Analysis of tumor cell invasion.

<p>A: Immunofluorescent staining for laminin (red), a component of the basement membrane was performed in OTCs cultured for one week. Laminin is disrupted by islands of tumor cells (white arrow heads) in OTCs containing macrophages that were stimulated with IL-4. B: Enzymatic degradation of collagen-IV was analyzed performing <i>in situ</i> collagen zymography on OTC cryosections. Collagen-IV can be degraded by MMP-2 and MMP-9. C: Immunofluorescent staining of MMP-2 shows increased signal in macrophage containing OTCs that were stimulated with IL-4 and, to a lesser extent in fibroblast containing OTCs. D: Immunofluorescent staining of MMP-9 reveals increased expression in macrophage containing OTCs stimulated with IL-4 as well as in fibroblast-containing OTCs. E: Thickness of dermal equivalents were quantified. Dermal equivalents are significantly reduced in OTCs containing macrophages or fibroblasts and macrophages stimulated with IL-4. Bar 10 µm.