Fig. 8: Effect of exosome delivery of GPR37 on ESCC cell function and the radiation response.

A Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to determine the size of the exosomes. B TEM image showing the morphology of the exosomes. Scale bar, 200 nm. C Western blotting showed that GPR37 and the exosomal protein markers CD63 and TSG101 were enriched in E-cell exosomes secreted by KYSE150 cells. D Immunofluorescence showed that GPR37 protein was carried by exosomes. Scale bar: 100 μm. E An exosome uptake assay showed that PKH26-labeled exos were taken up by KYSE150 cells. Scale bar: 100 μm. F Western blotting (left) and qRT-PCR (right) were used to detect the GPR37 expression level in KYSE150 cells after coincubation with Exo-vector or Exo-GPR37 (n = 3). G The proliferation of KYSE150 cells coincubated with Exo-vector or Exo-GPR37 was determined via the CCK-8 method (n = 3). H Representative images of tumors from BALB/c mice (left) and tumor masses (right). (n = 3 per group). Wound healing assays (I) and transwell assays (J) were used to detect the migration and invasion of KYSE150 cells after coincubation with Exo-vector and Exo-GPR37 (n = 3). The wound width at 0 h was normalized. Scale bar: 100 μm. K Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the radiosensitivity of KYSE150 cells after coincubation with the EV and Exo-GPR37 (n = 3). L Western blotting was used to detect the expression level of AKT/mTOR-related proteins in KYSE150 cells after coincubation with Exo-vector or Exo-GPR37. M Schematic diagram of this study. ns: not significant. ns not significant, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001.