Fig 1: CRC-derived exosomes enhance CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. a Exosomes were isolated from the supernatant of the culture medium of HCT116 and SW480 cells, and the morphology and size were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (scale bar = 100 nm). b NTA distribution of CRC cell-derived exosomes. c CRC cell-derived exosomes (HCT116-Exo and SW480-Exo) were analyzed by western blotting using anti-GM130, anti-CD54, anti-Annexin, and anti-CD9 antibodies. Cellular lysates (HCT116 and SW480) were used as positive loading controls. d Cell proliferation was determined by CCK8 assay. HCT116 and SW480 cells were treated with or without CRC cell-derived exosomes, and detected at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment. e The cell apoptosis assay was determined withAnnexin V/PI staining using flow cytometry analysis. f Representative micrographs of the wound healing assays. HCT116 and SW480 cells were stimulated by exosomes, and cell monolayers were scratched with sterile 200 µL pipette tips. Images were taken at 0 h and 48 h respectively after scratching. g Cell migration and invasion assays using Transwell or Matrigel-coated Transwell in HCT116 and SW480 cells. All P values were determined by a two-tailed unpaired student’s t-test (**, P < 0.01). Ex, exosome-stimulated. Ex, exosomes-stimulated. h Representative western blots of apoptosis and invasion pathway-related protein expression in HCT116 and SW480 cells after exosomes stimulation. GAPDH as the loading control. i Representative images of nude mice were injected through the tail vein with control and exosomes treated-HCT116 cells (n = 6/per group). Metastasis was monitored by bioluminescence using an in vivo imaging system