贝氏柯克斯体重组蛋白对树突状细胞活化作用分析

目的 分析贝氏柯克斯体(Cb)的Com1和热休克蛋白B(HspB)对体外诱导培养的人源树突状细胞(DC)表面分子和细胞因子表达的影响.方法 分别以20 μg/mL的重组蛋白Com1和HspB、6μg/mL的大肠埃希菌LPS为终浓度刺激培养5d的DC,24 h后流式细胞仪检测DC表面成熟标志分子CD83和T淋巴细胞CD58、CD54、CD40、CD80、CD86以及细胞因子IL-10和IL-12的表达水平.多重比较应用SNK检验.结果 Com1刺激能有效促进体外诱导培养的DC成熟,DC细胞表面成熟标志分子CD83和T淋巴细胞活化辅助分子CD54、CD58、CD80、CD86和CD40等处于高表达水平,表达水平均＞80％,其中CD83表达水平与大肠埃希菌LPS刺激DC相似,CD54和CD86的表达量略高于大肠埃希菌LPS刺激DC,其他分子的表达量显著高于大肠埃希菌LPS刺激DC(均P＜0.05).Com1刺激后,细胞内IL-12水平从无增至9％左右.HspB刺激不能促进DC表型成熟,HspB刺激的DC胞内IL-10水平达6％左右.Com1和HspB的先后刺激,使IL-12水平几乎为0,IL-10水平降至2％以下.结论 Com1为DC有效的促成熟抗原,被Com1激活的DC具备启动T淋巴细胞免疫的功能条件.     

HepG2细胞抗原对脐血CD34^＋造血干细胞诱导分化的树突细胞免疫功能的影响

背景：树突细胞（DC）是体内功能最强的抗原呈递细胞,可激活初始型T细胞,生成辅助性T细胞和杀伤性T细胞。DC具有特异性呈递肿瘤抗原的能力,在肿瘤免疫中发挥重要作用。目的：探讨HepG2细胞抗原对脐血CD34^＋造血干细胞诱导分化的DC免疫功能的影响。方法：分离培养脐血CD34^＋造血干细胞后,加入细胞因子组合诱导生成DC并将其分成HepG2细胞抗原负载组和对照组．以流式细胞仪测定DC生成率和免疫表型,以酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）含量,以MTT法检测细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL细胞）对HepG2细胞的杀伤作用。结果：DC生成率为60．2％±9．4％。与对照组相比,HepG2细胞抗原负载组DC免疫表型CD1a^＋／CD40^＋、CD83^＋／CD86^＋、CD14^＋／HLA-DR^＋比例显著增高（57．6％±5．4％对33．2％±6．0％、32．5％±3．9％对26．0％±2．8％、38．1％±2．6％对29．1％±2．1％,P〈0．01）;IFN-γ含量呈时间依赖性增高;CTL细胞对HepG2细胞的杀伤作用显著增强（43.3％±11.3％对13．9％±4．6％,P〈0．01）。结论：应用HepG2细胞抗原孵育脐血CD34^＋造血干细胞可诱导分化成熟DC,DC可促进异基因淋巴细胞活化分泌IFN-γ,并产生特异性CTL细胞,杀伤肝癌HepG2细胞。     

体外负载HSP70-K-ras突变多肽复合物树突细胞的抗胰腺癌作用

背景：K-ras突变多肽难以很好地被树突细胞（DC）捕获,诱导的抗肿瘤效应有限。目的：探讨热休克蛋白70（HSP70）-K-ras突变多肽复合物体外负载于DC的抗胰腺癌作用。方法：使HSP70与K-ras突变多肽在体外结合成复合物,负载于由人外周血单个核细胞体外诱导分化获得的DC。酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测DC的细胞因子分泌能力,流式细胞仪分析DC负载抗原前后的细胞表型变化,胆囊收缩素（CCK）-8法检测负载抗原后DC对同基因淋巴细胞的促增殖作用,以及激活的同基因淋巴细胞对人胰腺癌细胞株Patu8988、PANC-1和正常人肝细胞株L-02的细胞毒作用。结果：HSP70-K-ras突变多肽复合物可激活DC,最适浓度为0.75μg/ml,可使DC的白细胞介素（IL）-12、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α分泌量和细胞表面CD80、CD83、CD86、HLA-DR表达率显著增高。0.75μg复合物可有效激活1×10^6个DC,刺激1×10^7个同基因淋巴细胞增殖,特异性杀伤具有相同12位点突变类型（GGT→GTT）的Patu8988细胞,杀伤率达52.9%±5.1%,对不同突变类型的PANC-1细胞（GGT→GAT）和正常人肝细胞杀伤作用不明显。结论：负载HSP70-K-ras突变多肽复合物的DC活性增强,可刺激同基因淋巴细胞产生高效而特异的抗胰腺癌效应。     

