Th22 cell accumulation is associated with colorectal cancer development

Figure 1 Immunohistochemistry staining of tissues. A: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of normal colon tissues; B: IHC staining of colon cancer tissues.

Figure 2 Expression of Th22 cells and related cytokines in colorectal cancer. A: Gated on FSC/SSC and CD4⁺ subset, the proportion of Th22 cells in the CD4⁺ subset is presented in quadrant Q1; B: Average proportion of Th22 cells in tumor and paratumor tissues; C: Expression levels of interleukin-22, AHR, CCL20, CCL22 and CCL27 in tumor and paratumor tissues were measured by RT-qPCR. The relative expression levels were normalized to the level of β-actin mRNA for each sample. Each bar represents the mean ± SE (n = 50), ^aP < 0.05, tumor vs paratumor. NS: Not significant.

Figure 3 Effects of interleukin-22 on colon cancer cells. A: Flow cytometry to measure colon cancer cell proliferation in the presence of interleukin (IL)-22 or IL-22 + S3I-201; B: Flow cytometry for colon cancer cell apoptosis in the presence of IL-22 or IL-22 + S3I-201; C: Average proportion of proliferating colon cancer cells in the presence of IL-22 or IL-22 + S3I-201; D: Average proportion of apoptotic colon cancer cells in the presence of IL-22 or IL-22 + S3I-201. Each bar represents the mean ± SE (n = 18). ^aP < 0.05 vs the control medium.

Figure 4 Effects of interleukin-22 on colon cancer in vivo. A: Tumor tissues were obtained from BALB/c nude mice; B: Tumor growth curves for interleukin (IL)-22, IL-22 + S3I-201 and control group mice. The tumor volume was calculated as follows: (major circumference × minor circumference²)/2. Each plot represents the mean ± SE (n = 7). ^aP < 0.05 vs the control.