Augmentation of Murine Natural Killer Cell Activity by Swainsonine, a New Antimetastatic Immunomodulator
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1988
Abstract
Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, has been found to inhibit the experimental metastasis of B16-F10 melanoma cells when administered systemically to syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. The inhibition was both potent and dose dependent with ≥80% reduction in pulmonary colonization being observed after only 24-h exposure to 3 Mg/ml of swainsonine in drinking water. In contrast, the inhibitory activity of swainsonine was completely abrogated when assays were performed in mice depleted of their natural killer (NK) cell activity either experimentally (anti-asialo-GMi antibody- or cyclophosphamide-treated C57BL/6 mice) or as a result of genetic mutation (homozygous C57BL/6bg/bg beige mice). Swainsonine elicited a 32.0% increase in spleen cell number 2 days after administration and induced a concomitant 2- to 3-fold increase in splenic NK cell activity. These results indicate (a) an absolute requirement for a functional NK cell population in order for swainsonine to exert its inhibitory effects on experimental metastasis, and (b) that the antimetastatic activity of swainsonine is mediated primarily through the ability of the drug to augment NK cell reactivity. On the basis of these findings, swainsonine can be classified as a new immunomodulator that has the ability, at least in a prophylactic setting, to block tumor metastasis. © 1988, American Association for Cancer Research. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Humphries, Martin J.; Matsumoto, Kazue; White, Sandra; Molyneux, Russell J.; and Olden, Kenneth, "Augmentation of Murine Natural Killer Cell Activity by Swainsonine, a New Antimetastatic Immunomodulator" (1988). Howard University Cancer Center Faculty Publications. 267.
https://dh.howard.edu/hucancer_fac/267
