Fig. 4

The inhibition of MDK enhances the immunosuppressive microenvironment in HCC. (A) Expression levels of CD163, CD206, and IL-10, which are indicative of macrophage M2 polarization, were assessed in M0 cells after a 72-h treatment with MDK factor. (B) Expression levels of CD163, CD206, and IL-10 were analyzed in Huh7 cells that were treated with siNC and siMDK, followed by transwell co-culture with M0 cells for 48 h. (C) Expression levels of CD163, CD206, and IL-10 were assessed in MHCC-97H cells treated with siNC and siMDK after a 48-h transwell co-culture with M0 cells. Compare the significance of the difference between each group and the M0 or siNC group using Student's t-test. Probability values p < .05 denote statistical differences, with statistical significance marked by “*” for p < .05 and “**” for p < .01. Three independent replicate experiments were performed, with four replicates for each experiment in RT-qPCR. The quantification results are presented as the mean ± SD.