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Fig. 5 | Genome Biology

Fig. 5

From: Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals unique characteristics of hepatic metastases and pro-metastatic role of complement C1q in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Fig. 5

Tumor stroma plays important roles in PDAC metastasis. a Immune response was found gradually activated through N, PT, and HM. Comparing to Ns, the activity of immune response was increased in PTs (left panel). And it was further increased in HMs (right panel). b Multiple immune related pathways were found showing similar changing pattern as immune response. c Expression heatmap of representative genes of pathways showed in b. Among them, C1q that is involved in complement cascade was found mainly expressed at tumor stroma rather in tumor cells (d and e). Non-metastatic PDACs also showed overexpression of C1q in PTs compared to Ns (d). f Trans-well tests and wound healing test using PDAC cells lines CFPAC-1 and SW1990 showed that C1q would promote invasion and metastasis. g Identification of C1q-positive cells in PDAC. PDAC sections were double-stained for IF: C1q (green), CD68 (macrophage marker, red; left panel), CD163 (M2 macrophage marker, red; right panel). The double-positive cells appear in yellow (arrows). h In tumor microenvironment, M2 macrophages exhibited higher proportions in HMs compared to corresponding PTs

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