Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: Unraveling AMPK and BET regulation of immune checkpoint biology: implications for personalized medicine
doi: 10.64898/2026.01.26.701869
Figure Lengend Snippet: BET proteins differentially regulate TIM-3, TIGIT, PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression on both T cells and NK cells. Purified PBMCs were activated by plate-bound anti-CD3 (10 µg/ml) and soluble anti-CD28 (2 µg/ml) ex vivo at 37□ for 72h and treated with pan-BET inhibitor JQ1 (400 nM) or BRD4-selective PROTAC degrader MZ-1 (50 nM), respectively, for the last 48h of 72h. Cell surface fluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis were performed to measure expression changes of TIM-3, TIGIT, PD-1, CTLA-4 on CD4+, CD8+ T cells and NK cells. (A-C, G-I) Representative histograms show expression shifts, comparing stimulated-only cells with stimulated plus JQ1 or plus MZ-1 inhibitors. X-axis: intensity of fluorescence signal. Y-axis: number of events (D-F, J-L) Corresponding bar graphs show mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of markers on T and NK cells, comparing stimulated cells to stimulated plus JQ1 or plus MZ-1. Two-tailed t-test and Mann Whitney U test determined statistical significance. (N=6; ns, p>0.05; *, p<0.05; **, p<0.01; ***, p<0.001; ****, p<0.0001)
Article Snippet: Pan-BET inhibitor JQ1 (Tocris), BRD4-selective PROTAC degrader MZ-1 (Tocris), and AMPK inhibitor Compound C (Tocris) were dissolved in DMSO to final concentrations of 400 nM, 50 nM and 5 μM respectively.
Techniques: Expressing, Purification, Ex Vivo, Fluorescence, Staining, Flow Cytometry, Two Tailed Test, MANN-WHITNEY