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He Z, Liu X, Qin S, Yang Q, Na J, Xue Z, Zhong L. Anticancer Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharide and Its Application in Cancer Immunotherapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:636. [PMID: 38794206 PMCID: PMC11124422 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) derived from A. membranaceus plays a crucial role in traditional Chinese medicine. These polysaccharides have shown antitumor effects and are considered safe. Thus, they have become increasingly important in cancer immunotherapy. APS can limit the spread of cancer by influencing immune cells, promoting cell death, triggering cancer cell autophagy, and impacting the tumor microenvironment. When used in combination with other therapies, APS can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce toxicity and side effects. APS combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, relay cellular immunotherapy, and cancer vaccines have broadened the application of cancer immunotherapy and enhanced treatment effectiveness. By summarizing the research on APS in cancer immunotherapy over the past two decades, this review elaborates on the anticancer mechanism of APS and its use in cancer immunotherapy and clinical trials. Considering the multiple roles of APS, this review emphasizes the importance of using APS as an adjunct to cancer immunotherapy and compares other polysaccharides with APS. This discussion provides insights into the specific mechanism of action of APS, reveals the molecular targets of APS for developing effective clinical strategies, and highlights the wide application of APS in clinical cancer therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqing He
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; (Z.H.); (X.L.); (S.Q.); (Q.Y.); (J.N.)
| | - Xiyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; (Z.H.); (X.L.); (S.Q.); (Q.Y.); (J.N.)
| | - Simin Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; (Z.H.); (X.L.); (S.Q.); (Q.Y.); (J.N.)
| | - Qun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; (Z.H.); (X.L.); (S.Q.); (Q.Y.); (J.N.)
| | - Jintong Na
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; (Z.H.); (X.L.); (S.Q.); (Q.Y.); (J.N.)
| | - Zhigang Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; (Z.H.); (X.L.); (S.Q.); (Q.Y.); (J.N.)
| | - Liping Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; (Z.H.); (X.L.); (S.Q.); (Q.Y.); (J.N.)
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
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Wang W, Zhao B, Zhang Z, Kikuchi T, Li W, Jantrawut P, Feng F, Liu F, Zhang J. Natural polysaccharides and their derivatives targeting the tumor microenvironment: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131789. [PMID: 38677708 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Polysaccharides have gained attention as valuable supplements and natural medicinal resources, particularly for their anti-tumor properties. Their low toxicity and potent anti-tumor effects make them promising candidates for cancer prevention and treatment. The tumor microenvironment is crucial in tumor development and offers potential avenues for novel cancer therapies. Research indicates that polysaccharides can positively influence the tumor microenvironment. However, the structural complexity of most anti-tumor polysaccharides, often heteropolysaccharides, poses challenges for structural analysis. To enhance their pharmacological activity, researchers have modified the structure and properties of natural polysaccharides based on structure-activity relationships, and they have discovered that many polysaccharides exhibit significantly enhanced anti-tumor activity after chemical modification. This article reviews recent strategies for targeting the tumor microenvironment with polysaccharides and briefly discusses the structure-activity relationships of anti-tumor polysaccharides. It also summarises the main chemical modification methods of polysaccharides and discusses the impact of chemical modifications on the anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides. The review aims to lay a theoretical foundation for the development of anti-tumor polysaccharides and their derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhongtao Zhang
- Tumor Precise Intervention and Translational Medicine Laboratory, The Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Taian 271000, China; Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Anti-drug Resistant Drug Research, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian 271000, China
| | - Takashi Kikuchi
- Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4-20-1 Nasahara, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1094, Japan
| | - Wei Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Miyama 2-2-1, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan
| | - Pensak Jantrawut
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Feng Feng
- School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - FuLei Liu
- Tumor Precise Intervention and Translational Medicine Laboratory, The Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Taian 271000, China; Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Anti-drug Resistant Drug Research, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian 271000, China.
