Possible mechanisms associated with immune escape and apoptosis on anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect of Mu Ji Fang granules

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common digestive system cancers with high mortality rates worldwide. The main ingredients in Mu Ji Fang Granules (MJF) are alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. MJF has been used in the clinical treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC for more than 30 years. Few previous studies have focused on the mechanism of MJF on tumor immu-nology in the treatment of HCC. AIM To explore the mechanism of action of MJF on tumor immunology in the treatment of HCC. METHODS The absorbable ingredients of MJF were identified using Molecule Network related to High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electron Spray Ionization-Time of Flight- Mass Spectrometry, and hub potential anti-HCC targets were screened using network pharmacology and pathway enrichment analysis. Forty male mice were randomly divided into the Blank, Model, and MJF groups (1.8, 5.4, and 10.8 g/kg/d) following 7 d of oral administration. Average body weight gain, spleen and thymus indices were calculated, tumor tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin-2, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Fas, and FasL were measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Relevant mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl2 was evaluated by Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and protein expression of Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD) 4 was assessed by Western blotting. The HepG2 cell line was treated with 10 mg/mL, 20 mg/mL, 30 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL of MJF, and another 3 groups were treated with TGF-β1 inhibitor (LY364947) and different doses of MJF. Relevant mRNA expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, Bax and Bcl2 was evaluated by RT-qPCR and protein expression of TGF-β1, SMAD2, p-SMAD2, SMAD4, and SMAD7 was assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS It was shown that MJF improved body weight gain and tumor inhibition rate in H22 tumor-bearing mice, protected immune organs and liver function, reduced the HCC indicator AFP, affected immunity and apoptosis, and up-regulated the TGF-β1/SMAD signaling pathway, by increasing the relative expression of TGF-β1, SMAD2, p-SMAD2 and SMAD4 and decreasing SMAD7, reducing immune factors TNF-α and IFN-γ, decreasing apoptosis cytokines Fas, FasL and Bcl2/Bax, and inhibiting the effect of LY364947 in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION MJF inhibits HCC by activating the TGF-β1/SMAD signaling pathway, and affecting immune and apoptotic cytokines, which may be due to MJF adjusting immune escape and apoptosis.