Fig. 1. NOD2 deficiency promoted hepatocarcinogenesis in vivo.

NOD2-/- mice (n = 7) and WT mice (n = 8) were injected with DEN (100 mg/kg, i.p.) at the age of 6 weeks followed by 12 injections of CCl₄ (0.5 ml/kg, i.p.). The mice were sacrificed at 24 weeks after DEN injection. a Formed tumors in livers separated from the NOD2-/- mice and WT mice were presented. b NOD2 expression of the isolated livers from NOD2-/- and WT mice was detected by western blot assay. c Tumor numbers, liver body ratios, the largest tumor diameters and body weights of the NOD2-/- and WT mice were analyzed and compared. d HE staining of the liver tissues from NOD2-/- and WT mice was presented. e, f Tumor metastasis loci in mesentery (e) and diaphragm (f) from NOD2-/- and WT mice were quantitatively analyzed and compared. g HE staining of the diaphragmatic tumor metastases from NOD2-/- and WT mice was presented. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 for statistical analysis of the indicated groups.