Hizikia fusiformeextract enhances dendritic cell maturationin vitroandin vivo

Dendritic cells (DCs) are play critical roles in the priming and regulation of immune responses. DCs rapidly process and convey these antigens to prime antigen-specific T cells. Therefore, regulation of DCs functions is important for immunity and immunotherapies. Immune adjuvants for DCs activation are needed to improve the efficacy of vaccines against tumors and many infectious diseases. Therefore, we demonstrate thatH. fusiformisextract can regulate DCs maturation and activation.H. fusiformisextract induced costimulatory molecules (CD 80 and CD86), antigen-presenting molecules (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I and II),CCR7expression, and interleukin (IL)-12 production in DCs. These effects are associated with upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. In addition,H. fusiformisextract induces costimulatory molecules on splenic DCs and activated CD8(+)T cellsin vivo. Taken together, these findings suggest thatH. fusiformisextract may be a potential efficient immune therapeutic compound in DCs-mediated immunotherapies.