For the dissemination model 52, melanoma cells were injected subcutaneously into the left pinna of the mice (4×105 cells in 30 μL RPMI1640). For the local growth model 53, the same number of cells was injected subcutaneously into the flank of the mice. In both models, the growth of primary tumors was followed by measuring the luminescence signal BMS-907351 purchase after i.p. administration of luciferin followed by in vivo imaging system (IVIS) 50 bioimaging. The volume of the tumor was also analyzed using an electronic caliber.

In the ear model, the in vivo imaging system (IVIS) signal, weight and volume of the draining LNs were also analyzed. At the end of all experiments, the tumors were isolated and used for immunohistochemistry or for cell separations. PLNs (axial and inguinal) and spleen were collected from unchallenged mice, and single-cell suspensions were generated by mechanical teasing. Erythrocytes were lysed from the spleen samples using a hypotonic buffer. T cells and B https://www.selleckchem.com/products/BIBW2992.html cells were isolated using MACS MicroBeads conjugated to monoclonal rat anti-mouse CD45R (B220) and VarioMACS As depletion columns (Miltenyi Biotech). The tumor-infiltrating leukocytes were released from the melanomas using collagenase D digestion and gentle teasing through a metal grid, and purified with CD45–PE staining followed

by anti-PE Easysep beads 53. This population was routinely found to be >80% leukocytes. Specific lymphoid purinergic activities were determined by using 2,83 H–ATP, 2,83 H–ADP (PerkinElmer), 2–3 H–AMP

or 2-3 H–adenosine (Amersham Biosciences), as described previously 54. Briefly, the lymphocyte suspensions (5–10×104 cells) were incubated at 37°C in a final volume of 80 μL RPMI-1640 supplemented Adenosine with 4 mM β-glycerophosphate with the following tracer substrates: 500 μM 3H–ATP (ATPase), 500 μM 3H–ADP–(ADPase), 300 μM 3 H–AMP (CD73), 300 μM 3 H adenosine (ADA), 400 μM 3 H–AMP plus 800 μM γ-phosphate-donating ATP (AK). The incubation times were chosen to ensure the linearity of the reaction (i.e. the amount of the enzyme products is not allowed to exceed 10–15% of the amount of the original substrate). Mixture aliquots were applied onto Alugram G/UV254 sheets (Macherey Nagel) and separated using TLC. The enzymatic activities were determined using scintillation β-counting, and expressed as nmol of the labeled substrate metabolized per 1 h by one million cells. Lymphocyte phenotyping by flow cytometry was done as described earlier 52, 53. For two-color staining, the isolated cells were first incubated with anti-CD73 mAb TY23, followed by FITC-conjugated anti-rat Ig, and finally by a cocktail of mAbs containing PerCP-Cy5.5-conjugated anti-CD8, Alexa647-conjugated- anti-CD4, and Pacific Blue 220-conjugated B220. In other experiments, the cells were stained with FITC-conjugated anti-mouse CD3, CD8, and CD62L (L-selectin) mAbs (BD Biosciences), in combination with R-PE-conjugated CD4 mAb (Caltag Laboratories).