Naringenin potentiates anti-tumor immunity against oral cancer by inducing lymph node CD169-positive macrophage activation and cytotoxic T cell infiltration

The CD169(+) macrophages in lymph nodes are implicated in cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activation and are associated with improved prognosis in several malignancies. Here, we investigated the significance of CD169(+) macrophages in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Further, we tested the anti-tumor effects of naringenin, which has been previously shown to activate CD169(+) macrophages, in a murine OSCC model. Immunohistochemical analysis for CD169 and CD8 was performed on lymph node and primary tumor specimens from 89 patients with OSCC. We also evaluated the effects of naringenin on two murine OSCC models. Increased CD169(+) macrophage counts in the regional lymph nodes correlated with favorable prognosis and CD8(+) cell counts within tumor sites. Additionally, naringenin suppressed tumor growth in two murine OSCC models. The mRNA levels of CD169, interleukin (IL)-12, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in lymph nodes and CTL infiltration in tumors significantly increased following naringenin administration in tumor-bearing mice. These results suggest that CD169(+) macrophages in lymph nodes are involved in T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity and could be a prognostic marker for patients with OSCC. Moreover, naringenin is a new potential agent for CD169(+) macrophage activation in OSCC treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00262-022-03149-w.