Fig. 4

Activated ADSCs trigger the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells by regulating MMP2/9 expression and EMT. a The effects of activated ADSCs on lung cancer cell proliferation were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Four lung cancer cell lines were cultured in the presence of ADSC-CM or aADSC-CM, and the optical density at 450 nm was analysed. The cancer cells cultured alone in normal growth medium were used as negative controls. Data from three separate experiments are shown. b The number of lung cancer cells that migrated through 8-μm Transwell membrane pores was counted to determine the changes in the invasive capabilities in response to CM from epidural ADSCs or aADSCs. c MMP2/9, E-cadherin and vimentin expression levels in four lung cancer cell lines treated with ADSC-CM or aADSC-CM were examined by western blotting. Lung cancer cells cultured in an untreated medium served as controls. d Lung cancer cells were treated with neutralizing antibodies against IL-6, isotype controls and aADSC-CM. Lung cancer cell invasion was analysed using a Transwell assay. Lung cancer cells cultured with untreated medium served as negative controls. e Lung cancer cells were treated with neutralizing antibodies against IL-6, isotype controls and aADSC-CM. MMP2/9, E-cadherin and vimentin expression levels in four lung cancer cell lines were analysed using western blotting. Lung cancer cells cultured with untreated medium served as negative controls. ***P < 0.001