Fig. 5

Over-expressed let-7a/7b combined with CTLA-4 antibody suppresses the immune evasion of HNSCC. a the tumor cell implantation and the tumor cell and TIL isolation. b the body weight of mice at different time points. c, the tumor weight in mice at different time points. d the tumor sizes in mice after different treatments. e the expression of CD3 and TCF-4 in cells of tumors after different treatments (× 400). f the weight of isolated tumor of mice after different treatments. g the immunofluorescence staining (× 400) of CD8. PD-L1 and GZMB in tumors after different treatments. h the percentage of CD8+ and IFN-γ + in CD3+ TILs in tumors examined by flow cytometry. * p < 0.05 compared with the control group; # p < 0.05 compared with the treatment of let-7a/let-7b. The results were measurement data and were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Data among multiple groups were analyzed by ANOVA, with Tukey’s post hoc test conducted. Data at different time points among multiple groups were compared by repeated measure ANOVA, with post hoc test conducted using Bonferroni. The experiment was repeated three times. N = 6. HNSCC, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; TCF-4, transcription factor 4; PD-L1, programmed death-ligand 1; GZMB, Granzyme B; CD8, cluster of differentiation 8; IFN-γ, interferon–γ; TIL, tumor infiltrating lymphocyte; ANOVA, analysis of variance; CTLA-4, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4