IL-2/α-CD40 induces the IFN-γ– and NO-dependent reduction in MMP9 activity within the tumor microenvironment. (A) WT and GKO mice were treated as indicated. (B) WT mice were treated as indicated with or without continuous L-NAME treatment. On day 22, mice were euthanized and the primary tumor was dissected and homogenized in RIPA lysis buffer. MMP9 activity was determined by gel zymography. Note that because the amount of lysate loaded in each lane was based on the same total protein concentration used for Western blot analyses in the previous figure, the same corresponding HPRT Western blot that was used as a loading control in the previous figure is shown for referencing purposes as a gel loading control. The results are representative of three separate experiments.