Fig. 9: Loss of Cat D controls the population and activation of immune cells infiltrating tumors.

a–c Genetically modified E0771 was inoculated into C57BL/6 mice. On Day 30 post-tail vein injection, the lung was dissected and stained with H&E (a). The area of the metastatic region in the lung was measured using ImageJ software (b). Body weight was recorded every 3–4 days (c). d–h On Day 20 post-subcutaneous injection, the tumor was collected, and macrophages and T cells were isolated. Flow cytometry dot plots representing tumor-infiltrating CD45⁺CD11b⁺F4/80⁺CD206⁺CD86⁺ cells (d). M1 (CD45⁺CD11b⁺F4/80⁺CD206⁻CD86⁺), M2 (CD45⁺CD11b⁺F4/80⁺CD206⁺CD86⁻), T cells (CD45⁺CD3⁺CD8⁺), or naive T cells (CD45⁺CD3⁺CD4⁺) were determined using FACS (e–h). i Cat D protein expression in normal and renal tumor tissues. j Cat D mRNA transcripts were analyzed using the TCGA database. k Correlation analysis of Cat D and TGFBI in renal cancer tissues. Error bars represent the ± SEM. *p < 0.01 by two-sided t test.