Fig. 3: Compared to M1-EVs, miR-146a-5p was deficient in M2-EVs and enhanced U87MG and A172 cell invasion and migration behaviors.

A The heatmap showed the differential expression of miRNAs between M1- and M2-EVs according to miRNA-sequencing. B The volcano graph plot showed the relationship between the fold change and the significance of differentially expressed miRNAs of M2-EVs compared to M1-EVs. C The miR-146a-5p level of M0, M1-like GAMs, and M2-like GAMs was evaluated by RT‒PCR. MiR-146a-5p was significantly increased in M1-like GAMs compared with M0 and M2-like GAMs. D, E Transwell assays and quantitative analysis were performed to evaluate the migratory and invasive abilities of U87MG cells and A172 cells transfected with the miR-146a-5p mimic, miR-146a-5p inhibitor or the corresponding negative control sequence (NC) for 24 h. F, G Wound healing assays and quantitative analysis were used to evaluate the migration ability of U87MG cells and A172 cells transfected with the miR-146a-5p mimic, miR-146a-5p inhibitor, mimic NC, or inhibitor NC for 24 h. H Western blotting analysis of the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, MMP-2, and vimentin in U87MG and A172 cells transfected with the miR-146a-5p mimic, miR-146a-5p inhibitor, mimic NC, or inhibitor NC. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.