Fig. 7

T-MPs promote IRF4 upregulation by activating the cGAS-STING pathway. a BALB/c mouse monocytes were co-cultured with H22-MPs for 24 h. Then the phosphorylation of TBK1 and STAT6 was measured by western blot. b BALB/c mice were subjected to an i.m. injection of PKH26-stained H22-MPs for 24 h. Then, CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺PKH26⁺ monocytes around thigh muscles were isolated by flow sorting, and the phosphorylation of TBK1 and STAT6 was detected by western blot. c Monocytes transfected with cGAS, STING, TBK1 or STAT6 siRNA were co-incubated with H22-MPs. After 24 or 48 h, IRF4 expression was analyzed at the levels of both gene and protein. d The schematic diagram of effects on the immune microenvironment at T-MP injection site (left), and the mechanism by which T-MPs induce monocytes to differentiate into moDCs (right). Mean ± s.e.m. is represented in the data and two-tailed unpaired Student's t test was used to statistically analyze the P values. ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001