The innate signaling pathway for Th2 immunity activated by inhaled allergens has not been well defined. Dendritic cells (DCs) can use their innate pattern-recognition Toll-like receptors and C-type lectin receptors to generate innate immunity and influence adaptive responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the glycoform of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 7 allergen (Der p 7) and its functional interaction with dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN). Both bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) derived from mice and monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs) derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used to investigate the function of Der p 7. Dendritic cells derived from THP1 were used to investigate the glycol form of Der p 7. Der p 7 interacted with DC-SIGN as recognized by immunoprecipitation and glycoprotein staining, and its function was partially inhibited by deglycosylation. When BMDCs were cultured with Der p 7, the secretion of IL-6 and gene expressions of IL-6, OX40L and Jagged-1 were increased. IL4(+)/CD4(+) T cells could be induced by Der p 7, however IFN-γ(+)/CD4(+) T cells were down-regulated. The effects of Der p 7 on DCs were down-regulated in the presence of DC-SIGN or TLR4 antibodies and deglycosylation. rDer p 7 enhanced the DC differentiation of CD80 and CD86. The effects of Der p 7 pulsed-MDDCs on IL4(+)/CD4(+) and IFN-γ(+)/CD4(+) T-cell differentiation of human PBMCs were significantly increased after Der p 7 stimulation and decreased by DC-SIGN antibody inhibition. In conclusion, the Der p 7 is a glycoprotein and its function was partially through glycan binding. BMDCs could be activated by Der p 7 through TLR4 and DC-SIGN, and followed by the expression of OX40 ligand (OX40L) and Jagged-1, the expressions of IL4(+)/CD4(+) cells were enhanced. These findings identify a previously unrecognized function of Der p 7 and establish a link between innate TLR4/C-type lectin receptors and adaptive Th2 immunity.

Endometriosis has been shown to increase the risk of gynecological cancers. However, the effect of gestrinone, a clinical endometriosis drug, on gynecological cancers remains unclear. This study aimed to understand the effect of gestrinone on gynecological cancers. A retrospective study was conducted using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to observe the risk of gynecological cancers. Medication records from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital CSMUH and cancer records from the Taiwan Cancer Registry were collected to analyze the correlation between gestrinone use and gynecological cancers. Subsequently, human cell lines were used to investigate the effect of gestrinone on gynecological cancers. A total of 8330 endometriosis patients were enrolled, and analyses revealed that endometriosis patients had a higher risk of developing ovarian and endometrial cancer. However, the rate of cervical cancer was not statistically different (P = 0.249). Analyses of both the NHIRD and CSMUH databases revealed that gestrinone may reduce the risk of gynecological cancer. Cellular experiments verified the anticancer effects of gestrinone, which effectively and specifically inhibited the growth of HeLa cervical cancer cells, decreased P21 expression via JNK phosphorylation, and induced apoptosis. Combining the results of clinical database analysis and cell experiments, our findings prove that gestrinone has the potential to protect against cancer through regulation of the JNK-P21 axis. Repurposing the anticancer efficacy of gestrinone may be a strategy for targeted therapy in the future.