Exosomal MiR-1290 Promotes Angiogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Targeting SMEK1

Figure 3

miR-1290 promotes tumor angiogenesis in vivo. (a) Matrigel mixed with miR-1290 agomir or NC agomir were subcutaneously injected into BALB/c mice (n = 3 each) and then harvested 10 days after inoculation, followed by immunofluorescence staining for CD31. (b) 2 × 10⁶ SMMC-7721 cells were subcutaneously injected into male NOD-SCID mice. Tumor development was allowed to occur for 10 days, and then mice (n = 6) were peritumorally treated with 10 nmol miR-1290 antagomir or NC antagomir (once every three days) for another 15 days. Tumors from miR-1290 antagomir and NC antagomir-treated mice are shown. (c, d) Tumor volume (c) and weight (d) were measured. The proliferation ((e), upper panel), apoptosis ((e), lower panel), and vessel density (f) of the tumors were assessed by IHC stanning for KI67, cleaved-caspase 3, and CD31 separately. (g) 49 HCC patients were divided into two groups based on their miR-1290 expression. The microvessel density of paraffin-embedded tumor sections from these 49 HCC patients was assessed by IHC stanning for CD31. ; .