Korean Red Ginseng Enhances Immunotherapeutic Effects of NK Cells via Eosinophils in Metastatic Liver Cancer Model

Abstract

Metastasis decreases the survival rate of patients with liver cancer. Therefore, novel anti-metastatic strategies are needed. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is often ingested as a functional food with an immune-boosting effect. We investigated a combination of KRG and natural killer (NK) cells as a novel immunotherapy approach. SK-Hep1 cells were injected into the tail vein of NRGA mice to establish an experimental metastasis model. KRG, NK cells, or a combination of KRG and NK cells were administered. Tumor growth was observed using an in vivo imaging system, and metastatic lesions were evaluated by histological analysis and immunohistochemistry. Bioluminescence intensity was lower in the KRG and NK cell combination group than in the other groups, indicating that the combination treatment suppressed the progression of metastasis. CD56 expression was used as a NK cell marker and hematological analysis was performed. The combination treatment also decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and the area of metastatic lesions in liver and bone tissues, as well as increased the eosinophil count. Expression of cytokines-related eosinophils and NK cells was determined by Western blotting analysis. The expression of interleukin 33 (IL33) was induced by the combination of KRG and NK cells. High IL33 expression was associated with prolonged overall survival in the Kaplan–Meier plotter. Our results suggest that KRG enhances the immune activity of NK cells by IL-33 through eosinophils and suppresses metastatic liver cancer progression.