Figure 5
Blockade of VEGF-C/D-VEGFR-3 signaling suppresses profound lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis, but not recruitment of CD11b+/CD68+ TAM. 1 × 106 MBT-2 cells were injected into the urinary bladders of 8-10-week old female C3H mice. At the day of and two weeks after the tumor cell injection, 1 × 109 pfu Ade-βgal or Ade-sVR3 were injected intravenously to the OUBC mice. 4 weeks after the tumor cell injection, the bladder and the SLN were sampled. (A) Images showing H&E stained sections of tumors. Scale bars, 2 mm. (B) Comparison of cross-sectional area of tumors. Graph shows mean ± SD; n = 5 for each group. (C) Images showing LYVE-1+ LVs and PECAM-1+ BVs in tumors. Scale bars, 200 μm. (D) Comparison of LV numbers at different sizes of LV in the tumor sections. Graph shows mean ± SD; n = 5 for each group. *p < 0.05 versus Ade-βgal. (E) Comparison of BVD per total sectioned area of tumors. Graph shows mean ± SD; n = 5 for each group. (F) Images showing CD11b+ TAM and LYVE-1+ cells. Scale bars, 200 μm. (G) Left panel; images showing LYVE-1+ LVs and PECAM-1+ BVs in LNs. Right panel; images showing LYVE-1+ LVs and CytoK+ metastatic cancer cells in LNs. Scale bars, 500 μm. (H) Comparison of LVD and BVD in LNs. Graph shows mean ± SD; n = 5 for each group. *p < 0.05 versus Ade-βgal. (I) Comparison of densities of CytoK+ metastatic cancer cells in LNs. Graph shows mean ± SD; n = 5 for each group. *p < 0.05 versus Ade-βgal.