Fig. 1From: Natural killer cells and pigment epithelial-derived factor control the infiltrative and nodular growth of hepatic metastases in an Orthotopic murine model of ocular melanomaThe 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 cellsBack to article page