Figure 1. Tumor growth inhibition in p75KO mice is associated with decreased expression of VEGF and capillary density, as well as increased apoptosis, while TNF expression is similar in WT and p75KO tumors.

A, Graphic representation of LLC tumor volumes in WT, p75KO and Dbl-KO mice. Graphs represent pooled data from 3 independent experiments (N=18–24/treatment group). B, Quantification of TNF immunostaining (red) in tumors and normal skin of WT and p75KO mice shown as percent of mean pixel intensity using NIH Image J program (here and elsewhere). C, TNF protein release (pg/ml) measured in tumor homogenates from WT and p75KO mice (p=NS). D, Quantification of VEGF immunostaining (red) in tumors from WT and p75KO mice shown as percent of mean pixel intensity (p<0.001, WT vs. p75KO). E, VEGF protein release (pg/ml) measured in tumor homogenates (p<0.002, WT vs. p75KO). F–G, Representative images (right panel) and quantification of – F, CD31 (red) immunofluorescence, and G, Quantification of CD31 (+) cells in the whole tumor tissue from WT vs p75KO mice using FASC analysis, when WT is set as 100%. Please note, compared to FASC analysis, tumor associated CD31 (+) cells were twice as higher in immunofluorescent studies, suggesting a significant heterogeneity in tumor vascular network and a superior quantitative nature of the FACS analysis of tumor associated CD31 (+) cells. H, Representative images (right panel) and quantification of –H, TUNEL (green) immunostaining in WT and p75KO tumors, shown as percent of mean pixel intensity, when WT is set as 100%. Results in all graphs are pooled data (mean+SEM) from 3 independent experiments 7–8 fields of 176,400 μm² (image size here and elsewhere) per mouse, N= 5 mice/genotype.