fig6

Figure 6. IL-31 blockade enhances anti-PD-1 therapy in gastric cancer, potentially counteracting the immunosuppressive influence of FAP⁺CAFs. (A and B) CAFs were isolated from gastric cancer tissues, and FAP expression in CAF cells was upregulated using lentiviral vectors. FAP⁺CAFs were mixed with gastric cancer cell lines and implanted into humanized mice. Treatment began when the tumor volume reached approximately 50 mm³. The results showed that tumors treated with anti-PD-1 or anti-IL-31 monotherapy showed moderately reduced volumes compared to controls, while the combination of anti-PD-1 and anti-IL-31 antibodies led to a significantly greater reduction in tumor size (n = 5). ^**P < 0.01; ^***P < 0.001; ^****P < 0.0001; bars: means ± standard deviation. CAFs: Cancer-associated fibroblasts.