含CpG基序寡核苷酸对慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血树突状细胞的免疫激活研究

目的 研究含非甲基化CpG基序的寡核苷酸（CpG-ODN）对慢性乙型肝炎患者（CHB）外周血树突状细胞（DC）表型和功能的影响。方法以CD14磁性分选微珠分离CHB患者外周血高纯度单核细胞；以重组人粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（hGM—CSF）、重组人白细胞介素-4（hIL-4）诱导扩增DC；以CpG-ODN刺激DC成熟，并与肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-n比较，评价其对DC表达表面分子人类白细胞组织相容性抗原（HLA）-DR、CD86、CD1a，分泌IL-12p70以及刺激同种T细胞增殖能力的影响。结果与non—ODN和磷酸盐缓冲液（PBS）组比较，CpG-ODN能明显提高CHB患者外周血DC表面分子HLA—DR、CD86的表达，使IL-12分泌增加，刺激同种异体T细胞增殖的能力亦显著增强（P=0．017和0．023），但不能明显提高CD1a的表达；CpG-ODN的上述刺激作用接近或略逊于hTNF-α，但差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论CpG-ODN与hTNF-α一样能够促进CHB患者外周血DC成熟进而增强其抗原提呈功能。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血树突状细胞的成熟度研究

目的：研究慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者外周血树突状细胞（DC）的成熟度及其占单核细胞的比例,探讨CHB患者DC免疫治疗的机制。方法选取20例CHB患者和10例健康人,分别采集外周抗凝全血2 mL,流式细胞仪检测DC表面CD80、CD86、CD83的表达量及单核细胞表面CD14的表达。结果两组DC表面CD80、CD86、CD83分子表达无差异（P＞0．05）;CHB组较健康对照组单核细胞表面分子 CD14表达明显增多,具显著统计学差异（P＜0．05）;CHB组CD80、CD86、CD83三者表达之和占CD14的比例明显高于CHB组,两者有显著统计学意义（P＜0．05）。结论CHB患者外周血存在单核细胞增多、成熟DC减少现象,恢复DC功能是治疗CHB的手段之一。     

负载HBcAg对慢性HBV感染患者树突状细胞的活化作用及功能影响

目的:探讨免疫耐受期慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者外周血树突状细胞(DC)负载HBcAg后细胞表型及免疫功能的改变。方法:从CHB免疫耐受期患者外周血分离培养DC,在DC成熟前,加入重组HBcAg表位肽,诱导HBV特异性DC分化成熟,流式细胞仪检测DC表面共刺激分子CD1a、CD80、CD83的表达水平,应用淋巴细胞增殖试验评估DC功能。结果:负载不同剂量的HBcAg后,DC细胞活化增强,DC细胞共刺激分子标志物CD1a、CD80以及CD83表达率均明显上升,且随着抗原负载剂量的增加,表达率进一步增加,各组之间差异具有统计学意义(均P<0.001);未负载HBcAg的DC细胞激活的淋巴细胞反应较弱,负载HBcAg的DC细胞刺激同种异体健康成人T淋巴细胞增殖能力增强,且随着负载抗原剂量的加大,T淋巴细胞的增殖能力进一步提高,与未负载抗原的对照组相比,差异具有统计学意义(F=428.14,P=0.000)。结论:体外负载HBcAg刺激CHB患者DC细胞可增强其有效抗原提呈能力,促进T淋巴细胞增殖。     

