The slow release of Cx43MP incorporated into NPs is more effective at treating retinal injury than a single dose of native Cx43MP in solution by reducing inflammation and maintaining both retinal structure and function. This NP preparation has clinical relevance as it reduces possible ocular complications associated with repeated intravitreal injections.

Cancer can be classified as a fourth leading cause of death in Malaysia. There is a continuous effort by scientists in finding alternative cure to cancer due to the known side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy as well as recurrences. One of the latest methods to kill cancerous cells is by using immune cells known as natural killer (NK) cells. Flavonoids such as flavone and flavonol are also known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anticancer properties. This study was carried out to determine the role of flavonoid compounds of apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin to facilitate the growth of NK-92 cells. NK-92 cell line was grown in tissue culture flasks containing α- Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) medium enriched with L-glutamine, 12.5% fetal bovine serum, 12.5% horse serum, 0.2 mM myo-inositol, 0.02 mM folic acid, and 100 - 200 U/mL recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2). The cell viability was determined via trypan blue staining where the cells were manually counted by a haemocytometer. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the cell viability of NK-92 cells after treatment with apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin. Results showed a dose-dependent proliferative effects of apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin on the proliferation of NK-92 cells showing the highest percentage of proliferation at 100 μg/mL for all compounds (*P < 0.05). However, exceeding the dose of 100 μg/mL had resulted in a decline of cell proliferations percentage. Based on these findings, flavonoid compounds comprising apigenin, luteolin and quercetin were able to induce proliferative effects on NK-92 cells.

Background: A new approach involving immune-cell-mediated cancer therapy has been adopted extensively for the sake of lung cancer treatments by utilizing natural killer (NK) cells. NK cell activity can be enhanced with certain agents, and among them are flavonoids. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulatory roles of apigenin, luteolin and quercetin on NK cell activity against lung cancer cells and on the secretions of perforin and granulysin profile. Methods: The NK-92 cells were grown in complete α-Minimum Essential Medium (MEM). NCI-H460 lung cancer cells were cultured in Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 media. NK cell activity against lung cancer cells were done using MTT(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The secretions of perforin and granulysin profiles were then analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Apigenin, luteolin and quercetin significantly increased the NK-cell-mediated cytotoxic activity against lung cancer cells at concentrations 12.5 µg/ml and 25µg/ml ( P < 0.001). The secretion levels of perforin and granulysin from NK cells were also significantly enhanced with apigenin and luteolin treatment but not with quercetin. Conclusions: All three flavonoid compounds possessed some significant immunomodulatory actions on NK cell cytotoxic activity and granule secretion profiles towards lung cancer therapy.