The Sesquiterpene Lactone-Rich Fraction of Inula helenium L. Enhances the Antitumor Effect of Anti-PD-1 Antibody in Colorectal Cancer: Integrative Phytochemical, Transcriptomic, and Experimental Analyses

Simple Summary Alantolactone and isoalantolactone-active sesquiterpene lactones of Inula helenium L.-have been reported to suppress tumor growth and modulate immune function; however, the potential for these compounds to regulate cancer immunity is unknown. In this study, a combination of phytochemical, transcriptomic, and experimental analyses was used to identify the potential target of active I. helenium compounds in colorectal cancer. Our integrative analysis demonstrated that the sesquiterpene lactone-rich fraction of I. helenium (SFIH) significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody by reducing tumor growth and increasing the survival time of mice. Specifically, SFIH combined with anti-PD-1 antibody significantly increased the proportion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and M1-like macrophages. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that combination therapy activated immune-related pathways to a greater extent than monotherapy. Our results provide a paradigm to identify the SFIH therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors as an integrative perspective of drugs, targets, and pathways. Treatment strategies combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with sesquiterpene lactones have attracted much attention as a promising approach for cancer treatment. We systemically analyzed gene expression profiles of cells in response to two major sesquiterpene lactones, alantolactone and isoalantolactone, and determined whether the sesquiterpene lactone-rich fraction of Inula helenium L. (SFIH) enhances the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody in MC38 colorectal cancer-bearing mice. Gene expression and pathway analysis using RNA sequencing data were used to identify the SFIH-driven combined activity with anti-PD-1 antibody. The results showed that SFIH significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody by reducing tumor growth and increasing the survival time of mice. Specifically, SFIH exhibited antitumor activity when combined with anti-PD-1 antibody, and the effects were further enhanced compared with monotherapy. An analysis of immune cells indicated that combination treatment with SFIH and anti-PD-1 antibody significantly increased the proportion of CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, combination treatment enhanced antitumor immunity by decreasing the population of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and increasing the number of M1-like macrophages. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that combination therapy activated immune-related pathways to a greater extent than monotherapy. In conclusion, our integrative analysis demonstrates that SFIH enhances the response of murine tumors to anti-PD-1 antibody. These findings provide insight into developing integrative therapeutics and molecular data for the use of natural products as an adjunct treatment for colorectal cancer.

Automated summary

By combining phytochemical, transcriptomic, and experimental analyses, the study identified the potential target of active compounds in Inula helenium and demonstrated that the sesquiterpene lactone-rich fraction of I. helenium (SFIH) enhances the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody in colorectal cancer. The combination therapy increased the proportion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and M1-like macrophages, and activated immune-related pathways to a greater extent than monotherapy.