Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer Model

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of caerin peptides (F1/F3) combined with dendritic cell (DC...

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Main Authors: Rongmi Mo, Junjie Li, Xinyi Song, Jiawei Fu, Mengqi Liu, Yuandong Luo, Quanlan Fu, Jinyi Wu, Hongyin Wu, Yongxin Liang, Tianfang Wang, Xiaosong Liu, Guoying Ni
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/577
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author Rongmi Mo
Junjie Li
Xinyi Song
Jiawei Fu
Mengqi Liu
Yuandong Luo
Quanlan Fu
Jinyi Wu
Hongyin Wu
Yongxin Liang
Tianfang Wang
Xiaosong Liu
Guoying Ni
author_facet Rongmi Mo
Junjie Li
Xinyi Song
Jiawei Fu
Mengqi Liu
Yuandong Luo
Quanlan Fu
Jinyi Wu
Hongyin Wu
Yongxin Liang
Tianfang Wang
Xiaosong Liu
Guoying Ni
author_sort Rongmi Mo
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of caerin peptides (F1/F3) combined with dendritic cell (DC) vaccines in a 4T-1 murine breast cancer model, providing new insights for breast cancer immunotherapy. <b>Methods</b>: In vitro experiments evaluated the effects of F1/F3 on 4T-1 cell proliferation and apoptosis. A 4T-1 breast cancer mouse model was established, and treatments included F1/F3 alone, DC vaccines (DCV<sub>1</sub>: loaded with whole tumor antigens; DCV<sub>2</sub>: loaded with F1/F3-induced apoptotic antigens), or combination therapy. Flow cytometry analyzed immune cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment and lymph nodes, while ELISA measured cytokine levels. <b>Results</b>: F1/F3 significantly inhibited 4T-1 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis while suppressing tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Flow cytometry revealed increased infiltration of CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells and cDC<sub>1</sub> in tumors, along with reduced PD-L1 expression. DCV<sub>2</sub> exhibited stronger T-cell proliferation induction and lower IL-10 secretion in vitro. Combination therapy with DCV<sub>2</sub> and F1/F3 demonstrated superior tumor suppression compared to monotherapy. <b>Conclusions</b>: F1/F3 enhances antitumor immunity by modulating the tumor microenvironment, and its combination with DCV<sub>2</sub> yields synergistic effects. This study provides experimental evidence for combination immunotherapy in breast cancer, with potential for further optimization of DC vaccine design to improve efficacy.
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spelling doaj-art-7931f295b7f24afca91eade08049a16d2025-08-20T02:21:51ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-05-0113657710.3390/vaccines13060577Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer ModelRongmi Mo0Junjie Li1Xinyi Song2Jiawei Fu3Mengqi Liu4Yuandong Luo5Quanlan Fu6Jinyi Wu7Hongyin Wu8Yongxin Liang9Tianfang Wang10Xiaosong Liu11Guoying Ni12The First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaZhongao Biomedical Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd., Zhongshan 528400, ChinaThe First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaThe First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaMedical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaZhongao Biomedical Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd., Zhongshan 528400, ChinaZhongao Biomedical Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd., Zhongshan 528400, ChinaThe First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaThe First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaCancer Research Institute, Foshan First People’s Hospital, Foshan 528000, ChinaCentre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, AustraliaThe First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaThe First Affiliated Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, China<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of caerin peptides (F1/F3) combined with dendritic cell (DC) vaccines in a 4T-1 murine breast cancer model, providing new insights for breast cancer immunotherapy. <b>Methods</b>: In vitro experiments evaluated the effects of F1/F3 on 4T-1 cell proliferation and apoptosis. A 4T-1 breast cancer mouse model was established, and treatments included F1/F3 alone, DC vaccines (DCV<sub>1</sub>: loaded with whole tumor antigens; DCV<sub>2</sub>: loaded with F1/F3-induced apoptotic antigens), or combination therapy. Flow cytometry analyzed immune cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment and lymph nodes, while ELISA measured cytokine levels. <b>Results</b>: F1/F3 significantly inhibited 4T-1 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis while suppressing tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Flow cytometry revealed increased infiltration of CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells and cDC<sub>1</sub> in tumors, along with reduced PD-L1 expression. DCV<sub>2</sub> exhibited stronger T-cell proliferation induction and lower IL-10 secretion in vitro. Combination therapy with DCV<sub>2</sub> and F1/F3 demonstrated superior tumor suppression compared to monotherapy. <b>Conclusions</b>: F1/F3 enhances antitumor immunity by modulating the tumor microenvironment, and its combination with DCV<sub>2</sub> yields synergistic effects. This study provides experimental evidence for combination immunotherapy in breast cancer, with potential for further optimization of DC vaccine design to improve efficacy.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/577caerin 1.1/1.9DC vaccineTMEDLNs4T-1
spellingShingle Rongmi Mo
Junjie Li
Xinyi Song
Jiawei Fu
Mengqi Liu
Yuandong Luo
Quanlan Fu
Jinyi Wu
Hongyin Wu
Yongxin Liang
Tianfang Wang
Xiaosong Liu
Guoying Ni
Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer Model
Vaccines
caerin 1.1/1.9
DC vaccine
TME
DLNs
4T-1
title Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer Model
title_full Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer Model
title_fullStr Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer Model
title_full_unstemmed Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer Model
title_short Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Caerin Peptides and Dendritic Cell Vaccines in a 4T-1 Murine Breast Cancer Model
title_sort synergistic antitumor effects of caerin peptides and dendritic cell vaccines in a 4t 1 murine breast cancer model
topic caerin 1.1/1.9
DC vaccine
TME
DLNs
4T-1
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/6/577
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