Figure 3. MiR-223KO mice have higher PD-1⁺T cells and PD-L1⁺macrophages than WT mice in DEN+CCl₄-induced HCC.

WT and miR-223KO mice were treated with DEN+CCl₄ as described in Figure 1. (A, B) Mouse livers from DEN+CCl₄-induced HCC were dissociated, PD-1⁺ or PD-L1⁺ cells were determined by flow cytometry. PD-L1 and PD-1 expression were mainly detected in CD11b⁺ CCR2⁺ macrophages (panel A) and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells (panel B), respectively. (C, D) Representative images of PD-1 and PD-L1 staining of tumor and adjacent non-tumor samples from DEN+CCl₄ are shown in panel C. PD-1⁺ and PD-L1⁺ cells per field were quantified and are shown in panel D. Values represent means ± SEM. *P< 0.05.