Fig. 3: Brain metastatic lung cancer cells stimulate microglia to increase the expression of SCD1 and lipid droplets.

A Schematic diagram of co-culture experiment between microglia and lung cancer cells. B Representative western blot images showing the expression of SCD1 in microglia co-cultured with lung cancer cells or in control conditions. Data were normalized to the control (n = 5). C The heatmap showing the concentrations of 27 fatty acids in microglia co-cultured with lung cancer cells or a control group. D Statistical chart showing the ratios of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids, indicating changes in SCD1 activity (n = 5). E The fluorescence intensity of lipid droplets in microglia as detected by flow cytometry. F Representative immunofluorescence staining showing lipid droplets (Green) in microglia co-cultured with tumor cells or control, Bodipy (green) labels LDs, and DAPI (blue) marks the cell nuclei. Quantification of the LDs is shown (n = 4). Scale bar =25 μm. (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001).