Figure 2

Increased CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and CD11b⁺Gr-1⁺ cells in tumor-bearing mice. (a) A representative flow cytometric data showing the CD4⁺CD25⁺ T-cell frequency of gated CD4⁺ T cells in splenocytes from normal and HCC tumor-bearing mice; (b) Mean CD4⁺CD25⁺ T-cells frequency in CD4⁺ T cells in splenocytes from normal and HCC tumor-bearing mice (n=3). (c, d) Representative (c) and mean (d) flow cytometry data showing increased CD11b⁺ Gr-1⁺ cells frequency in splenocytes from normal and HCC tumor-bearing mice (n=3). The gated viable cells were analyzed. Numbers in the figures represent the percentage of fluorescence-positive cells in corresponding areas; (e) Functional analysis of CD11b⁺ cells were evaluated for their ability to suppress autologous CD11b⁺-depleted splenocytes proliferation by [³H]-thymidine incorporation when stimulated with anti-CD3 and CD28 at various ratios. Values represent mean±s.d. (n=3) and are representative examples of three separate experiments.