Fig. 1

DIM inhibited the expansion and function of MDSCs in vitro. A BM-MDSCs were co-treated with 40 ng/ml GM-CSF and 40 ng/ml IL-6 and different doses of DIM (10 µM, 20 µM, 40 µM, 80 µM) for 4 days, and then analyzed by flow cytometry to examine the ratio of Gr-1⁺CD11b⁺ (total MDSCs, T-MDSCs), Ly-6G⁺CD11b⁺ (monocytic MDSCs, M-MDSCs) and Ly-6 C⁺CD11b⁺ cells (granulocytic MDSCs, G-MDSCs). B Relative mRNA levels of Arg1 and iNOS were determined in the BM-induced MDSCs treated with different concentrations of DIM. C CFSE-labeled CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells were co-cultured with the BM-induced MDSCs at 1:0.5 and 1:1 ratio for 3 days, and then the T cell proliferation rate was assayed by flow cytometry. Data are representative results from three independent experiments and the results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001