Fig. 2

EC-EXO induced repair-related phenotypes of SCs. A SCs were incubated with DiI-labelled EC-EXO for 0 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h, and representative fluorescence images show the delivery of DiI-labelled EC-EXO (red) into SCs. Scale bar, 20 μm. B Representative EdU staining images of control group and EXO-treated groups with different concentration (1, 10, 50 and 100 μg/mL) for 24 h. Scale bar, 100 μm. C Statistical evaluation of percentage of EdU-positive SCs. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). D The colony formation of SCs treated with different concentrations of EC-EXO for 10 days. Scale bar, 500 μm. E Statistical results of the colony formation in each group. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). F The cell cycle of SCs was detected by flow cytometry assay. G Statistical results of the cell cycle. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). H The protein levels of factors associated with nerve regeneration (NGF, VEGFA, CNTF, BDNF and GDNF) were detected by western blot of SCs in each group. I Quantification of NGF, VEGFA, CNTF, BDNF and GDNF protein levels in each group. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). J Abridged general view of coculture system ECs and SCs in the transwell migration assay. K Representative images of vertical migration of SCs with different treatments for 24 h. Scale bar, 100 μm. L The number of migrated SCs was counted and analyzed. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). M Schematic diagrams of co-incubation of EC-EXO and SCs in the transwell migration assay. N Representative images of vertical migration of SCs with different concentrations of EC-EXO for 24 h. Scale bar, 100 μm. O The number of migrated SCs was counted and analyzed. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). ns = not significant, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001