K562细胞可溶性抗原负载树突状细胞体外诱导CTL作用的研究

目的探讨经K562细胞裂解物冲击致敏的外周血单个核细胞衍生的树突状细胞（DC）的生物特性及体外诱导抗原特异性CTL应答的能力。方法采集健康人抗凝外周血分离单个核细胞，贴壁细胞用含rhGM—CSF、rhIL-4、TNF—α的RPM1640＋10％FBS培养基体外诱导培养产生DC，5天收获细胞并将细胞分组：A组：未负载抗原DC；B组：加入K562细胞裂解液脉冲DC。7天后用流式细胞仪检测成熟DC免疫表型，并将非贴壁细胞（淋巴细胞）作为效应细胞与各组DE共育，以产生细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）。12天用LDH释放试验测定对K562细胞的杀伤活性。并用ELISA方法测定细胞上清液中IL-12的含量。结果（1）经细胞因子联合体外诱导的各组DC较培养前在数量，形态及免疫表型上差异有统计学意义，CD86、CD83、CD40、CD1a表达增加，其中经K562细胞裂解液冲击的DC的CD83CD86表达率明显升高。（2）效应细胞与K562细胞混合培养时，负载K562细胞裂解液的DC刺激后的T细胞比单独DC刺激后的T细胞对K562细胞的杀伤作用更明显。（3）负载K562细胞裂解液的DC细胞培养上清液中产生IL-12含量较未负载抗原的DC明显增加。结论用GM—CSF、IL-4以及TNF—α诱导培养健康人外周血单个核细胞可以得到成熟的DC，且经K562细胞裂解液致敏可以进一步促进DC的成熟并体外诱导特异性杀伤靶细胞的CTL。     

乙型肝炎病毒对树突状细胞表型成熟和功能活化的影响

目的：研究乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）病毒粒子和抗原成分对树突状细胞（DC）成熟和功能活化的影响。方法：分离培养小鼠骨髓来源的DC细胞（BM-DC）,在培养过程中加入含有HBV病毒粒子和抗原成分的培养基,流式细胞技术分析DC细胞表面分子的表达水平,病毒保护实验和细胞因子生物分析方法分别检测DC细胞培养上清中的干扰素（IFN）和肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）的表达水平。结果：培养基中加入HBV病毒粒子和抗原成分显著抑制DC细胞表面共刺激分子（CD40、CD80、CD86）和成熟标志分子（MHC—Ⅱ）的表达,降低DC细胞培养上清中IFN和TNF的水平。结论：HBV可以直接抑制DC的表型成熟和功能活化,有可能在HBV感染的慢性化机制中起重要作用。     

乙型肝炎相关肝癌外周血树突状细胞负载肿瘤抗原前后免疫功能的变化

目的探讨肝癌患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)来源树突状细胞(DC)表面分子表达及负载肿瘤抗原前后免疫功能变化与免疫逃逸的关系。方法分离18例乙型肝炎相关原发性肝癌、11例乙型肝炎肝硬化患者和10名健康献血者PBMC,体外培养,并加入重组人粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)和白细胞介素-4(IL-4)诱导DC。以共聚焦显微镜和扫描电镜观察形态,以流式细胞仪检测DC表面人类白细胞抗原(HLA)-DR、CD1a、CD80、CD83、CD86等分子表达水平。以HCCLM6肝癌细胞株制备肿瘤抗原,分别负载3种DC,最后以混合淋巴细胞反应(MLR)测定DC负载前后刺激同种异型T淋巴细胞增殖能力,并测定MLR上清液中IL-12的含量。结果肝硬化和肝癌组PBMC、DC得率低于正常组(P<0.05);HLA- DR、CD1a、CD80和CD86等分子表达水平也低于正常组(P<0.05);负载肿瘤抗原前肝硬化和肝癌组刺激同种异型T淋巴细胞增殖能力和MLR上清液中IL-12含量明显低于正常组,负载肿瘤抗原后3组均提高, 并以肝硬化组提高最为明显,但IL-12含量仍低于正常组。结论DC表型和功能缺陷可能是乙型肝炎病毒产生免疫耐受和肝癌细胞免疫逃逸的重要机制。肝硬化患者DC仍有一定功能。     

