Figure 3
Expression patterns of CD39, CD73, and P2Y6 receptor. (A, B) CD39 was significantly upregulated in the TME. Neither the tumor cells nor the normal epithelium was CD39+ according to IHC. (C) RNA-Seq data demonstrated significant upregulation of the CD39-encoding gene, ENTPD1, in tumors (P = 6e-4; n = 46). (D) IHC scoring confirmed CD39 enrichment in node-positive cases (P = 3.9e-6; n = 23). (E) IHC studies demonstrated CD73 over expression in the tumor stroma, while CD73 was not expressed in the tumor region. (F) RNA-Seq data showing expression of the gene encoding CD73, NT5E, solely in the stroma (P = 3.5e-6; n = 46). (G) CD73 score did not differ significantly according to the node status (n = 23). (H) The GPCR membrane protein, P2Y6 receptor was widely distributed within the stroma and was prominent in the invasive tumor margins, whereas distant tumor cells were P2Y6 receptor-negative. (I) TheP2Y6 receptor gene, P2RY6,was upregulated in tumor samples (P = 1.05e-13; n = 46). (J) A proportional increase in P2Y6 receptor protein was observed in node-positive cases (P = 0.05; n = 23). (K) (a) P2Y6 receptor was expressed at higher levels in immune cells compared with tumor cells. (b) Immune cells from node-positive cases showed higher P2Y6 receptor expression than node-negative immune cells. (c) In node-negative cases, P2Y6 receptor was more widely distributed in immune cells, but more widely distributed in tumor cells in node positive-cases.
