Fig. 5: The infiltration and function of lymphocytes are promoted in tumors growing Grm4^-/- mice.

A–I WT and Grm4^-/- mice were s.c. injected with Hepa1-6BL (7 × 10⁵) tumor cells. Mice were sacrificed on day 16. Tumor, spleen, and dLN single-cell suspensions were generated from the indicated groups of mice and stimulated with PMA/ionomycin plus protein transport inhibitors for 6 h before flow cytometry analysis. The infiltration of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T, and NK cells and the expression of TNFα, CD107a, and IFNγ in WT and Grm4^-/- mouse tumors were measured by flow cytometry. A The number of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T, and NK cells and their proportion among CD45.2⁺ cells, and B CD107a⁺ and IFNγ⁺ CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T, and NK cells among the corresponding populations in Hepa1-6BL tumors growing in WT and Grm4^-/- mice (n = 5 mice per group). C Representative spleen pictures and spleen weights from mice bearing Hepa1-6BL tumors (n = 6 mice per group). D The number of CD45.2⁺ cells and E the indicated immune cell subsets in spleens (n = 5 mice per group). F The number of CD107a⁺, IFNγ⁺ and TNFα⁺ CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T, and NK cells among the corresponding cell subsets in spleens (n = 5 mice per group). G The percentage and number of live CD45.2⁺ cells, H the infiltration of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T, and NK cells in dLNs (n = 5 mice per group). I The number of CD107a⁺, IFNγ^+, and TNFα⁺ expressing CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T, and NK cells in dLNs of WT and Grm4^-/- mouse bearing Hepa1-6BL tumors (n = 5 mice per group). Data were presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by unpaired t-test two-tailed (A–I). All biological experiments were repeated at least three times and yielded consistent results. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.