Synergistic Therapeutic Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus casei TD-2 Consumption on GM-CSF-Induced Immune Responses in a Murine Model of Cervical Cancer

Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(1):372-382. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1865419. Epub 2020 Dec 26.

Abstract

We perceive the potential of combined immunotherapy for the synergistic treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated tumors. So, the tumor inhibiting effects of combination of L. casei TD2a and GM-CSF on the TC-1 growth were evaluated In Vivo using lymphocyte proliferation, lymphocyte cytotoxicity, splenocyte, and tumor cytokine assays. The results showed that tumor inhibition in transplanted mice in the GM-CSF combined with probiotic L. casei group was significantly higher than that observed in the other groups excluding GM-CSF group whose tumor inhibition effect was considerable. The findings also indicated that the combined group could generate tumor-specific cytolytic and splenocyte proliferative responses. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-12 after treating with GM-CSF combined with probiotic L. casei were significantly higher than those of other groups. The intratumoral Tumor Necrosis Factor Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) was also significantly increased in the combined group. Tumor analysis further showed that the combined group decreased the accumulation of IL-10 in the tumor microenvironment of treated mice. Furthermore, tumor volume analysis demonstrated that combination group and even GM-CSF suppress tumor growth. Our findings showed that the combination of GM-CSF and probiotic results in improved tumor suppression against HPV-associated tumors and stimulates enhancement of specific antitumor immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunity
  • Lacticaseibacillus casei*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Probiotics*
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor