CD206 + M2 macrophage proportions in THP-1-M0 cells. (D-E) ELISA measurement of M2-associated cytokines (TGF-β1, IL-10, and VEGFA). (F-M) The medium from exosome treated macrophages was then used to incubate A549/H520 cells or HUVECs. (F-G) EdU staining and quantification of EdU + proliferating A549 and H520 cells. (H–I) Flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis in A549 and H520 cells. (J-K) Transwell migration assays and quantification of migrated A549 and H520 cells. (L-M) Tube formation assays and quantification of tube numbers in HUVECs. Data are presented as mean ± SD. P < 0.05 denotes statistical significance.
Article Snippet: Membranes were blocked with 5% skim milk in TBST, incubated with primary antibodies against EHF (1:1000, Catalog #: 27195-1-AP, Proteintech, Wuhan, China), TSG101 (1:1000, Catalog #: 14497-1-AP, Proteintech), Calnexin (1:1000, Catalog #: 10427-2-AP, Proteintech), CD9 (1:2000, Catalog #: 60232-1-Ig, Proteintech), RNF41 (1:500, Catalog #: 17233-1-AP, Proteintech), CD206 (1:1000, Catalog #: 18704-1-AP, Proteintech), TGF-β1 (1:1000, Catalog #: 26155-1-AP, Proteintech), VEGFA (1:1000, Catalog #: ab46154, Abcam, Cambridge, UK), and β-actin (1:1000, Catalog #: 66009-1-Ig, Proteintech) overnight at 4 °C, followed by HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies (1:5000, Catalog #: ab6721/ab205719, Abcam) for 1 h at room temperature.
Techniques: Co-Culture Assay, Control, Knockdown, Incubation, Transfection, Flow Cytometry, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Staining, Migration