Research Article

Ze-Qi-Tang Formula Induces Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Apoptosis via STAT3/S100A9/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 Signaling to Prolong the Survival of Mice with Orthotopic Lung Cancer

Figure 7

ZQT induced apoptosis in G-MDSCs in TME and inhibited its immunosuppressive activity by activating the STAT3/S100A9/Bcl-2/caspase-3 signaling pathway. Mice were treated with anti-Ly6G neutralizing antibody or isotype control by intraperitoneal injection for 14 days before surgery, after which model mice were given maintenance treatment every other day. (a, b) The bioluminescence images of model mice on day 7 and day 28 after surgery. (c) Survival curves. (d, e) The percentage of G-MDSCs, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells in tumor tissue were analyzed by flow cytometry. (f, g) CD3+ T cells isolated from the tumor tissue of tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice in different groups were cocultured with LLC cells for 4 h before they were incubated with CD3, CD8, and CD107α antibodies. Events shown were finally gated on CD3 and CD8. (h) ELISA analysis for the expression of IFN-γ in cells from tumor tissue. (i) RT-qPCR analysis of Arg-1, iNOS, and S100A9 gene expression and flow cytometry for ROS production. (j) IHC staining for Ly6G and CD8 in tumor tissue (scale bar: 50 μM). . Data are expressed as the . n/s: nonstatistical significance. ; ; .
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