Fig. 6: HAPLN1 modifies the immune microenvironment.

A CD31/αSMA immunofluorescence staining on tumors. Representative images and quantification of CD31⁺ cells and αSMA⁺ cells are shown. Scale bar: 50 µm. n = 6. B RNA sequencing of PDPN⁺ isolated cancer-associated fibroblasts from KPC or KPC-HAPLN1 tumors. Pink dots mark genes significantly up in CAFs from KPC, blue dots genes significantly up in CAFs from KPC-HAPLN1 tumors. Some genes of interest are labeled. n = 3. C Serum of healthy, or KPC/KPC-HAPLN1-injected mice at day 11 of tumor growth was analyzed using the scioCD protein array. Relative protein levels displayed. n = 3. D Number of cells per milliliter in the peritoneal lavage of mice after 11 days of tumor growth. KPC n = 6; KPC-HAPLN1 n = 5. E Immune cell populations in the peritoneal lavage assessed by flow cytometry. KPC n = 6; KPC-HAPLN1 n = 5. F Macrophages were isolated from the peritoneum by cell sorting. qRT-PCR analysis of inflammatory marker genes. n = 4. Graphs represent mean ± SD. Data points indicate independent biological replicates. Non-parametric two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test was used.