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Wu CY, Yang YH, Lin YS, Shu LH, Liu HT, Lu CK, Wu YH, Wu YH. The Effect and Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharides on T Cells and Macrophages in Inhibiting Prostate Cancer. Biomed J 2024:100741. [PMID: 38677490 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact and underlying mechanisms of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on prostate cancer, particularly its role in immunomodulation, remain inadequately elucidated. METHODS This study employed the XTT assay for assessing proliferation in prostate cancer cells and macrophages. T cell proliferation was determined using the Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester labeling assay. APS's effect on T cells and macrophages was scrutinized via flow cytometry, Western blot analysis, ELISA, quantitative PCR and cytokine membrane arrays. The effect of APS on interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1 was investigated by the PD-L1/PD-1 homogeneous assay. Additionally, the impact of conditioned medium from T cells and macrophages on PC-3 cell migration was explored through migration assays. RESULTS It was observed that APS at concentrations of 1 and 5 mg/mL enhanced the proliferation of CD8+ T cells. At a concentration of 5 mg/mL, APS activated both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, attenuated PD-L1 expression in prostate cancer cells stimulated with interferon gamma (IFN-γ) or oxaliplatin, and moderately decreased the population of PD-1+ CD4+ and PD-1+ CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, APS at this concentration impeded the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1, inhibited the promotion of prostate cancer migration mediated by RAW 264.7 cells, THP-1 cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells, and initiated apoptosis in prostate cancer cells treated with conditioned medium from APS (5 mg/mL)-treated CD8+ T cells, RAW 264.7 cells, or THP-1 cells. CONCLUSION The findings indicate a potential role of 5 mg/mL APS in modulating the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and influencing the immune response, encompassing T cells and macrophages. Consequently, further in vivo research is recommended to assess the efficacy of APS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Yuan Wu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; School of Chinese medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, TaoYuan, Taiwan; Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Yao-Hsu Yang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; School of Chinese medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, TaoYuan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Shih Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsin Shu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Te Liu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Kuang Lu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Huei Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, TaoYuan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Heng Wu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Xu Q, Cheng W, Wei J, Ou Y, Xiao X, Jia Y. Synergist for antitumor therapy: Astragalus polysaccharides acting on immune microenvironment. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:179. [PMID: 37741920 PMCID: PMC10517906 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00798-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Various new treatments are emerging constantly in anti-tumor therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, the efficacy is still not satisfactory. Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Radix astragali. Studies found that astragalus polysaccharides have gained great significance in increasing the sensitivity of anti-tumor treatment, reducing the side effects of anti-tumor treatment, reversing the drug resistance of anti-tumor drugs, etc. In this review, we focused on the role of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment. We reviewed the immunomodulatory effect of astragalus polysaccharides on macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes. We found that astragalus polysaccharides can promote the activities of macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes and induce the expression of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, we summarized the clinical applications of astragalus polysaccharides in patients with digestive tract tumors. We summarized the effective mechanism of astragalus polysaccharides on digestive tract tumors, including apoptosis induction, proliferation inhibition, immunoactivity regulation, enhancement of the anticancer effect and chemosensitivity. Therefore, in view of the multiple functions of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment and its clinical efficacy, the combination of astragalus polysaccharides with antitumor therapy such as immunotherapy may provide new sparks to the bottleneck of current treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xu
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Cheng
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinrui Wei
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Ou
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xian Xiao
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingjie Jia
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.
