Synergistic immunotherapeutic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide and interferon-α2b on the murine Renca renal cell carcinoma cell line in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Novel therapeutic strategies to improve clinical efficacy in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are required. The possibility of combination therapy with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) and recombinant interferon (IFN)-α2b remains to be elucidated in RCC. The present study investigated the putative synergistic immunotherapeutic roles of LBP and IFN-α2b against RCC in vitro and in vivo. The mouse RCC cell line, Renca, was used for in vitro experiments. Treatment of the cells with a combination of LBP and IFN-α2b markedly inhibited cell proliferation, retarded cell cycle growth and promoted apoptosis in the Renca cells. Western blot analysis revealed that LBP and IFN-α2b synergistically downregulated the expression levels of cyclin D1, c-Myc and Bcl-2, and upregulated the expression of the antiapoptotic protein, Bax. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were markedly upregulated during tumour progression and promoted tumour growth by inhibiting the T-cell-mediated immune response. In vivo, a marked reduction in the MDSC ratio and tumour volume was observed in a group receiving combined treatment with LBP and IFN-α2b in a xenograft tumour model. In conclusion, the present study suggested that the combination of LBP and IFN-α2b is likely to be more effective in treating murine RCC compared with the less pronounced immunotherapeutic effects of administering LBP or IFN-α2b alone.

Fraction From Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Reduces Immunotoxicity and Enhances Antitumor Activity of Doxorubicin in Mice

“… 21 Previous studies had shown that LBP by itself could inhibit tumor growth in mice. 22 - 24 Our previous study demonstrated that LBP3 is the major component of LBP in inhibiting H22 tumor growth. Thus, we supposed LBP3 might enhance the antitumor activity of Dox in H22 tumor-bearing mice.…”

Lycium barbarumPolysaccharide Mediated the Antidiabetic and Antinephritic Effects in Diet-Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats via Regulation of NF-κB

“…As one of important bioactive components, Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBPS) prevents 6-OHDA-caused PC12 cell apoptosis partially via reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) nitric oxide (NO) pathway [ 14 ]. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, LBPS shows synergistic immunotherapeutic effects with interferon- α 2b on renal cell carcinoma [ 15 ]. In high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance animal models, LBPS is confirmed to be an antioxidant against insulin resistance via activating phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway.…”

The Anticancer Activity of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide by Inhibiting Autophagy in Human Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

“…The occurrence and development of human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely complex process, which is controlled by a variety of genes and various factors and is associated with abnormal proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of tumor cells. Previous studies have shown that LBP, the main effective component of Lycium barbarum, has shown in antitumor studies some efficacy that it can inhibit the growth of a variety of tumor cells and has the advantages of low toxicity, fewer side effects, and availability [6][7][8][9][10]. In recent years, autophagy is emerging as a new strategy for cancer prevention and treatment and has been proven to be closely related to tumor cell growth and proliferation, as well as malignant metastasis [13].…”

“…Studies have shown that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), the main bioactive ingredient of Chinese herbal medicines and food supplements, have antioxidation, antiaging, and neuroprotective effects [6]. It is also worth noting that LBP has been shown to exhibit significant biological activity in inhibiting tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo, including bladder, cervical, colon, liver, and kidney cancers [6][7][8][9][10]. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process that recycles proteins and damaged organelles and plays an important regulatory role in the balance of cell survival and death.…”