Fig. 1

The absence of NK cells and PEDF increased the number of hepatic metastases. a Average number of metastases per liver section in an orthotopic murine model of ocular melanoma. NK cells were depleted from C57BL/6 J mice by treatment with anti-asialo GM1 serum; PEDF^−/− C57BL/6 mice were used for the PEDF^−/− orthotopic model. Data represents mean ± SEM, ***p < 0.001 using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-test. Total mice per group: WT: n = 13, NK depleted: n = 17, PEDF^−/−: n = 16. b Size of individual metastases were measured and stratified based on the following, stage 1: metastases < 50 μm; stage 2: metastases 50–200 μm; stage 3: macrometastases > 200 μm. Data represents mean ± SEM, statistical analyses done using The Holm-Sidak t-test; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0005. c Representative histological images of the different stages. d Grossly visible metastases from NK-depleted group. Metastases were visible to the naked eye following liver harvesting of NK-depleted mice, 3-weeks post inoculation of cells