Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antitumor effects of Nidus Vespae on gastric cancer and its ability to promote immune function. Methods Cell viability was detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected using flow cytometry. The THP-1 human monocytic cell line was used as a source of monocytic effector cells for analyzing proliferation and dendritic cell (DC) induction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect cytokine production, and multicolor flow cytometry was used to study the phenotype and functionality of THP-1 DCs. Results A high concentration (>10 mg/mL) of Nidus Vespae decoction (NVD) inhibited SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell growth by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, a low concentration (≤10 mg/mL) of NVD significantly increased the proliferative ability of THP-1 in serum-containing medium and caused an increase in dendritic protrusions with the typical morphology of DCs compared to the negative control in serum-free medium. The THP-1 DCs had significantly increased expression of cluster of differentiation 11c (CD11c), CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86, as well as secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Furthermore, the supernatant of THP-1 DCs significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest. Conclusions Our findings suggest that NVD not only directly inhibits the growth of gastric cancer cells but also exerts indirect antitumor effects by enhancing immune function. These results provide an important theoretical basis for the clinical application of Nidus Vespae in gastric cancer treatment.
Highlights
Gastric cancer remains a serious threat to human health given its high morbidity and mortality [1,2,3], and tumor treatment continues to be an important issue in modern medicine
25% of the crude extract was used as Nidus Vespae decoction (NVD), and the rest was purified by graded alcohol precipitation at final ethanol concentrations of 65%, 75%, and 85% to obtain NVD supernatant; after the alcohol evaporated, the solutions were designated as NVD65, NVD75, and NVD85, respectively. en, all liquid preparations (NVD, NVD65, NVD75, and NVD85) were filtered through a 0.22 μm syringe filter
High Concentrations of NVD Affect the Cell Cycle and Apoptosis of Tumor Cells. e effects of three concentrations of NVD near IC50 or 1/2 IC50 (20, 30, and 40 mg/mL) on the cell cycle and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. e results showed that the apoptosis rate of SGC-7901 cells in the 40 mg/mL NVD group was significantly higher than that in the control group (Figures 2(a) and 2(b))
Summary
Gastric cancer remains a serious threat to human health given its high morbidity and mortality [1,2,3], and tumor treatment continues to be an important issue in modern medicine. With increasing globalization and advancements in modern medicine, novel therapeutic approaches such as targeted molecular therapy [4], immunotherapy [5], and latent/residual tumor cell ablation have been used to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients, but the prognosis for patients with gastric cancer remains poor. An increasing number of patients receive complementary or alternative therapies, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the development of immunology, western scientists are Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine gradually realizing the importance of homeostasis in the human body, especially immune balance in tumor patients [9]. If a therapeutic drug disrupts the balance between the tumor and healthy tissues, it may not exert antitumor effects; it may promote the progression of cancer
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