Fig. 7

DIM mediated inhibitory effect on MDSCs depended on miR-21/STAT3 signaling pathway. A Relative mRNA levels and B protein levels of miR-21 targeting genes in the isolated BM cells from WT mice and miR-21^−/− mice after they were stimulated with 40 ng/ml GM-CSF and 40 ng/ml IL-6 for 4 days. C The protein levels of PTEN, PIAS3 and STAT3, p-STAT3 were examined in BM cells from WT mice and miR-21^−/− mice after they were stimulated and then transfected with miR-21 precursors, inhibitor and their matched controls. D The protein levels of PTEN, PIAS3 and STAT3, p-STAT3 were examined in BM-induced MDSCs after treated with DIM and miR-21 precursors for 4 days. 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. T-MDSC: total MDSCs; M-MDSC: monocytic MDSC; G-MDSC: granulocytic MDSC