Irreversible electroporation combined with checkpoint blockade stimulates antitumor immune response in a hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model

Figure 1 Irreversible electroporation combined with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 treatment. A-D: Enhanced the infiltration of T lymphocytes. Proportions of cluster of differentiation (CD) 3⁺ T cells in a single-cell suspension derived from tumor tissues (A); Proportions of CD4⁺ T cells (B); Proportions of CD8⁺ T cells (C); CD4⁺: CD8⁺ ratio (D); E and F: Increases natural killer and B cell infiltration. Proportions of natural killer cells in a single-cell suspension derived from tumor tissues (E); Proportions of B cells (F). Values are expressed as means ± SED. ^aP < 0.05. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. CD: Cluster of differentiation; NK: Natural killer; IRE: Irreversible electroporation; PD-1: Programmed cell death protein 1.

Figure 2 The irreversible electroporation combined programmed cell death protein 1 antibody markedly altered the levels of Th1 cytokines in peripheral blood. A: Plasma levels of interleukin-2; B: Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-β; C: Plasma levels of interferon-γ. Values are expressed as means ± SED. ^aP < 0.05. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. IL-2: Interleukin-2; TNF-β: Tumor necrosis factor-β; INF-γ: Interferon-γ; IRE: Irreversible electroporation; PD-1: Programmed cell death protein 1.

Figure 3 The irreversible electroporation combined programmed cell death protein 1 antibody resulted in a substantial enhancement of messenger RNA expression of cluster of differentiation 8 in the tumor tissue. Values are expressed as means ± SED. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. CD: Cluster of differentiation; mRNA: Messenger RNA; IRE: Irreversible electroporation; PD-1: Programmed cell death protein 1.

Figure 4 The irreversible electroporation combined programmed cell death protein 1 antibody markedly enhanced tumor regression. Variations in tumor size expressed as means ± SED. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. IRE: Irreversible electroporation; PD-1: Programmed cell death protein 1.