Matrine Promotes Dendritic Cell Activation and Enhances Anti-tumor Effect of Human Gastric Carcinoma Dendritic Cells Vaccine in Vitro

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether matrine can affect the phenotypes and functional maturation of dendritic cells (DC), and to secrete many cytokines, as well as the cytotoxic T lymophocyte (CTL) specific killing effect induced by gastric carcinoma dendritic cells vaccine in vitro. Materials and methods: The experimental groups consisted of three concentrations of matrine (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/mL). The DC maturation was detected by flow cytometry. The proliferation of T cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The secretions of cytokines by CTLs were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The specific killing capacity of CTLs to target MKN45 gastric cancer cells was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Results: The results showed that matrine could increase the expressions of CD86 and CD83 in a dose-dependent manner. Matrine could promote T cell proliferation (P). Moreover, matrine also significantly increased the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), respectively (P). The therapeutic vaccination with DCs vaccine treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus matrine resulted in improved killing effect as compared to that observed with DCs treated with LPS alone (P). Conclusion: These findings define matrine as an immune adjuvant that enhances the DC activation and demonstrate a new pharmacological approach to improve the therapeutic effect of autogenous DC vaccines.