Combined TIM-3 and PD-1 blockade restrains hepatocellular carcinoma development by facilitating CD4+ and CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses

Figure 2 Combined T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 and programmed cell death protein 1 blockade restrained xenograft tumor growth in mice. A xenograft mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma was established by subcutaneously injecting HepG2 cells into mice. These model mice were treated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype control (IgG group; n = 8), anti-T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3) monoclonal antibody (mAb) (TIM-3 mAb group; n = 8), anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) mAb (PD-1 mAb group; n = 8), and combined anti-TIM-3 mAb and anti-PD-1 mAb (TIM-3 mAb + PD-1 mAb group; n = 8) for 4 wk. A: Tumor images in the four groups; B: Tumor volume; C: Tumor weight of mice in the four groups were recorded; D and E: The spleen index (D) and thymus index (E) were determined after euthanasia. Data from at least three independent experiments were presented as mean ± SD. ^dP < 0.01, compared with healthy control mice; ^aP < 0.01, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.01, compared with the immunoglobulin G isotype control group. PD-1: Programmed cell death protein 1; TIM-3: T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3; IgG: Immunoglobulin G; mAb: Monoclonal antibody.