Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: Collagen remodeling promotes a GPCR-mediated mechanosensory immune checkpoint in ADGRG1+ CD8+ T cells and serves as a spatial biomarker of response to immunotherapy
doi: 10.64898/2025.12.19.695209
Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Top panel , representative images of PSR stained sagittal sections of mouse tongue orthotopically transplanted with 4MOSC1 cells expressing inducible LH2, from mice maintained on regular chow (No Dox) or Doxycycline-containing chow (Dox). Bottom panel , ROIs depicting collagen architecture by multiplex IF imaging using Lunaphore COMET platform, H&E and PSR staining. (B) Representative SHG ROIs of mice tumors from No Dox and Dox conditions, with corresponding collagen fiber overlays (CT-FIRE), curvature maps (CurveAlign), and orientation-based color density overlays (OrientationJ). (C) Collagen fiber length analysis in mouse tumors under No Dox (n=5 mice) and Dox (n=5 mice) conditions, measured with CT-FIRE. Data points correspond to individual ROIs. Data points in the graph correspond to individual ROIs from the tumors. (D) Collagen fiber alignment analysis in mouse tumors under No Dox (n=5 mice) and Dox (n=5 mice) conditions, measured with CurveAlign. Data points in the graph correspond to individual ROIs from the tumors. (E) Mass spectrometry analysis of LH2-mediated DHLNL covalent cross-links in mice tumors from No Dox (n=3) and Dox (n=4) conditions. (F) AFM analysis of tumor stiffness in mouse tumors from No Dox (n = 3 mice) and Dox (n = 3 mice) conditions. Data point in the graph represents an individual indentation measurement. (G) Immune cell types represented as proportion of CD45+ cells infiltrating 4MOSC1 tumors from No Dox (n = 7 mice) and Dox (n = 7 mice) conditions. (H) Specific T-lymphocyte populations represented as proportion of CD3+ cells infiltrating 4MOSC1 tumors from No Dox (n = 7 mice) and Dox (n = 7 mice) conditions. (I) Mean fluorescence intensities of PD1 and CTLA-4 expressed on CD8+ T-cells infiltrating 4MOSC1 tumors from No Dox (n = 6 mice) and Dox (n = 6 mice) conditions. (J) Granzyme B, IFN-γ, and TNF-α expressing CD8⁺ T-cells are represented as a proportion of CD8⁺ T-cells infiltrating 4MOSC1 tumors under No Dox (n = 6 mice) and Dox (n = 6 mice) conditions. (K) Representative images from Lunaphore COMET multiplex staining of 4MOSC1 tumors (PCK+; cyan color) showing spatial distribution and proximity of T-cells (CD3+; red color) to collagen fibers (Pan-collagen+; white color) within the TME of control (No Dox) and LH2 (LH2+; yellow color) expressing Dox group. Nuclei are shown in blue. (L-M) Violin plots showing the predicted association of CD3+ and CD8+ cells with collagen within a 3-cell distance, as determined by Python-based analysis. (N) Representative images from Lunaphore COMET multiplex staining of 4MOSC1 tumors (PCK+; cyan color) showing spatial distribution and proximity of CD8+ T-cells (CD8+; yellow color) producing cytokines TNFα ( Tnf α+, red color) and IFN-γ ( Ifng +, blue) to collagen fibers (Pan-collagen+; white color) within the TME of control (No Dox) and LH2 (LH2+; yellow color) expressing Dox group. (O) Left, Violin plot showing abundance of Tnf α RNA transcript dots in CD8+ T-cells; Right, the predicted association of Tnf α + CD8+ cells with collagen within a 3-cell distance, as determined by Python-based analysis. (P) Left, Violin plot showing abundance of Ifng RNA transcript dots in CD8+ T-cells; Right, the predicted association of Ifng + CD8+ cells with collagen within a 3-cell distance, as determined by Python-based analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using unpaired two-tailed Mann–Whitney U-test (C, D, H, I, J, L, M, O and P), unpaired one-tailed Student’s t test (E). Bar graphs represent mean ± SEM. ns, not significant. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.
Article Snippet: For each marker, heat induced epitope retrieval (HIER) was performed (EDTA pH 9.0 buffer or citrate pH 6.0), followed by blocking and primary antibody incubation, LH2 (Proteintech, Rb Poly, 1:50, dye 570) at RT for 60 min followed by OPAL HRP polymer and one of the OPAL fluorophores during the final TSA step.
Techniques: Staining, Expressing, Multiplex Assay, Imaging, Mass Spectrometry, Fluorescence, Control, Two Tailed Test, MANN-WHITNEY, One-tailed Test