Journal: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR

Article Title: Neutrophil-macrophage crosstalk via NETs–IL-17/VEGF/S100A9 axis promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression

doi: 10.1186/s13046-025-03618-x

Figure Lengend Snippet: The levels of NETs increase in HCC patients, especially in advanced and metastatic stages. A A heatmap illustrating the differential expression patterns of NETs-related genes in normal and HCC samples based on TCGA database analysis. B Box plots depicting the expression differences of NETs-related genes between normal and HCC samples from the TCGA database. C , D Representative images of HE (Hematoxylin and eosin) and IF staining for CD66b (C) and CitH3 (D) in tissue sections from HCs and HCC patients. The mean IOD of CD66b or CitH3 was quantified (Image Pro Plus) from three random regions per section (HC, n = 5; HCC, n = 5) and shown as fold change relative to HCs. E Representative images of IF staining for CitH3 in peripheral blood neutrophils from HC and HCC patient F Western blot analysis of CitH3 expression in peripheral blood neutrophils from HCs ( n = 8) and HCC ( n = 8) patients, with band intensities normalized to β-actin and shown as fold change relative to controls G ELISA analysis of serum MPO-DNA levels in HCs and HCC patients. H ELISA analysis of serum MPO-DNA levels in HCC patients at different TNM stages (I–IV). I ELISA analysis of serum MPO-DNA levels in HCC patients with and without metastasis. J ELISA analysis of serum MPO-DNA levels in HCC patients with intrahepatic metastasis and extrahepatic metastasis. K Western blot analysis of CitH3 expression in peripheral blood neutrophils from HCC patients with ( n = 6) and without ( n = 6) extrahepatic metastasis. Band intensities were normalized to β-actin and quantified relative to the non-metastasis group White and black scale bars: 50 μm. Data are presented as median (IQR) (G-J) and other data are presented as mean ± SD. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. Student’s t test (C, D, F, K), Mann–Whitney U test (B, G, I, J), Kruskal–Wallis test (H)

Article Snippet: Neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers and HCC patients using the Human Peripheral Blood Neutrophil Isolation Kit (P9040, Solarbio, China), according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Techniques: Quantitative Proteomics, Expressing, Staining, Western Blot, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, MANN-WHITNEY

Journal: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR

Article Title: Neutrophil-macrophage crosstalk via NETs–IL-17/VEGF/S100A9 axis promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression

doi: 10.1186/s13046-025-03618-x

Figure Lengend Snippet: Activation of IL-17R/NF-κB signaling by NETs-attached IL-17 is responsible for NETs-induced M2 macrophage polarization. A Schematic illustration of the transcriptome sequencing protocol for THP1-M0 under three treatment conditions. The volcano plot shows significantly DEGs for Group B vs. A, Group C vs. A, and Group C vs. B. B KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs was conducted using the DAVID tool. C FCM analysis of the proportion of CD68 + CD206 + M2 derived from THP-1-M0 following 48-hour co-culture of HuH-7 cells with NETs and (or) AMG827. Quantification of the fold change in the proportion from three independent experiments is shown in the right panel. D Western blot analysis of IL-10 and VEGF expression in cell lysates following the same treatments as in C. Densitometric values were normalized to β-actin and compared to the control group, with quantification shown in the right panel E Western blot analysis of IL-17 expression in extracted and purified NETs from peripheral blood neutrophils of HCs ( n = 8) and HCC patients ( n = 8). F ELISA analysis of IL-17 levels carried by NETs standardized to 50 ng/µL in HCs ( n = 8) and patients with HCC ( n = 8). G Western blot analysis of IL-17 expression in peripheral blood neutrophils from HCs ( n = 8) and HCC ( n = 8) patients. Densitometric values were normalized to β-actin and shown as a fold change relative to HCs. H Representative IF images of IL-17 and NE staining in peripheral blood neutrophils with (lower panel) or without PMA stimulation (upper panel) for 4 h from HCs and HCC patients. I Western blot analysis was conducted to assess the expression levels of p-65 and p-p65(S536) in THP-1-M0 following 48 h co-culture of HuH-7 cells with NETs and (or) AMG827. Densitometric values were normalized to β-actin and shown as fold changes relative to control in the right panel. J FCM was used to analyze the proportion of CD68 + CD206 + M2 derived from THP-1-M0 following 48-hour co-culture of HuH-7 cells with NETs and (or) BAY11-7082. Quantification of the fold change in the proportion from three independent experiments is shown in the right panel. K IF analysis of CD206 + M2 macrophage from the above co-culture systems of J treatment for 48 h. L ELISA analysis of secretion levels of M2d-related cytokines VEGF, IL-10 and TGF-β, in the culture supernatant from the above co-culture systems of J treatment for 48 h White scale bars: 20 μm. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Ns, not significant. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. One-way ANOVA followed by the Newman-Keuls multiple comparison test (C, D, I, J, L); Student’s t test (F, G)

Article Snippet: Neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers and HCC patients using the Human Peripheral Blood Neutrophil Isolation Kit (P9040, Solarbio, China), according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Techniques: Activation Assay, Sequencing, Derivative Assay, Co-Culture Assay, Western Blot, Expressing, Control, Purification, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Staining, Comparison