Luteolin exerts anti‐tumour immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma by accelerating CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration

Abstract

AbstractLuteolin, a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, has been utilized for several decades in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous research has demonstrated its anti‐tumour efficacy, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of luteolin in H22 tumour‐bearing mice. luteolin effectively inhibited the growth of solid tumours in a well‐established mouse model of HCC. High‐throughput sequencing revealed that luteolin treatment could enhance T‐cell activation, cell chemotaxis and cytokine production. In addition, luteolin helped sustain a high ratio of CD8+ T lymphocytes in the spleen, peripheral blood and tumour tissues. The effects of luteolin on the phenotypic and functional changes in tumour‐infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes were also investigated. Luteolin restored the cytotoxicity of tumour‐infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes in H22 tumour‐bearing mice. The CD8+ T lymphocytes exhibited intensified phenotype activation and increased production of granzyme B, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α in serum. The combined administration of luteolin and the PD‐1 inhibitor enhanced the anti‐tumour effects in H22 tumour‐bearing mice. Luteolin could exert an anti‐tumour immune response by inducing CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration and enhance the anti‐tumour effects of the PD‐1 inhibitor on H22 tumour‐bearing mice.