Fig. 2
Effect of the partial deficiency of the integrin subunit β2 on C26 colon carcinoma cells on tumor metastasis to the liver. Mice were sacrificed 14 days after either C26, β2-C26 cells i.s. inoculation, and metastatic development was quantified in paraffin embedded liver sections. In some experiments the mice were inoculated with a pool of β2-C26 cells or with C26 pre-treated with a neutralizing antibody for β2 integrin. a H&E staining showing a reduced size of metastatic foci in animals injected with β2-C26 cells versus C26 cells. b The area of liver occupied by the C26 cells or β2-C26 cells (left) and by C26, a pool of β2-C26 cells or by C26 pre-treated with a neutralizing antibody for β2 integrin (right). Total tumor burden was quantified as the area occupied by the tumor per 100 mm2 of liver area. c Tumor foci were classified by their size and their number quantified per liver tissue section. Data obtained from mice inoculated with C26 cells or β2-C26 cells are shown in the left and by C26, a pool of β2-C26 cells or by C26 pre-treated with a neutralizing antibody for β2 integrin in the right. Data are mean values ± SD from three different experiments (n = 15). Changes were considered statistically significant at * p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01. Scale bar 100 μm