Figure 3.

Downregulation of UBR-Ubiquitin Ligases in HCC Aggravates Tumor Load and Inflammation

Schematic representation of the experiment: timeline of tumor induction (injection of oncogene-encoding plasmids) and repeated injections of LNP-formulated siRNA. LNPs were injected for 4 weeks (A) or 5 weeks (B), once or twice a week. Tissues were collected for analysis on day 66 after tumor induction. (C and D) Liver/body mass ratio analysis of mice bearing HCC, treated for 4 weeks (C) or 5 weeks (D) with LNPs. Ratios were calculated to the ratios of the HCC control group. (E) Representative flow cytometry analysis of neutrophil and Ly6C^high populations in the spleen of HCC mice treated with LNPs. (F) Percent of neutrophil and Ly6C^high macrophage populations in the spleen of HCC mice treated with LNP, gated on CD45⁺ cells. Results show mean ± SEM; n = 3–10 mice per group. p values were determined by a Mann-Whitney test (*p < 0.05).