Fig. 2: PLXNB2 depletion abolishes spontaneous metastasis and CTC cluster formation in TNBC in vivo. | Nature Communications

Fig. 2: PLXNB2 depletion abolishes spontaneous metastasis and CTC cluster formation in TNBC in vivo.

From: Computational ranking identifies Plexin-B2 in circulating tumor cell clustering with monocytes in breast cancer metastasis

Fig. 2: PLXNB2 depletion abolishes spontaneous metastasis and CTC cluster formation in TNBC in vivo.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

a Schematic showing the experimental workflow of orthotopic implantation and analyses of lung metastases and CTCs. b, c Representative images (b) and weight quantification of PLXNB2 Con and KO tumors (c) from mice at 10 weeks, n = 8 mice/group. d, e Bioluminescence images (BLI) of mouse lungs ex vivo (d) and quantified lung metastasis (e) at 10 weeks, n = 8 mice/group. f L2G+ CTC counts (single and clusters) detected in PLXNB2 Con and KO mouse blood at 10 weeks of spontaneous metastasis, n = 4 mice/group. g, h Representative images (g) and metastatic burden (h) in PLXNB2 Con and KO metastatic cells of mouse lungs with H&E staining, scale bar = 250 µm; experiments were repeated with the PB2 KO clone, n = 4 lungs/group. Yellow arrows point to the micro metastases in the lungs. i Schematic representing experimental workflow of dual color implantations of L2T+ (red) or L2G+ (green) MDA-MB-231 tumor cells with PLXNB2 control (ConT, ConG) or PLXNB2 KO (KOT, KOG); mice were sacrificed after 6 weeks for analyses, n = 4 mice/group. j Representative images of green (ConG/KOG) and red (ConT/KOT) MDA-MB-231 colonies in the lungs of mice, n = 4 mice/group. k Counts of L2T+ or L2G+ colonies in the lungs of mice after 6 weeks orthopedic, n = 4 mice/group. l Counts of dual color colonies with red and green tumor cells in the lungs, n = 4 lungs/group. m CTC clusters in red/green count as analyzed via flow cytometry in the mice bearing the PLXNB2 Control and KO tumors, n = 8 mice/group. n Top left: Schematic of orthotopic implantation of PLXNB2 Con and KO tumor cells into of NSG mice (200,000 cells/site). Bottom left: KM plot of the mice shows Supplementary survival (2 weeks) in the mice bearing Con vs. KO tumors. Right panels: Photos (top) and bar graphs (bottom) of relatively comparable tumor weight between Con (8-week) and KO groups (10-week), n = 5 mice/group. o–q Bar graphs of blood CTC clusters (o), cell cycle phases (p), and spontaneous lung metastasis (q) between the Con and KO tumors, n = 5 mice/group.Data are presented as mean values +/-SD, with P values reported from two-sided unpaired t-testsunless specified. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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