PvMSP1对树突状细胞分化成熟和功能的影响

目的 目的 观察间日疟原虫裂殖子主要蛋白1 （PvMSP1） 对树突状细胞 （DC） 分化成熟和功能的影响, 并探讨该蛋白通 过Toll样受体 （TLR） 通路活化DC的机制。方法 方法 选择不同剂量的PvMSP1 （1.0、 10.0、 100.0 μg/ml） 体外刺激人单核细胞来 源的DC, 采用流式细胞术分析DC成熟性相关分子CD83、 CD86、 HLA?DR的表达变化; ELISA检测DC培养上清中IL?10、 IL?12 的表达水平; RT?PCR检测DC TLR4、 TLR9 mRNA的表达水平; MTT法检测DC刺激自体淋巴细胞增殖的能力。同时选择未 刺激的DC作为阴性对照组, LPS刺激的DC作为阳性对照组。对所得数据进行方差分析和q检验。结果 结果 与未刺激组比 较, LPS诱导组CD83、 CD86、 HLA?DR的百分含量均增加, PvMSP1诱导组CD83、 CD86、 HLA?DR的表达也均升高 （P均 < 0.05）; LPS诱导组IL?10、 IL?12的表达量明显增加 （P < 0.01）, PvMSP1诱导组IL?10、 IL?12的表达量也均增加 （P均 < 0.05）; LPS组DC TLR4 mRNA的表达增加 （P < 0.05）, TLR9 mRNA的表达无明显变化 （P > 0.05）, PvMSP1诱导组DC TLR4 mRNA 的表达增加 （P < 0.01）, TLR9 mRNA无明显变化 （P > 0.05）; DC能够刺激自体淋巴细胞增殖。结论 结论 PvMSP1具有促进DC 分化成熟的作用, 且经其诱导成熟的DC具备抗原递呈功能; PvMSP1可能经TLR4通路而非TLR9通路诱导DC成熟。     

Induction of specific cytolytic T lymphocytes using fusions of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient-derived dendritic cells and allogeneic HCC cell line

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the ability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient-derived dendritic cells (DCs) fused with allogeneic HCC cell line to activate autologous lymphocytes to generate specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. METHODOLOGY: DCs were obtained by culturing adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HCC patients in the presence of 100 microg/L recombinant human granulocyte/ macrophage- colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) and 20 microg/L interleukin-4 (rhIL-4) for 1 week in vitro. DCs were fused with allogeneic HCC cell line HepG2 cells using polythyleneglycol (PEG), and the fusion cells were designated as DCs/HepG2. By labeling DCs and HepG2 with green and red fluoresceins, respectively, the cellular fusion was examined under fluorescence microscope. The ability of DCs/HepG2 to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of autologous lymphocytes was assessed by MTT method, and the specific killing efficacy of DCs/HepG2-induced CTL against HepG2 was evaluated. RESULTS: HCC patient-derived DCs expressed a certain level of CD1a, HLA-DR, CD54, CD80 and CD86. Fluorescence microscopic examination demonstrated that co-incubation of DCs and HepG2 in the presence of PEG lead to generation of DCs/HepG2. In the mixed lymphocyte reaction assay, DCs/HepG2 had a significantly greater ability to activate proliferation of autologous lymphocytes, as compared with DCs alone, DCs plus HepG2, HepG2 alone and medium control (P<0.05). The DCs/HepG2-activated CTL showed a potent specific killing efficacy against HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Fusions of HCC patient-derived DCs and allogeneic HCC cell line could efficiently stimulate autologous lymphocytes to generate tumor-specific CTL in vitro. It might represent a promising approach of immunotherapy for HCC.     

