Influence of progastrin on the phenotype of human monocyte-derived macrophages.

<p>Human peripheral monocytes were derived to macrophages in the presence or absence of progastrin and the phenotype of the resultant macrophages evaluated by analyzing the following parameters: expression of CD86 (A, C, n = 3); expression of CD206 (B, D, n = 3); secretion of IL12 (F, n = 4); and secretion of IL10 (G, n = 4). Bars represent mean ±SEM. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs corresponding value in vehicle-treated cells.</p

Influence of progastrin on human M1 and M2 macrophages.

<p>Human monocyte-derived macrophages were stimulated with LPS plus IFNγ to obtain a M1-phenotype or with IL4 to obtain M2-macrophages in the presence or absence of progastrin, and the resultant phenotype evaluated by analyzing the following parameters: expression of CD86 (A, n = 3); expression of CD206 (B, n = 5); secretion of IL10 (C, D, n = 5); and secretion of IL12 (E, F, n = 5). Bars represent mean ±SEM. *P<0.05 vs corresponding value in vehicle-treated cells; ⁺ P<0.05 and ⁺⁺P<0.01 vs corresponding value in control cells.</p

Characteristics of patients and tumors.

<p>Characteristics of patients and tumors.</p

Influence of progastrin-treated macrophages on colorectal cancer cells.

<p>The effects of human monocyte-derived macrophages obtained in the presence or absence of progastrin on the number (A) and the rate of apoptosis (B) of Caco-2 cells were analyzed in a co-culture system (24 h, n = 4). Bars represent mean ±SEM. *P<0.05 vs corresponding value in vehicle-treated macrophages, ⁺P<0.05 and ⁺⁺P<0.01 vs cells incubated with an empty insert (w/o MF).</p

Pattern of macrophage infiltration in colorectal cancer and healthy surrounding tissues.

<p>The immunoreactivity to CD68 (MF marker, A–B), CD86 (M1-MF marker, C–D) and CD206 (M2-MF marker, E–F) was analyzed in colorectal cancer (B, D, F) and healthy surrounding mucosa (A, C, E). (G) Quantitative analysis of positive cells for these molecules in a representative area of 0.22 mm² (Scale bar  = 0.2 mm). Bars represent mean ±SEM (n = 21). **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs corresponding value in normal mucosa.</p

Antibodies used in immunohistochemistry (IHC) and static cytometry studies.

<p>*Procedure to unmask the antigen.</p

Relationship between gastrin expression and the pattern of macrophage infiltration in colorectal cancer samples.

<p>The number of total macrophages (CD68 + cells, B), M1-macrophages (CD86+ cells, C), and M2-macrophages (CD206 cells, D), in the tumor and normal surrounding tissue were analyzed in relation to gastrin expression in tumoral tissue (A, score 1 to 4, scale bar  = 0.2 mm). A negative and significant correlation is observed between the intensity of gastrin staining and the number of M2-macrophages in normal mucosa and tumoral tissue (D).</p

Primer sequences of specific PCR products for each gene analyzed.

<p>Primer sequences of specific PCR products for each gene analyzed.</p