Pilose antler polypeptides enhance chemotherapy effects in triple-negative breast cancer by activating the adaptive immune system

Water-soluble polypeptides from pilose antler (PAWPs) are a traditional Chinese functional food and have been reported to inhibit triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in mice. Thus, in this study, we characterized PAWPs through peptidomics, and 405 total polypeptides were finally identified. Subsequently, our results indicate that PAWPs combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) result in a markedly lower spleen index compared with that in other groups. Next, 25 subpopulations of T cells were identified by multi-parametric flow cytometry in the lungs, spleen, and peripheral blood of different groups. These results indicated that PAWPs combined with NAC promote the proliferation of CD3+ T cells in the spleen and significantly affect the fate of the T-cell subpopulation. Moreover, PAWPs combined with NAC increased the infiltration of CD4+ interferon-γ+ T cells into tumor tissues. Our results showed that PAWPs have immunoregulatory functions and chemosensitizing effects, with good prospects for future clinical application.