Maimendong decoction suppresses non-small cell lung cancer growth by promoting dendritic cell maturation via the SIRT1/p65 acetylation pathway.

Maimendong Decoction (MMDD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promising clinical efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet its immunological mechanisms remain unclear. Using a Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) mouse model, we found that MMDD markedly suppressed tumor growth, enhanced CD8(+) T cell infiltration, and promoted dendritic cell (DC) maturation. Mechanistic analyses revealed that MMDD inhibited SIRT1 expression, increased p65 acetylation, and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, indicating the modulation of the SIRT1/acetyl-p65 pathway. In vitro, MMDD-treated bone marrow-derived DCs exhibited increased maturation and improved CD8(+) T cell activation and IFN-γ secretion. Notably, SIRT1 overexpression attenuated the MMDD-induced DC maturation and CD8(+) T cell activation, confirming the involvement of SIRT1/acetyl-p65 signaling. Collectively, MMDD exerts potent anti-NSCLC activity by facilitating DC maturation via the SIRT1/acetyl-p65 axis, highlighting its potential as an immunomodulatory therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.