Fig. 3. Enhanced Gal-7 expression shapes the immune landscape in murine skin papillomas.

Volcano-plots from analysis of RNAseq data from Lgals7^−/−, Tg46 and WT papillomas, showing 240 and 264 genes differentially expressed in Lgals7^−/− (A) and Tg46 (B) lesions, respectively, compared with WT tumors (p < 0.05, FC > 2). C Functional enrichment analysis of RNAseq data. Bioprocesses found enriched in Lgals7^−/− (left panel) and Tg46 (right panel) tumors, compared with their WT counterparts, are shown. D Genes found to be dysregulated in Lgals7^−/− or Tg46 lesions compared with WT tumors, and network-based pathway enrichment analysis. E Heat map analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. F Analysis of CD11b⁺ cells in papillomas from Tg46, WT and Lgals7^−/− mice, evaluated by immunofluorescence. Representative images (left panel; CD11b⁺ red, DAPI blue; bar represents 100 µm) and determination of CD11b⁺ cells (right panel; mean ± SEM; 3 independent experiments) are shown. G Percentage of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells in papillomas from Tg46, WT and Lgals7^−/− mice, evaluated by flow cytometry (mean ± SEM; 3 independent experiments). H Immune cell populations in tumor draining lymph nodes (dLN) from Tg46, WT and Lgals7^−/− mice at the end point of carcinogenesis protocol, analyzed by flow cytometry. Percentage of CD11b⁺, CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ and CD8⁺cells^, and CD8⁺/ CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ ratio (mean ± SEM; 4 independent experiments) are shown.