Transmembrane protein 176B promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer through inflammasome inhibition

Figure 5 Short hairpin RNA targeting transmembrane protein 176B increased inhibition rate of interleukin-2-exposed natural killer cells on CT26 cells. A: Flow cytometry was used to evaluate CD3^-NK1.1⁺ cell number and CD107 expression post interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulation in natural killer (NK) cells. n = 3 in each group; B: Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was applied to assess the relative expression of TMEM176B and NLRP3 in CT26 cells. n = 3 in each group; C: MTT assay was used to determine the inhibition rate of IL-2-exposed NK cells on CT26 cells with TMEM176B or NLRP3 knockdown over 24, 48, and 72 hours. n = 3 in each group. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01. NK: Natural killer; sh-TMEM176B: Short hairpin RNA targeting transmembrane protein 176B; sh-NC: Short hairpin RNA interference-negative control; IL-2: Interleukin-2.