Effects of allicin on anti-tumor activity of rat NK cells in vitro

AIM: To investigate the role of allicin on the anti-tumor activity of rat NK cells in vitro. METHODS: CD3^-NKR-P1⁺ NK cells were isolated from rat spleen using Dynabeads FlowComp^TM Flexi system. The proliferation and apoptosis of the NK cells induced by allicin were analyzed by the method of flow cytometry. The levels of IFN-γ in the supernatants were measured by ELISA. Lactate dehydrogenase release assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of the NK cells.RESULTS: In vitro, allicin significantly promoted the proliferation of NK cells, inhibited NK cell apoptosis, increased the level of IFN-Fγ in supernatants and enhanced the cytotoxicity of the NK cells to Yac-1 tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. Allicin at concentration of 30 mg/L exerted the maximal effect on activating NK cells. CONCLUSION: Allicin enhances the activity of NK cells in vitro by upregulating IFN-γ expression.