Fig. 1: NAFLD promotes liver metastasis of CRC.

A–C Schematics illustrating the experimental liver metastasis model established via liver orthotopic implantation in C57BL/6 mice (A). In vivo bioluminescent images of luc-MC38 cells implanted in the liver of control and NAFLD C57BL/6 mice at day 14 after implantation (B). At the end of the experiment, liver metastases were taken photos and metastatic lesion volume was assessed (C). D–G Schematics illustrating the experimental liver metastasis model established via splenic implantation in C57BL/6 mice (D). In vivo bioluminescent images of luc-MC38 cells injected in the spleen of control and NAFLD C57BL/6 mice at day 14 after implantation (E). At the end of the experiment, liver metastases were dissected for taking photos, H&E staining and assessing tumor area (F, G). H–J Schematics illustrating the experimental liver metastasis model via liver orthotopic implantation in BALB/c nude mice (H). In vivo bioluminescent images of luc-HCT 116 cells implanted in the liver of control and NAFLD nude mice day 14 after implantation (I). At the end of the experiment, liver metastases were taken photos and assess metastatic lesion volume (J). K–N Schematics illustrating the experimental liver metastasis model via splenic implantation in BALB/c nude mice (K). In vivo bioluminescent images of luc-HCT 116 cells injected in the spleen of control and NAFLD nude mice at day 14 after implantation (L). At the end of the experiment, liver metastases were dissected for taking photos, H&E staining and assessing tumor area (M, N). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Significance was determined by two-tailed unpaired Student’s t test, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. NAFLD non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, HFD high-fat diet, luc-HCT 116 cells Luciferase-labeled HCT 116 cells, luc-MC38 cells Luciferase-labeled MC38 cells.