Abstract
Stichopus japonicus acid mucopolysaccharide (SJAMP) is an important biologically active compound that can be extracted from the body wall of the sea cucumber. The present study investigated the anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects of SJAMP in an experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model in rats. Three doses of SJAMP (17.5 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg, and 70 mg/kg administered 5 days/week via oral gavage) were given to rats with diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC. SJAMP treatment significantly inhibited DEN-induced HCC by reducing both the number and mean volume of nodules, decreasing serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in liver, and increasing p21 expression. Furthermore, SJAMP decreased the serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT and TNF-α and increased serum IL-2. SJAMP administration also improved indices of spleen and thymus function and improved both macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell-mediated tumoricidal activity. Moreover, CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocyte levels recovered significantly and the CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio normalized in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, SJAMP effectively inhibited the growth of HCC through the stimulation of immune organs and tissue proliferation, leading to the enhancement of cellular immunity pathways in rats.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal human cancers and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, resulting in some 600,000 deaths annually [1]
Stichopus japonicus acid mucopolysaccharide (SJAMP) is an important biologically active compound that is extracted from the body wall of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus
Our results clearly indicate that SJAMP was able to reduce the number of DEN-induced HCC
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal human cancers and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, resulting in some 600,000 deaths annually [1]. Sea cucumbers are marine animals that are important as a human food source, in some parts of Asia. Tumor cells that develop mechanisms against normal immune response, they may become pathogenic tumors, while down-regulation of the immune response in tumor-bearing patients may result in further tumor development, up-regulaton has been shown to be a useful therapeutic approach [13]. In developing tumors anti-tumorigenic and pro-tumorigenic immune and inflammatory mechanisms coexist [15]. We investigated the anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities of SJAMP in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC rat model.
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