Fig. 4.

MCL-mediated uptake of cancer cells by Kupffer cells and suppression of liver metastasis. (A) Expression levels of Mcl, Dectin-1, and Mincle mRNAs in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR. (B and C) SL4 cells (2 × 10⁵ cells) were inoculated into the spleens of WT, MCL KO, Dectin-1 KO, and Mincle KO mice. On day 14, macroscopic images of livers were obtained (B), and livers were weighed (C). (Scale bar: 1 cm.) (D) Kupffer cells collected from WT and MCL KO mice were cocultured with or without CFSE-labeled SL4 cells (0.25 × 10⁵ cells) for 2 h. The CFSE intensity in CD45⁺ CD11b⁺ F4/80⁺ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. (Left) Representative histograms of CFSE levels. Cells with a CFSE level exceeding the red line were identified as CFSE⁺ cells. (Right) Proportion of CFSE⁺ cells. Data are displayed as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05. N.S., not significant; N.D., not detected.