Figure 3

Inflammasome activation is associated with increased IL-1β levels and infiltration of myeloid cells in tumor microenvironments.

(A,B) The levels of IL-1β protein in tissue samples from WT, NLRP3 KO and caspase-1 KO mice (n = 5) injected with EO771 tumor cells. Mammary glands (naïve mice) and tumor tissues and lungs were harvested and homogenized. IL-1β concentration in tissues was measured by ELISA. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. (Student’s t test). Representative data from one of at least three independent experiments are shown. (C) Flow cytometry analysis of myeloid cell populations in spleen and tumor tissues from WT and caspase-1 KO mice injected with EO771 tumor cells. Plots were gated on live and CD45⁺ cells. Numbers indicate percentage of CD11b⁺Gr1⁻, CD11b⁺Gr1⁺, or CD11b⁻Gr1⁺ cells of CD45 cells. (D) The Quantification and statistical difference in myeloid cell populations as in 3C (n = 5). Results are shown as mean ± SD. Student’s t test was performed and statistical significance is indicated by *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. (E). IL-1β concentration in culture supernatants of CD11b⁺ cells isolated from spleen and tumor tissues after cultured for 24 hours. *P < 0.05, (Student’s t test).