Adoptive transfer of IKKβ-targeted BMDMs inhibits tumor growth in vivo. (A) Representative bioluminescence imaging in vivo 14 d after adoptive transfer of BMDMs (n = 6; three independent experiments). ID8-Luc were injected i.p. into syngeneic mice and tumors were allowed to develop. After 35 d, WT, mock, and IKKβ^DN BMDMs were adoptively transferred and peritoneal cells were collected after an additional 7 and 14 d. Bioluminescence is presented as a pseudocolor scale: red, the highest photon flux; blue, the lowest photon flux. (B) Quantification of bioluminescence from primary tumors (n = 6 each) obtained on days 0, 7, and 14. Adoptively transferred IKKβ^DN BMDMs significantly reduced ID8 growth on day 14 (P < 0.05; t test with Welch's correction). (C) NO secretion into the peritoneal cavity. IKKβ^DN BMDMs increased NO release 4 h after adoptive transfer (P < 0.05; t test with Welch's correction). Data are represented as mean ± SD of n = 6. Representative data are shown from at least two independent experiments. (D) Cytokine profile in tumor ascites after 14 d. Ascites from mice treated with IKKβ-targeted BMDMs contained significantly lower amounts of IL-10 and TNF-α but higher amounts of IL-12 (P < 0.01; Mann-Whitney test). Total RNA was isolated from CD11b⁺-selected ascitic macrophages for real-time PCR analysis of IL-12p40 and arginase-1 expression. Data are represented as fold induction of mRNA expression compared with WT macrophages (n = 6). (E) MHC class II expression in the ascitic CD11b⁺ myeloid cell population measured by FACS (percentage of positive cells indicated). Representative histograms are shown from n = 6.