Neem leaf glycoprotein prevents post-surgical sarcoma recurrence in Swiss mice by differentially regulating cytotoxic T and myeloid-derived suppressor cells

PLoS One. 2017 Apr 17;12(4):e0175540. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175540. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Post-surgical tumor recurrence is a common problem in cancer treatment. In the present study, the role of neem leaf glycoprotein (NLGP), a novel immunomodulator, in prevention of post-surgical recurrence of solid sarcoma was examined. Data suggest that NLGP prevents tumor recurrence after surgical removal of sarcoma in Swiss mice and increases their tumor-free survival time. In NLGP-treated tumor-free mice, increased cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and a decreased population of suppressor cells, especially myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) was observed. NLGP-treated CD8+ T cells showed greater cytotoxicity towards tumor-derived MDSCs and supernatants from the same CD8+ T cell culture caused upregulation of FasR and downregulation of cFLIP in MDSCs. To elucidate the role of CD8+ T cells, specifically in association with the downregulation in MDSCs, CD8+ T cells were depleted in vivo before NLGP immunization in surgically tumor removed mice and tumor recurrence was noted. These mice also exhibited increased MDSCs along with decreased levels of Caspase 3, Caspase 8 and increased cFLIP expression. In conclusion, it can be stated that NLGP, by activating CD8+ T cells, down regulates the proportion of MDSCs. Accordingly, suppressive effects of MDSCs on CD8+ T cells are minimized and optimum immune surveillance in tumor hosts is maintained to eliminate the residual tumor mass appearing during recurrence.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Azadirachta / chemistry*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspase 8 / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / immunology
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Glycoproteins / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / drug effects*
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / immunology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / immunology
  • Plant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Sarcoma / drug therapy*
  • Sarcoma / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspase 8

Grants and funding

Funded by 1. 59/6/2011/BMS/TRM, Indian Council of Medical Research, RB. 2. DST/INSPIRE FELLOWSHIP/2011/188, Department of Science and Technology, SG. 3. SB/YS/LS-289/2013, Department of Science and Technology, AB2. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.