AUTHOR=Song Peng , Song Fei , Shao Tingting , Wang Pengjuan , Li Rongkun , Chen Zhe-Sheng , Zhang Zhaofang , Xue Guozhong TITLE=Natural products: promising therapeutics for targeting regulatory immune cells in the tumor microenvironment JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1481850 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1481850 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=

Regulatory immune cells regulate immune responses through various mechanisms, affecting the occurrence, development, and therapeutic effects of tumors. In this article, we reviewed the important roles of regulatory immune cells, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory B cells (Bregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory dendritic cells (DCregs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The immunomodulatory effects of natural products, such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, quinones, and other compounds, which affect the functions of regulatory immune cells through molecular signaling pathways, thereby enhancing the potential of the antitumor immune response, are discussed. These findings provide new ideas and possibilities for the application of natural products in tumor treatment, which can help enhance the effectiveness of tumor treatment and improve patient prognosis.