Astragaloside III Enhances Anti-Tumor Response of NK Cells by Elevating NKG2D and IFN-γ

Authors

Xingmeng Chen, Tianjin University
Xi Chen, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Junxiao Gao, Tianjin University
Han Yang, Tianjin University
Yue Duan, Tianjin University
Benjamin Feng, Grand Valley State UniversityFollow
Xin He, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Xiaoqun Gong, Tianjin University
Hanjie Wang, Tianjin University
Xiaoli Wu, Tianjin University
Jin Chang, Tianjin University

Keywords

Astragaloside III, natural killer cells, anti-tumor, natural killer group 2D, IFN-γ

Disciplines

Pharmacology

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells play an irreplaceable role in the development of colon cancer, in which antitumor function of NK cells was impaired. Astragaloside III is a natural compound from Astragalus that has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects in various systems. However, few studies have evaluated the antitumor effects of Astragaloside III through stimulating systemic immunity and regulating NK cells. In this study, flow cytometry, immunohistochemical analysis, and immunofunctional assays were performed to elucidate the functions of Astragaloside III in restoring antitumor function of NK cells. We demonstrated that Astragaloside III significantly elevated the expression of natural killer group 2D (NKG2D), Fas, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in NK cells, leading to increased tumor-killing ability. Experiments in cell co-culture assays and CT26-bearing mice model further confirmed that Astragaloside III could effectively impede tumor growth by increasing infiltration of NK cells into tumor and upregulating the antitumor response of NK cells. We further revealed that Astragaloside III increased IFN-γ secretion of NK cells by enhancing the expression of transcription factor T-bet. In conclusion, the effective anti-tumor function of Astragaloside III was achieved through up-regulation of the immune response of NK cells and elevation of NKG2D, Fas, and IFN-γ production.

Comments

Original publication by and copyright © Frontiers Media.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Original Citation

Chen, X., Chen, X., Gao, J., Yang, H., Duan, Y., Feng, Y., He, X., Gong, X., Wang, H., Wu, X., & Chang, J. (2019). Astragaloside III Enhances Anti-Tumor Response of NK Cells by Elevating NKG2D and IFN-γ. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 0. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00898

ScholarWorks Citation

Chen, Xingmeng; Chen, Xi; Gao, Junxiao; Yang, Han; Duan, Yue; Feng, Benjamin; He, Xin; Gong, Xiaoqun; Wang, Hanjie; Wu, Xiaoli; and Chang, Jin, "Astragaloside III Enhances Anti-Tumor Response of NK Cells by Elevating NKG2D and IFN-γ" (2019). Peer Reviewed Articles. 69.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/bms_articles/69