Fig. 3: Snail1^ME targeting induces an anti-tumourigenic immune response in melanoma.

a Schematic representation of the strategy used to perform immune cell profiling by flow cytometry analysis of Braf^V600E-5555 melanomas in Snail1^ME-WT (WT) and Snail1^ME-KO (KO) mice. Created with BioRender.com. b, c Graphs showing percentages of Cytotoxic T cells (CD3⁺CD8a⁺) and Regulatory T cells (CD3⁺FOXP3⁺) in tumours from (a) (n = 8 WT and n = 7 KO). d Graphs showing percentages of lymphoid cells from (a); B cells (CD45⁺CD22⁺), natural killer cells (CD45⁺CD335⁺), and dendritic cells (CD45⁺CD11c⁺). e Graphs showing percentages of myeloid cells in tumours from (a); monocytes (CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G^-) and neutrophils (CD11b⁺Ly6C^-Ly6G⁺), are represented (n = 8 WT and n = 7 KO). f Arg1 mRNA levels detected by RT-qPCR in tumour samples from (a) (n = 5 WT and n = 8 KO). Data are represented by Mean ± SEM and statistically significant differences are tested by unpaired two-tailed Student t-test. Each dot represents one animal (ns = not significant, *=p < 0.05, **=p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). g, h Prognostic value of Snail1 expression in response to anti-PD-1 therapy. Survival curves plotted for melanoma patients. SNAI1 expression assessed before anti-PD-1 therapy (n = 258) or on treatment (n = 67). Data was analysed using Kaplan-Meier Plotter. Patients with SNAI1 expression above the median are indicated in red line, and patients with expressions below the median in black line. HR hazard ratio.