Fig. 5: Anti-tumor immunity in vivo.

a Proportion of matured DCs in DLN was analyzed using flow cytometry 7 days after the injection of the hydrogels. b, c Examination of M1-to-M2 ratio (b) and quantification of the intratumoral cytokines (c) after different treatments. d, e IDO-1 expression (d) as well as the Kyn-to-Trp ratio (e) in tumors were measured 7 days after the injection of the hydrogel. f–h Intratumoral percentage of the T_Reg (f) and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes (g) in addition to the densities of CD8⁺GzmB⁺ T cells (h) after being treated with different formulations. i Levels of IL-2 in tumors after different treatments. j The Kyn-to-Trp ratio in 4T1^{IDO-1 KO} tumors was measured 7 days after the injection of the hydrogel. k, l The percentage of T_Reg (k) and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes (l) in 4T1^{IDO-1 KO} tumors after being treated with different formulations. m Flow cytometry analysis of splenic T_EM 7 days after the removal of primary tumors. n Concentrations of TNF-α and IFN-γ in serum 3 days after the re-challenge of 4T1 cells. a–n Data were presented as the mean ± SD (n = 5 mice) and the statistical significance was calculated with one-way ANOVA following by the Tukey’s tests. DC dendritic cell, DLN draining lymph node, Kyn kynurenine, Trp tryptophan, IDO-1 indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1, T_Reg regulatory T cell, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-α, IFN-γ interferon-γ, IL-12p70 interleukin-12 p70. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.