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He L, Xu K, Niu L, Lin L. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) attenuated PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression via the miR-133a-3p/MSN axis in HCC. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2022; 60:1710-1720. [PMID: 36086826 PMCID: PMC9467620 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2112963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a new tumour therapeutic drug, that has an inhibitory effect on a variety of solid tumours. Tumour cell immunosuppression is related to the up-regulation of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). However, whether APS exerts its antitumor effect by regulating PD-L1 remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To explore whether APS exerts its antineoplastic effect via regulating PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS SMMC-7721 cells were subcutaneous injected into BALB/C mice for HCC model establishment. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg APS for 12 days. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to assess CD8+ T cells' rate and PD-L1 level in HCC tissues. HCC cells were pre-treated with 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL APS for 4 h, then were treated with 10 ng/mL IFN-γ 24 h. PD-L1 level and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. PD-L1 and Moesin (MSN) proteins were measured by western blot. MiR-133a-3p and MSN mRNA levels were assessed by qRT-PCR. The targets of miR-133a-3p were predicted by starBase, and which was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS Our findings illustrated that APS dose-dependently inhibited HCC growth tested with IC50 values of 4.2 mg/mL, and IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression and attenuated PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression in HCC cells. APS attenuated PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression via miR-133a-3p in HCC cells. Besides, miR-133a-3p targeted to MSN, and MSN inhibited the antitumor effect of APS by maintaining the stability of PD-L1. Moreover, APS attenuated PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression via the miR-133a-3p/MSN axis. CONCLUSIONS APS attenuated PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression via miR-133a-3p/MSN axis to develop an antitumor effect. APS may be an effective drug for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua He
- Department of Oncology, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kecheng Xu
- Department of Oncology, Fuda Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lizhi Niu
- Department of Oncology, Fuda Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lizhu Lin
- Division of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- CONTACT Lizhu Lin Division of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No.16, JichangRoad, Guangzhou510504, Guangdong Province, P.R. China
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Li CX, Liu Y, Zhang YZ, Li JC, Lai J. Astragalus polysaccharide: a review of its immunomodulatory effect. Arch Pharm Res 2022; 45:367-389. [PMID: 35713852 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-022-01393-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress on the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide and provide valuable reference information. We review the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on central and peripheral immune organs, including bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, and mucosal tissues. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on a variety of immune cells is summarized. Studies have shown that Astragalus polysaccharide can promote the activities of macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and microglia and induce the expression of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. The immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide makes it promising for the treatment of many diseases, including cancer, infection, type 1 diabetes, asthma, and autoimmune disease. Among them, the anticancer effect is the most prominent. In short, Astragalus polysaccharide is a valuable immunomodulatory medicine, but further high-quality studies are warranted to corroborate its clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Xiao Li
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-Zhen Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing-Chun Li
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jiang Lai
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China.
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Kong F, Chen T, Li X, Jia Y. The Current Application and Future Prospects of Astragalus Polysaccharide Combined With Cancer Immunotherapy: A Review. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:737674. [PMID: 34721026 PMCID: PMC8548714 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.737674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
So far, immunotherapy has been shown to have impressive effects on different cancers in clinical trials. All those immunotherapies are generally derived from three main therapeutic approaches: immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune cell vaccination, and adoptive cellular immunotherapy. Our research systematically reviewed a wide range of clinical trials and laboratory studies of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and elucidated the potential feasibility of using APS in activating adoptive immunotherapy. Apart from being effective in adaptive “passive” immunotherapy such as lymphokine-activated killer treatment and dendritic cell (DC)–cytokine–induced killer treatment, APS could also regulate the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 on the surface of the immune cells, as a part in the immune checkpoint inhibitory signaling pathway by activating the immune-suppressed microenvironment by regulating cytokines, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and immune cells, such as DCs, macrophages, NK cells, and so on. In view of the multiple functions of APS in immunotherapy and tumor microenvironment, a combination of APS and immunotherapy in cancer treatment has a promising prospect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanming Kong
