Fig. 3

CIML NK cells exhibit enhanced functional responses against hepatocarcinoma targets. Representative bivariate mass cytometry plots of IFN-γ (A) and TNF-α (C) expressed by c-NK cells and CIML NK cells stimulated by HepG2 cells at the designated effector-to-target ratios (E: T). Summary of data (mean ± s.e.m.) from the same donor showing percentages of IFN-γ-positive NK cells (B) and TNF-α–positive NK cells (D) at an E: T of 2:1. E The bar graphs show a comparison of IFN-γ secretion of c-NK cells and CIML NK cells following incubation with the indicated cell lines for six hours in which K562 cells worked as a positive control group. F The cytotoxic reactivity of c-NK and CIML NK cells was measured using CFSE/PI cytotoxicity assay, the target cells were HepG2 (left) and SK-hep-1(right), respectively. Statistical significance was calculated by an unpaired two-sided t-test. TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IFN-γ interferon-gamma