Fig. 6: CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis is required for PF4⁺ macrophages recruitment and activation.

A Representative images of 4NQO-induced HNSCC (upper) and corresponding HE staining (lower) in different treatment groups (n = 8 mice). Scale bar, 1 mm (upper), 100 μm (lower). B, C Quantification of SCC number (B) and tongue lesion area (C) in different treatment groups. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 8 mice). P values are presented by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test. D–G. Representative images of KI67 (D) and Caspase-3 (F) IHC staining and quantitation of the percentage of KI67⁺ (E) and Caspase-3⁺ (G) cells in different treatment groups. Scale bar, 50 μm. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 8 mice). P values are presented by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test. H–J Representative immunofluorescence (IF) staining images of CD8 (green) and GZMB (red) (H). Statistical analysis of the ratio of CD8⁺ cells (I) and CD8⁺ GZMB⁺ cells to CD8⁺ cells (CD8T killing capacity) (J) in different treatment groups. Scale bar, 25 μm. Data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 8 mice). P values are presented by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test. K, L Representative flow plots show the frequency of the F4/80⁺PF4⁺ macrophages (K) and quantification of the proportions of F4/80⁺PF4⁺cells (L) in different treatment groups. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 8 mice). P values are presented by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test. M Representative flow plots show the frequency of the F4/80⁺ macrophages in different treatment groups. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 8 mice). P values are presented by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test. Source data and exact p values are provided as a Source Data file.