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Tianqi Chen
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaojiang Li
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingjie Jia
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
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Li Y, Wang X, Ma X, Liu C, Wu J, Sun C. Natural Polysaccharides and Their Derivates: A Promising Natural Adjuvant for Tumor Immunotherapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:621813. [PMID: 33935714 PMCID: PMC8080043 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.621813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment process of tumor is advanced with the development of immunotherapy. In clinical experience, immunotherapy has achieved very significant results. However, the application of immunotherapy is limited by a variety of immune microenvironment. For a long time in the past, polysaccharides such as lentinan and Ganoderma lucidum glycopeptide have been used in clinic as adjuvant drugs to widely improve the immunity of the body. However, their mechanism in tumor immunotherapy has not been deeply discussed. Studies have shown that natural polysaccharides can stimulate innate immunity by activating upstream immune cells so as to regulate adaptive immune pathways such as T cells and improve the effect of immunotherapy, suggesting that polysaccharides also have a promising future in cancer therapy. This review systematically discusses that polysaccharides can directly or indirectly activate macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells etc., binding to their surface receptors, inducing PI3K/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Notch and other pathways, promote their proliferation and differentiation, increasing the secretion of cytokines, and improve the state of immune suppression. These results provide relevant basis for guiding polysaccharide to be used as adjuvants of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaoran Ma
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jibiao Wu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, China.,Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
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Isolation of anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies with neutralizing effects from an Astragalus-induced immune antibody library. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 88:107007. [PMID: 33182041 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharides (APS) can improve immunity and enhance treatment reactions. This study analyzed the effects of effective antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibody production in mice treated with APS. After APS treatment, the serum of mice produced the antibody reactions that can cross-validate VEGF. The isolated single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies could neutralize VEGF and inhibit in vivo tumor growth. Of the scFvs, scFv 4E can significantly compete the interaction of bevacizumab with VEGF. In cell experiments, scFv 4E effectively inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by VEGF in vitro. In a matrix gel-assisted angiogenesis model, scFv 4E significantly inhibited angiogenesis reactions. In addition, in a xenograft model established in the colorectal cancer cell strain HCT116, scFv 4E treatment inhibited tumor growth by up to 52.7%. Finally, molecule docking was performed to simulate the complex interactions of scFv 4E and VEGF, the main driving forces of which involve the hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds of Tyr108 and Tyr 109 of the complementarity-determining region H3 loop with VEGF. The results help in establishing antibody library with high diversity for selecting antibodies with specificity. In addition, this study indirectly expounded the correlations of APS enhancing immunity regulation in vivo.
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Characteristic of TIGIT and DNAM-1 Expression on Foxp3+ γδ T Cells in AML Patients. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:4612952. [PMID: 32802845 PMCID: PMC7403925 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4612952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Foxp3+ γδ regulatory T (γδ Treg) cells promote tumor growth by various mechanisms and induce immuno-senescence. The novel immune checkpoint coinhibitory receptor T cell Ig and ITIM domain (TIGIT) shares similar ligands as the costimulatory receptor DNAX accessory molecule 1 (DNAM-1) and suppresses T cell responses in tumor patients. This study is aimed at characterizing whether the TIGIT/DNAM-1 axis is involved in the distribution and expression of Foxp3+ γδ Treg cell subsets in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients of different clinical statuses: de novo AML (27 patients), AML in nonremission (NR) (7 patients), and AML in complete remission (CR) (12 patients). Our data demonstrated that the proportions of Foxp3+, TIGIT+Foxp3+, and DNAM-1+Foxp3+ γδ T cells are significantly higher in de novo and NR patients. High levels of TIGIT and DNAM-1 on Foxp3+ γδ T cells correlated with increased Foxp3+ γδ T cell frequencies. In addition, a high TIGIT/DNAM-1 ratio was observed in de novo AML patients and healthy individuals (HIs). Furthermore, the phenotypic abnormalities in Foxp3+, TIGIT+Foxp3+, and DNAM-1+Foxp3+ γδ T cells were restored when the patients achieved CR after chemotherapy. Moreover, higher TIGIT+Foxp3+ γδ T cells were associated with AML patients who had poor overall survival and were an independent risk factor for prognosis. In conclusion, our study reveals for the first time that the TIGIT/DNAM-1 axis may be involved in Foxp3+ γδ Treg cells and indicates the clinical progression and prognosis of AML patients of different clinical statuses, which is considered beneficial for efficient AML immunotherapy.
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