Figure 4
4Mu and M1 hepatic macrophages facilitate immune recognition of CD133+ HCC cells, and promote antitumor response. (a) Hepa129 cells were incubated for duplicate with RPMI (Hepa129 + RPMI), CM from isolated pMϕ (Hepa129 + pMϕ-derived CM) and CM from isolated pMϕ in vitro treated with 4Mu (Hepa129 + 4Mu-treated pMϕ-derived CM) for 48 h. Pre-conditioned 1 × 106 Hepa129 cells were injected s.c. in Nu/Nu mice (n = 4/group), and tumor volume was measured. (b) Nu/Nu mice (n = 4) and (c) immunocompetent C3Hj mice (n = 4) were injected s.c. with 1 × 105 CD133 + Hepa129 cells, 1 × 105 4Mu-treated CD133+ Hepa129 cells, 1 × 105 CD133-Hepa129 cells, and 1 × 105 4Mu-treated CD133- Hepa129 cells. Tumor volume was monitored by caliper. **p < 0.01 CD133+ vs. 4Mu-treated CD133+; *p < 0.05 CD133- vs. 4Mu-treated CD133+; Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. The experiment was carried-out 2 times.
