Fig. 6

Blood-tumor barrier phenotype in the presence of macrophages. a Representative image of BTB model with CellTracker-labeled macrophage co-culture. iBMECs (red), JIMT-1-BR (green), macrophages (magenta). b–c Quantification of BTB spheroid growth and microvessel lifespan with and without macrophage co-culture. End points determined when iBMECs are > 50% detached or collapsed from the hydrogel. Quantification across n = 10 BTB devices and n = 11 BTB + macrophage devices. d Volcano plots depicting significantly (adjusted p < 0.05) upregulated genes (blue) and downregulated genes (red) between BBB and BTB microvessels (n = 3 replicates each). Bulk RNA was collected from control microvessels (n = 3) and microvessels surrounded by JIMT-1-BR spheroids (n = 3), 2 days after seeding of iBMECs. e Lollipop plot highlighting selected Hallmark gene sets enriched and depleted in BTB microvessels. f Comparison of IL-8 concentration between BTB and BTB + macrophage microvessels (n = 5 microvessels per condition). Data are presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05. See also Additional file 1: Figs. S3, S4 and Additional file 2: Data S1