Objective  To investigate the effects of Fructus Corni extract on the B7-H6 expression in primary liver cancer cells of rats.

  Methods  Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely, model, matrine, and Cornus officinalis. The rat model bearing the primary liver cancer was induced by diethylnitrosamine, except for the rats in the control group. The rats in both the matrine and Cornus officinalis groups were fed with matrine and Cornus officinalis. The rats in model groups were fed with 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The number of hepatocellular carcinoma nodules was calculated, and the tumor growth inhibition rate was also calculated. The pathological changes of hepatic tissues in rats of each group were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression levels of B7-H6 in these three groups were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

  Results  The number of liver nodules of the matrine and Fructus Corni group rats was lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05). The tumor inhibition rate of the Cornus group was significantly higher than that of the matrine group (P < 0.05). The tumor growth inhibition rate of the Cornus officinalis group was significantly higher than that of the matrine group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of B7-H6 in the Cornus officinalis group and the matrine group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05), and the positive expression of B7-H6 in the Cornus officinalis group was significantly higher than that in the matrine group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the protein expression of B7-H6 in the Cornus officinalis and matrine groups was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05) by Western blot, while the protein expression of B7-H6 in the Cornus officinalis group was significantly higher than that in the matrine group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Fructus Corni extract may inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma through upregulating the B7-H6 expression.