[Comparative study on effect of astragulus injection and interleukin-2 in enhancing anti-tumor metastasis action of dendrite cells].

compare the effect of Astragulus injection (AGI) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in enhancing anti-tumor metastasis action of dendrite cells (DCs) based vaccine. MethodsC57BL/6 mice's myelogenic DCs were prepared and pre-sensitized by Mut1, a MHC class I-restricted tumor antigen polypeptide of Lewis lung cancer. Then the DCs were used to treat mice with metastatic lung cancer in combination with AGI or IL-2. Change of proportion of T-lymphocyte cell subsets in splenic cell was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the serum contents of IL-2 and IL-4 of the tumor bearing mice were detected by ELISA. ResultsAfter being treated with tumor antigen polypeptide sensitized DCs plus AGI or IL-2, the tubercle of lung cancer decreased, proportion of subsets CD4 +T and CD8 +T in mice's splenic cell increased, and serum IL-2/IL-4 ratio also increased obviously. During the observed period, the tumor developing rate in the immune mice treated with DCs combined treatment, either with IL-2 or with AGI, was lower than that in mice treated with DCs alone. ConclusionBoth AGI and IL-2 can enhance the anti-tumor metastasis action of DCs, effectively promote the immune response of tumor bearing host, therefore have obviously inhibitory effect on lung cancer metastasis in vivo. Their immune protective function in normal animals is even more evident.