Fig. 5.

The increased effector CD8⁺ T cells are associated with the better anti-tumor efficacy in the PR group and mouse model.

(A) The representative plots of CD8⁺CD62L⁻CD44⁺ effector T cells in PBS (n = 4), ly6c (n = 5), PD-1(n = 5), and ly6c + PD-1 (n = 5) groups in mice. PBS represents blank control; ly6C represents anti-ly6c therapy; PD-1 represents anti-PD-1 therapy.

(B–D) The frequency of CD8⁺CD62L⁻CD44⁺ effector T cells in the (B) draining lymph node (DLN), (C) peripheral blood, and (D) the spleens. PBS, n = 4; ly6C, n = 5; PD-1, n = 5; ly6C + PD-1, n = 5. Two-tailed unpaired t-test was performed.

(E–F) The frequency of (E) CD8⁺ T cells and (F) CD8⁺CD62L⁻CD44⁺ T cells in tumors. PBS: N = 4; anti-PD-1: N = 5; Anti-ly6c:N = 5; Anti-PD-1 + Anti- ly6c: N = 5. Two-tailed unpaired t-test was performed.

(G) The representative plots of CD8⁺CD45RA⁺CD62L⁻CCR7⁻ effector T cells in peripheral blood of the PR group.

(H) The change of effector CD8⁺ T cells in human samples after anti-PD-1 treatment in the PR group. The effector cell was defined with the panel of CD8⁺CD62L⁻CD45RA⁺CCR7⁻. N = 7. Two-tailed paired t-test was performed.

(I) The effect of anti-PD-1 treatment on the level of effector CD8⁺ T cells in the SD group. N = 13. Two-tailed paired t-test was performed.

(J) The difference of effector CD8⁺ T cells in PR and SD groups after anti-PD-1 treatment. Two-tailed unpaired t-test was performed.

ns: no significant difference, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared with the control group. A P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.