Diet-Induced Obesity Is Associated with an Impaired NK Cell Function and an Increased Colon Cancer Incidence

Figure 5

Exemplary FACS plots and frequencies of different leukocytes subset populations in peripheral blood of normal weight [Co] and obese [DIO] rats treated with NaCl or azoxymethane (AOM). Total T lymphocytes (a, c), monocytes (b, d), B lymphocytes (a, e), NKT cells (j, l, m), and NK cells (k, l, m) are demonstrated as percentage of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). NK cells are represented by cells with and CD3^- expression and denoted with NK cells (green colored population). CD4+ T lymphocytes (f, h, i) and CD8+ T lymphocytes (g, h, i) are illustrated as percentage of total T lymphocytes. Differences in frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes (h, i) as well as differences in NKT cell frequency (l, m) in normal weight (h, l) and obese rats (i, m) are exemplary demonstrated. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM of –14 animals per group. compared to NaCl-treated control group; , compared to appropriate control group. , , two-way-ANOVA, normal weight control groups compared to DIO groups.

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