Leonurine significantly enhance the activity of dendritic cells derived from chronic myeloid Leukemia Patients

Abstract Aim: To explore the modulatory effect of leonurine on monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 12 CML patients treated with imatinib and 12 healthy donors in vitro. Monocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were induced to monocytes derived dendritic cells (moDCs). During this incubation period, 1μM leonurine or the same volume of drug solvent was given to the moDCs. After the moDCs were harvested, the expression of maturation/activity-associated markers on moDCs were assessed by flow cytometry. In addition, the immune activation-associated cytokines secreted by moDCs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: 1. When HDs derived moDCs and CML patients derived moDCs were analyzed, the proportion of CD40+moDC, CD83+moDCand HLA-DR+moDCs in the total moDCs exhibited no statistically significant difference (p=0.114; p=0.932; p=0.7995). 2. When CML patients derived moDCs with or without leonurine administration were analyzed, the propotion of moDCs in the total harvested cells was significantly higher in the leonurine group than in the control group (p = 0.030). Meanwhile, the proportion of HLA-DR+moDC and proportion of HLA-DR+moDCs in total moDCs were significantly higher in the leonurine group than in the control group (p = 0.034; p = 0.778; p = 0.027). Moreover, IL-6 secretion from moDCs was significantly enhanced in the leonurine group than in the control group (p = 0.013). Conclusion: Compared with healthy donors, CML patients after imatinib therapy show no significant difference on the activity / maturation of moDCs. Leonurine significantly enhances the activity / maturation of CML patients derived moDCs, which is potential to be applied as a DC adjuvant in DC-based immunotherapy for CML patients.