title: Sulforaphane promotes immune responses in a WEHI‑3‑induced leukemia mouse model through enhanced phagocytosis of macrophages and natural killer cell activities in vivo.
abstract: Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate, inducing cytotoxic effects in various human cancer cells, including leukemia cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, the effect of SFN on the immune responses in a leukemia mouse model remains to be investigated. The present study investigated whether SFN has an effect on the immune responses in a WEHI‑3‑induced leukemia mouse model in vivo. Normal BALB/c mice were injected with WEHI‑3 cells to generate the leukemia mouse model, and were subsequently treated with placebo or SFN (0, 285, 570 and 1,140 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. Following treatment, all mice were weighted and blood samples were collected. In addition, liver and spleen samples were isolated to determine cell markers, phagocytosis and natural killer (NK) cell activities, and cell proliferation was examined using flow cytometry. The results indicated that SFN treatment had no significant effect on the spleen weight, however it decreased liver and body weight. Furthermore, SFN treatment increased the percentage levels of CD3 (T cells) and CD19 (B cell maker), however had no effect on the levels of CD11b (monocytes) or Mac‑3 (macrophages), compared with the WEHI‑3 control groups. The administration of SFN increased the phagocytosis of macrophages from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and peritoneal cavity, and increased the activity of NK cells from splenocytes. Administration of SFN promoted T and B cell proliferation following stimulation with concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho‑Su Memorial Hospital, Shihlin, Taipei 11101, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Yung-Luen
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine for Post Baccalaureate, I‑Shou University, Yanchao, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Lung-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Technology, Jen‑Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Houlong, Miaoli 360, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Ching-Hsiao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Xiangshan, Hsinchu 30015, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Yung-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Shu-Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hsu-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Technology, Jen‑Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Houlong, Miaoli 360, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Nien-Chieh
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Wufeng, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013454:Sulfoxides
chemical_list: D017879:Isothiocyanates; D013454:Sulfoxides; C016766:sulforaphane