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Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Expansion, Purification, and Functional Assessment of Human Peripheral Blood NK Cells
Published on: February 2, 2011
Enhancement of NK cells proliferation and function by Shikonin
Yan Li1,2, Hailin Lu2, Yongchun Gu3
1a Department of Oncology , The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University , Suzhou , P.R. China.
Context:
Shikonin is a kind of naphthoquinone compound found mainly in Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb,et Zucc. Previous studies have shown that Shikonin has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and extensive pharmacological effects. According to new studies, Shikonin could also modulate the immune system function, but the effect to NK (nature killer) cells is yet unknown.
Objective:
To investigate the effect and mechanism of Shikonin on NK cells proliferation and cytotoxicity to colon cancer cell line (Caco-2).
Methods:
The proliferation and cytotoxicity of NK cells cultured with Shikonin were detected with CCK-8 assay. The expressions of perforin, GranB and IFN-γ were examined with FCM. The content of TNF-alpha was disclosed with ELISA kit. p-ERK1/2 and p-Akt expression of NK cells were detected with western blot.
Results:
With CCK-8 assay, it is found that Shikonin could significantly enhance NK cells proliferation and cytotoxicity to colon cancer cells. With FCM assay, it is found that Shikonin could improve the expression of perforin and GranB in a dose-dependent manner. Shikonin had no effect on TNF-alpha and IFN-γ expression. In mechanism, the study shows that Shikonin could enhance the expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-Akt.
Conclusions:
Shikonin enhances NK cells proliferation and cytotoxicity via the improvement of perforin, GranB, p-ERK1/2 and p-Akt expression.
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