(A) RNA expression of Sh2d1a transcript (SAP) in WT and SLAMF6 -/- splenocytes. (B) Immunoblot analysis of expression of SLAMF6, SAP and SHP-1 in WT and SLAMF6 -/- splenocytes. (C) Pmel-1 and Pmel-1 x SLAMF6 -/- splenocytes were activated with gp10025-33 peptide for the indicated time points. At the end of the activation, cells were fixed and stained for phosphorylated S6. (D) Pmel-1 and Pmel-1 x SLAMF6 -/- splenocytes were either activated with gp10025-33 peptide in the presence of IL-2 (30 IU/ml) for 18 hr or kept only with IL-2 for 18 hr (non-activated). After 18 hr, the cells were lysed, RNA was extracted, and quantitative RT-PCR for transcription factors expression was performed. Data was normalized to Hprt expression for each mouse strain. Values for each condition were normalized to Pmel-1 non-activated values for each gene. (E) Pmel-1 and Pmel-1 x SLAMF6 -/- splenocytes were expanded with gp10025-33 peptide in the presence of IL-2 (30 IU/ml) for 7 days. After the expansion phase, the cells were kept for an additional 5 days without supplements. Expression of exhaustion markers was measured in Pmel-1 or Pmel-1 x SLAMF6 -/- splenocytes. (F) Pmel-1 and Pmel-1 x SLAMF6 -/- splenocytes were expanded with gp10025-33 peptide in the presence of IL-2 (30 IU/ml) and 10 μg/ml anti-LAG-3 or isotype control for 7 days, and then incubated overnight with B16-F10/mhgp100 melanoma cells at a 1:1 effector-to-target ratio. IFN-γ secretion was measured by ELISA. (G–I) B16-F10/mhgp100 mouse melanoma cells were injected s.c. into the back of C57BL/6 mice. Pmel-1 x SLAMF6 -/- mouse splenocytes were expanded with gp10025-33 peptide and IL-2 (30 IU/ml) in the presence of either Anti-Lag3 or Isotype control. On day 7, Isotype or Anti-Lag3 activated cells were adoptively transferred i.v. into the irradiated tumor-bearing mice. Anti-Lag3 or Isotype control were injected i.p. five times in the 2 weeks post-transfer. N = 5 mice per group. Tumor size was measured three times a week. (G) Scheme of the experimental layout. (H) Tumor volume (Mean ± SEM) until day 30 post-tumor inoculation. (I) Tumor volume on day 16 post-tumor inoculation. *, p<0.05, **, p<0.01.