18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma development by reversing hepatic stellate cell‐mediated immunosuppression in mice |
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| Authors: | Weixue Su Zhengqi Zhang Lei Zhang Jianming Liu Guangli Ren Zhenyu Yin Xiaomin Wang |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China;2. Research Institute of Digestive Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China;3. Research Institute of Digestive Disease, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, ChinaTel.: +86‐592‐2292203, Fax: +86‐592‐2212328 |
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| Abstract: | Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have immunosuppressive capabilities and contribute to the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, activated HSCs may be a suitable target for HCC therapy. Our study used mixed leukocyte reactions (MLR) in vitro to demonstrate that 18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) could reverse HSC‐mediated immunosuppression by reducing T‐cell apoptosis and regulatory T (Treg) cells expression, thereby enhancing the ability of T cells to attack tumor cells and attenuating HCC cell invasiveness. Moreover, we established a HCC orthotopic implantation model in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice, which suggested that GA played a protective role in HCC development by reducing immunosuppression mediated by HSCs in the tumor microenvironment. |
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| Keywords: | hepatic stellate cells 18β ‐glycyrrhetinic acid immunoregulation hepatocellular carcinoma T cells |
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