HGAL expression inhibits cell migration in vitro. (A) Transwell migration assays showed that exogenous HGAL expression in U2932 and TMD8 lymphoma cells decreased chemokinesis and SDF1-induced chemotaxis but it augmented IL-6–mediated motility inhibition. Knockdown of endogenous HGAL in BJAB lymphoma cells increased chemokinesis and SDF1-induced chemotaxis but it abrogated IL-6–mediated motility inhibition. (B) Confocal micrographs (shown as maximum projections) within the anterior chamber of the eye after injection of U2932 cells with (green) and without (red) HGAL expression. Also shown are the merged images including the backscatter channel showing the iris (gray). The HGAL+ and HGAL– cells were premixed in equal amounts (100 000 cells) and injected into the anterior chamber. HGAL+ cells were visualized based on GFP expression, and the HGAL– cells were visualized based on Cell-Tracker dye labeling ∼1 hour before injection. (C-D) In vivo measurements of relative densities and egress indices at days 1 (24 hours) and 3 after injection into the anterior chamber of mouse eyes for HGAL+ or HGAL– U2932 and BJAB cells. The relative density (shown as mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]) was calculated as the ratio (shown as %) of cells remaining in the eye after the injection on days 1 and 3 relative to the baseline on day 0 (day of injection). The egress index was calculated as the inverse of the ratio of the mean of ratios for each cell type on days 1 and 3. Data shown in panel A are based on 6 independent measurements repeated in 2 experiments. Data shown in panels C and D are based on 6 independent measurements in 3 mice in duplicates. *P <.05; **P < .01; ***P < .001; ****P < .0001. ns, not significant.