Chrysin Enhances Anti‐cancer Activity of Jurkat T Cell and NK‐92 Cells Against Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract Chrysin, a naturally occurring flavonoid in plant and bee products, demonstrates notable biological activities, including anti‐cancer effects. These properties are partially attributed to its capability to activate immune cells. This study focused on exploring the immunomodulatory potential of chrysin on NK‐92 and Jurkat‐T cells targeting breast cancer cells (BCC). Chrysin leads to activation of NK‐92 and T cells facilitated by the addition of human recombinant IL‐2 and PHA−M. The anti‐cancer efficacy of chrysin on these immune cells was evaluated in a co‐culture setup with EGF‐stimulated MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Findings revealed that chrysin notably increased the cytotoxicity of NK‐92 and T cells towards MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells, with the most significant impact observed on MCF‐7 cells (20 %). The activation of NK‐92 cells, marked by increased IFN‐γ production and CD56 expression, correlated with enhanced secretion of cytokines. Additionally, the activation of these cells against BCC was linked with elevated levels of granzyme‐B, TNF‐α, and nitric oxide (NO). Similarly, the cytotoxic activation of Jurkat‐T cells against BCC was characterized by increased production of granzyme‐B, IL‐2, and IFN‐γ. Consequently, these results support the hypothesis that chrysin significantly contributes to the activation and functional enhancement of NK‐92 and T‐cells against two distinct BCC lines.