Fig. 6

Mitochondrial transfer and mitochondrial morphology in non-contact co-culture system. Using the culture system as shown in (C), MSC or REC were seeded in cell culture insert, and ρ⁰ cells were seeded in the lower petri dish. A In 0.4 μm pore size cell culture insert, ρ⁰ A549 co-culture with MSC (I) and REC (II), respectively. ρ⁰ HeLa co-culture with MSC (III) and REC (IV), respectively. B In 3 μm pore size cell culture insert, ρ⁰ A549 co-culture with MSC (I) and REC (II), respectively. ρ⁰ HeLa co-culture with MSC (III) and REC (IV), respectively. MSC/REC (green) were labeled with Mito Tracker Green and ρ⁰ cells were labeled with DiD (red). In 0.4 μm pore size cell culture insert and 3 μm pore size cell culture insert, the mitochondrial transfer rate of ρ⁰ A549 cells and ρ⁰ HeLa cells (D) after 24 h co-culture with MSC and REC, respectively. E Representative TEM micrographs of exosomes from REC. F Represent mitochondria of MSC (I), REC (II), ρ⁰ A549 (III), and ρ⁰ HeLa (IV), respectively. G shows the mitochondrial morphology of ρ⁰ A549 cells after 24 h co-culture with MSC (I) and REC (II) and that shows the mitochondrial morphology of ρ⁰ HeLa cells after 24 h co-culture with MSC (III) and REC (IV). The black arrow points to the mitochondria. Red arrows point to mitochondria in microvesicles. Quantification of swollen mitochondria in ρ⁰ A549 cells (H) and ρ⁰ HeLa cells (I). J Quantification of swollen mitochondria in different types of ρ⁰ cell lines by co-culture with REC. k In 3 μm pore size cell culture insert, the mitochondrial transfer rate of ρ⁰ A549 and ρ⁰ HeLa cells after 24 h co-culture with REC. Data were based on three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001