Fig. 6: HEXB contributes to establishing the feedback between malignant cells and M2 macrophages in GBM.

a CIBERSORT analysis showing microenvironmental components in indicated GBM sample groups stratified by HEXB expression in CMU cohort (High n = 15 patients; Low n = 15 patients). b Representative IHC images (Left) and analysis (Right) of CD163 staining in GBM samples (n = 16 patients, High n = 8 patients; Low n = 8 patients). c Transwell assays detecting the chemotactic effect of Gal-P and rhHEXB stimulation on THP1-derived macrophages (n = 3 independent samples). d, e FACS analysis of MHCII, CD206 and CD11b positive cells in PBMC-derived macrophages with indicated treatment. f IHC analysis of IBA1 staining in indicated GBM tumor tissues (n = 3 independent samples). g IHC analysis of MHCII and CD206 positive cells in mouse tumor derived from mGSCs and then with Gal-P intraperitoneal treatment (n = 3 independent samples). h, i The expression of HEXB in indicated polarized THP-1 and PBMC derived macrophages (n = 3 independent samples). j The ELISA detection of secretory HEXB protein in the culture supernatant obtained from indicated polarized THP-1 derived macrophages (n = 3 independent samples). k Survival curves (Left) and representative tumor images (Right: in vivo bioluminescence (Upper) and H&E images (Lower) at 21 days after the mice intracranial co-implantation of GSC1 and THP-1 derived macrophages) of indicated GSC1 orthotopic models (Group a: GSC1; Group b: GSC1 + M0 macrophage; Group c: GSC1+rhHEXB pretreated macrophage; Group d: GSC1+rhHEXB pretreated macrophage with administration of Gal-P). Data are representative of 3 independent experiments with similar results (b–k). Data were presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyzes were determined by two-tailed Student’s t-test (a–c,f–j) and log-rank test (k). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.