Fig. 7: SPON2 knockdown regulates macrophage polarization and inhibits EMT via the NF-κB/VEGF signaling axis in vivo.

A RT-qPCR analysis of tumor tissues from mice shows decreased expression of M2 markers (CD206 and ARG1) and increased expression of M1 markers (NOS2 and CD86) in the sh-SPON2 group. B Flow cytometry confirms lower levels of CD68 and CD206, and a higher proportion of CD68⁺NOS2⁺ macrophages following SPON2 knockdown. LPS treatment restores M2 markers and reduces M1 marker levels. C Western blotting shows that SPON2 knockdown increases E-cadherin and decreases N-cadherin, Vimentin, NF-κB p65, and VEGF in tumor tissues. These changes are attenuated by LPS treatment. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 6 biologically independent samples). One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test was used. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.