Ruyong formula improves thymus function of CUMS-stimulated breast cancer mice

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Oncology

Background:

• Ruyong Formula (RYF), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, is used for breast cancer patients experiencing depressive symptoms.
• The precise pharmacological mechanism of RYF remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanism by which RYF influences thymus immune function in breast cancer models exhibiting depression and anxiety.
• To explore RYF's effects on thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and immune-related signaling pathways.

Main Methods:

• A chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model was employed in 4T1 breast cancer mice to induce depressive symptoms.
• Evaluated behavioral changes, brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels, thymus immune cell populations, TEC phenotypes, and key molecular signaling pathways (JAK2/STAT3/PI3K).

Main Results:

• RYF treatment normalized 5-HT levels, improved thymus output function, and increased specific T cell subsets (Double Negative and Double Positive).
• RYF modulated thymus epithelial cell (TEC) phenotypes, decreasing TSLP and Vimentin while increasing E-cadherin, p-STAT3, p-JAK2, and p-PI3K.
• In vitro studies demonstrated RYF's ability to reverse TGF-β1-induced increases in Snail 1, Zeb 1, and Smad expression.

Conclusions:

• RYF restores thymus structure and function in a preclinical model of depression associated with breast cancer.
• RYF exerts its effects by reversing TEC phenotypic changes and activating the JAK2/STAT3/PI3K signaling pathway.