Expression of nucleus accumbens-1 in colon cancer negatively modulates antitumor immunity

Figure 1 In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity experiments of nucleus accumbens-1 on colon cancer cells. A: The effect of nucleus accumbens-1 (NAC-1) on the toxicity of CD8⁺ T cells on the colon cancer cell line RKO; B: The effects of NAC-1, CD8⁺ T cells and MEK inhibitors on tumor killing in vivo (^aP < 0.05). NAC-1: Nucleus accumbens-1.

Figure 2 Effect of nucleus accumbens-1 on the expression of programmed death receptor-1 ligand. A: Effect of nucleus accumbens-1 (NAC-1) on the mRNA expression of programmed death receptor-1 ligand (PD-L1); B: Effect of NAC-1 on the protein expression of PD-L1; C: The effect of PD-L1 on the transcription level of NAC-1; D: The effect of PD-L1 on the translation level of NAC-1; E: The effect of NAC-1 on the full promoter region of PD-L1; F: The effect of NAC-1 on the PD-L1 classic transcription factor binding segment (1:1, 2:1, 5:1, 10:1 are the ratios of CD8⁺ T cells to RKO; ^aP < 0.05). NAC-1: Nucleus accumbens-1; PD-L1: Programmed death receptor-1 ligand.

Figure 3 The effect of nucleus accumbens-1 on CD8⁺ T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells in the mouse colon cancer tumor microenvironment. A: Flow cytometric detection of the effects of nucleus accumbens-1 (NAC-1), CD8⁺ T cells and MEK inhibitors on the expression of CD8⁺ T cells; B: Statistical analysis of CD8⁺ T-cell expression levels in each group; C: Flow cytometric detection of the effect of NAC-1 on the expression of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs); D: Statistical analysis of the expression of MDSCs in each group; E: Flow cytometric detection of the effect of NAC-1 on the expression of regulatory T cell (Treg) cells; F: Statistical analysis of Treg expression in each group (^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01). NAC-1: Nucleus accumbens-1.

Figure 4 Exploring the relationship between nucleus accumbens-1, programmed death receptor-1 ligand and CD8 at the clinical level. A: Nucleus accumbens-1 (NAC-1), programmed death receptor-1 ligand (PD-L1), and CD8 staining results of typical tissue samples from several patients, scale bar = 50 μm; B: NAC-1 expression in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues; C: PD-L1 expression in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues; D: The expression of CD8 in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues. NAC-1: Nucleus accumbens-1.