Extended Data Fig. 9: Antagonizing K. pneumoniae colonic colonization or TLR4 inhibition reverse K. pneumoniae induced-HCC development.

(a) Design of K. oxytoca on K. pneumoniae induced HCC promotion in germ-free mice with DEN treatment (GFD/PBS group n=6; GFD/EC group n=6; GFD/KO group n=6; GFD/KP group n=7; GFD/KOP group n=8) and relevant results (b–e). (b) Images of liver gross morphology (yellow circles indicate tumor area), and H&E with tumor incidence, tumor number and tumor burden. n=6 (GFD/PBS), 6 (GFD/EC), 6 (GFD/KO) 7 (GFD/KP), 8 (GFD/KOP). (c) Alcian blue staining, E-Cad, CLDN 3, CLDN 1 IHC, and Cy3-conjugated EUB338 probe detection with quantitative analysis. n=6 biologically independent samples. (d) Gut permeability assay using FITC-dextran. n=6 (GFD/PBS), 6 (GFD/EC), 6 (GFD/KO) 7 (GFD/KP), 8 (GFD/KOP). (e) Live bacteria culture of liver tissues on blood agar plates with quantitative analysis. n=6 (GFD/PBS), 6 (GFD/EC), 6 (GFD/KO) 7 (GFD/KP), 8 (GFD/KOP). (f) Design of TLR4i on K. pneumoniae induced HCC promotion in germ-free mice with DEN treatment (GFD/PBS group n=6; GFD/EC group n=6; GFD/KP group n=7; GFD/KPi group n=7) and relevant results (g-k). (g) Images of liver gross morphology (yellow circles indicate tumor area), and H&E with tumor incidence, tumor number and tumor burden. n=6 (GFD/PBS), 6 (GFD/EC), 7 (GFD/KP), 7 (GFD/KPi). (h) E-Cad IHC and Cy3-conjugated EUB338 probe (GFD/PBS group), E. coli probe (GFD/EC), K. pneumoniae probe (GFD/KP) and GFD/KPi groups) detection of colon tissues with quantitative analysis. n=6 biologically independent samples. (i) Gut permeability assay using FITC-dextran. n=6 biologically independent samples. (j) Live bacteria culture of liver tissues on blood agar plates with quantitative analysis. n=6 (GFD/PBS), 6 (GFD/EC), 7 (GFD/KP), 7 (GFD/KPi). (k) Cy3-conjugated conjugated EUB338 probe (GFD/PBS group), E. coli probe (GFD/EC), K. pneumoniae probe (GFD/KP) and GFD/KPi groups) FISH, TLR4, PCNA, Ki-67 IHC, and Sirius red staining of liver sections. n=6 biologically independent samples. Data (excluding tumor incidence and liver with live bacteria) are presented as mean ± SEM. Each data point in bar plots represents one mouse. Tumor incidence and Liver with live bacteria were calculated using Fisher’s exact test. Unless otherwise stated, statistical significance was calculated using one-way ANOVA. Adjustments were made for multiple comparisons.