Open Access

Natural killer cells inhibit pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice

  • Authors:
    • Zai‑Fa Hong
    • Wen‑Xiu Zhao
    • Zhen‑Yu Yin
    • Cheng‑Rong Xie
    • Ya‑Ping Xu
    • Xiao‑Qin Chi
    • Sheng Zhang
    • Xiao‑Min Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 1, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4170
  • Pages: 2019-2026
  • Copyright: © Hong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells have been demonstrated to inhibit tumor growth. However, the role of NK cells in the inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis is not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the roles that NK cells may serve in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. The role of isolated NK cells in the inhibition, proliferation, migration and invasion of the hepatoma cell line, MHCC97-H, was examined in vitro. Additionally, the survival rate of NK cells labeled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate-succinimidyl ester was assessed in vivo. An orthotopic implantation model was used to evaluate the role of NK cells in suppressing MHCC97‑H cells in vivo. The effect of interleukin (IL)‑2 stimulation on the tumor‑inhibitory role of the NK cells was measured indirectly by analyzing the expression of various NK cell receptors and activated NK cell markers. It was observed that the NK cells inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of the MHCC97‑H cells in vitro. Furthermore, the NK cells demonstrated long‑term survival in the livers of the nude mice, and inhibited lung metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo. However, liver tumor growth was not inhibited by the NK cells. IL‑2 was identified to enhance the tumor‑inhibitory effect of NK cells. The present study concludes that IL‑2 may enhance the antitumor activity of the NK cells, and thereby inhibit the metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.
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March-2016
Volume 11 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Hong ZF, Zhao WX, Yin ZY, Xie CR, Xu YP, Chi XQ, Zhang S and Wang XM: Natural killer cells inhibit pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice. Oncol Lett 11: 2019-2026, 2016
APA
Hong, Z., Zhao, W., Yin, Z., Xie, C., Xu, Y., Chi, X. ... Wang, X. (2016). Natural killer cells inhibit pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice. Oncology Letters, 11, 2019-2026. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4170
MLA
Hong, Z., Zhao, W., Yin, Z., Xie, C., Xu, Y., Chi, X., Zhang, S., Wang, X."Natural killer cells inhibit pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice". Oncology Letters 11.3 (2016): 2019-2026.
Chicago
Hong, Z., Zhao, W., Yin, Z., Xie, C., Xu, Y., Chi, X., Zhang, S., Wang, X."Natural killer cells inhibit pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice". Oncology Letters 11, no. 3 (2016): 2019-2026. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4170