Effects of allicin on anti-tumor activity of rat NK cells in vitro

AIM:To investigate the role of allicin on the anti-tumor activity of rat NK cells in vitro. METHODS: CD3-NKR-P1+ NK cells were isolated from rat spleen using Dynabeads FlowCompTM Flexi system. The proliferation and apoptosis of the NK cells induced by allicin were analyzed by the method of flow cytometry. The levels of IFN-γ in the supernatants were measured by ELISA. Lactate dehydrogenase release assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of the NK cells.RESULTS: In vitro,allicin significantly promoted the proliferation of NK cells,inhibited NK cell apoptosis,increased the level of IFN-Fγ in supernatants and enhanced the cytotoxicity of the NK cells to Yac-1 tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. Allicin at concentration of 30 mg/L exerted the maximal effect on activating NK cells. CONCLUSION: Allicin enhances the activity of NK cells in vitro by upregulating IFN-γ expression.