负载肝癌细胞裂解物的树突状细胞Transgelin表达水平与其功能的关系

目的 探讨负载肝癌细胞裂解物的树突状细胞(DC)Transgelin表达与其表型和功能的关系.方法 正常人来源的DC分成3组,分别为负载高转移潜能肝癌细胞MHCC97H、低转移潜能肝癌细胞MHCC97L的裂解物组和无负载DC(对照)组.用共聚焦显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察DC形态;流式细胞仪检测DC表型,混合淋巴细胞反应及其上清液中白细胞介素(IL)-12含量测定以反映DC功能;Western blot测定DC中Transgelin的表达.结果 3组DC的形态未有明显不同,负载低转移潜能肝细胞癌组DC的CD80、CD83、CD86、混合淋巴细胞反应和IL-12含量明显高于对照组(P<0.01);负载高转移潜能肝细胞癌组DC的CD80、CD86、Transgelin表达明显高于对照组(P<0.05);负载高转移潜能肝细胞癌组DC的CD80、CD83、CD86和IL-12含量明显低于低转移组(P<0.05),而Transgelin表达则高于低转移组.结论 负载肝细胞癌裂解物的DC中Transgelin表达与其表型和功能有关.     

来氟米特对狼疮患者树突状细胞作用机制的初探

目的　探讨来氟米特(LEF)处理前后系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者树突状细胞(DC)表面标志及功能的改变,揭示LEF治疗SLE的作用机制,为开展“抑制性DCs”治疗SLE奠定实验基础。方法　(1)分离SLE患者外周血单核细胞,用细胞因子诱导DC成熟, LEF组再加入A7717262(来氟米特的活性代谢产物)培养。第9天收集DC细胞,流式细胞仪检测CD80、CD83、CD86和HLA DR的表达。(2)分别将A771726处理或不处理的第9天DC和T细胞进行培养, 72h后用MTT法检测DC刺激淋巴细胞增殖的能力,FACS检测T细胞亚群和ELISA检测培养上清中IL 10和IFNγ水平。结果A771726处理后虽DC形态无改变,但DC表达CD83、CD86和HLA DR百分数较对照组均明显降低(72 70±1 77vs 79 36±4 80, 63 50±14 06vs. 83 91±9 81, 80 44±12 56vs. 90 51±8 63,P值均<0 01)。A771726处理后的DC,其刺激T细胞增殖相应的吸光度值明显降低,混合培养的上清液中IL 10水平较无A771726处理的DC与T细胞的混合培养上清液明显降低,而IFNγ两者间无显著差异;但见CD 4 CD 25CTLA 4 T细胞百分比增高。结论　LEF在体外可抑制SLE患者外周血DC的成熟;未成熟DC能抑制T细胞增殖及T细胞向Th2 细胞转化,诱导CD 4 CD 25CTLA 4 T细胞产生,从而纠正SLE患者的部分免疫紊乱。     

瓜氨酸化波形蛋白对类风湿关节炎患者外周血来源树突状细胞的干预作用

目的 探讨波形蛋白瓜氨酸化前后在体外对类风湿关节炎(RA)患者外周血来源树突状细胞( DCs)的细胞形态、表型和功能的影响.方法 分离外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs),粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)和白细胞介素(IL)-4体外培养制备未成熟DCs(imDCs),分别用脂多糖、瓜氨酸化波形蛋白(cVim)和波形蛋白刺激培养的imDCs,磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS)作为阴性对照,流式细胞仪检测DCs表面标志CD14、CD80、CD83、CD86、主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)Ⅰ、MHCⅡ表达变化.将实验组获得的DCs和同种异体T细胞进行混合淋巴细胞反应,通过单溶液细胞增殖分析(MTS)法检测T细胞的增殖情况.采用t检验.结果 以阴性对照组imDCs的各个免疫表型阳性率作为1,脂多糖能显著诱导RAimDCs表面MHCⅡ、CD80、CD83、CD86表达(1.07±0.14,1.25±0.13,1.90±1.08,2.44±0.65,P均＜0.05);cVim诱导MHCⅡ(1.18±0.09)、CD83( 1.97±0.99)表达水平上调(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);波形蛋白对MHCⅡ及CD83、CD86表达无影响(0.950.11,0.90±0.29,1.04±0.06),仅抑制CD80表达(0.82±0.18,P＜0.01).与脂多糖组相比,cVim组的MHCⅡ表达水平显著增高(P＜0.05),而CD80、CD86(0.83±0.36、1.32±0.15)的表达水平则低于脂多糖组(P＜0.01,P＜0.05);cVim组MHCⅡ和CD83的表达水平显著高于波形蛋白组(P均＜0.05).混合淋巴细胞反应显示经脂多糖和cVim诱生的DCs对同种异体T细胞具有明显刺激增殖作用,且随着DCs细胞浓度的增加而作用增强;波形蛋白诱生的DCs则无刺激增殖作用.结论cVim可诱导imDCs成熟,并且能够提高细胞表面共刺激分子的表达.     

Decreased inducible expression of CD80 and CD86 in human monocytes after ultraviolet-B irradiation: its involvement in inactivation of allogenecity

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation of antigen presenting cells (APCs) modifies their allogenecity, resulting in inhibition of the proliferative response of T cells in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Costimulation by the CD28 ligand CD80 (B7/B7-1) and CD86 (B70/B7-2) plays an important role during T-cell proliferation by augmenting synthesis of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and other cytokines. In this study, we demonstrated induced expression of both CD80 and CD86 during allogeneic MLR, though human freshly isolated monocytes express CD86 constitutively with a much lower level of CD80. A monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against CD86, but not CD80, efficiently inhibited allogeneic T- cell proliferative responses stimulated with highly purified monocytes. UV-B exposure (0 to 1,000 J/m2) of monocytes inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes in MLR in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that UV-B exposure of monocytes impaired the constitutive expression of CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) by 24 hours after irradiation, but the effect on CD86 was relatively less. The surface expression of CD80, CD86, CD54, and HLA-DR on monocytes was further augmented by interferon (IFN)-gamma; this cytokine-induced expression was dose-dependently reduced by UV-B irradiation. Similarly, the upregulation of these molecules following allogeneic MLR was downregulated by UV-B irradiation. UV-B irradiation of monocytes inhibited the expression of IL-2 mRNA in monocyte-stimulated allogeneic MLR. In contrast, the addition of anti-CD28 MoAb at the onset of MLR prevented, at least partially, the reduction of IL-2 mRNA. These results strongly suggest that the impairment of inducible expression of CD86 and CD80 may contribute to the reduced MLR response following exposure of monocytes of UV-B.     

Dendritic cells pulsed with hsp70-peptide complexes derived from human hepatocellular carcinoma induce specific anti-tumor immune responses

AIM: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with hsp70-peptide complexes derived from human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells on human T cells. METHODS: Hsp70-peptide complexes were purified from human HCC cells with column chromatography using ADP-agarose and DEAE-Sepharose. DCs were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors in the presence of human GM-CSF and IL-4. The anti-tumor effect of DCs pulsed with hsp70-peptide complexes on human T-cell was assayed by CTL and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) tests. RESULTS: Hsp70-peptide complexes derived from human HCC cells activated phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs. The matured DCs stimulated a high level of autologous T-cell proliferation and type I cytokine secretion, and induced HCC-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which specifically killed HCC cells by a MHC class I restricted mechanism. CONCLUSION: Hsp70-peptide complexes derived from human HCC cells can serve as a potent tumor antigen source for pulsing DCs, the pulsed DCs are very effective in activating specific T-cell responses against HCC cells.     

Efficient presentation of tumor idiotype to autologous T cells by CD83(+) dendritic cells derived from highly purified circulating CD14(+) monocytes in multiple myeloma patients

To generate mature and fully functional CD83(+) dendritic cells derived from circulating CD14(+) cells highly purified from the leukapheresis products of multiple myeloma patients.CD14(+) monocytes were selected by high-gradient magnetic separation and differentiated to immature dendritic cells with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 for 6-7 days and then induced to terminal maturation by the addition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha or stimulation with CD40 ligand. Dendritic cells were characterized by immunophenotyping, evaluation of soluble antigens uptake, cytokine secretion, capacity of stimulating allogeneic T cells, and ability of presenting nominal antigens, including tumor idiotype, to autologous T lymphocytes. Phenotypic analysis showed that 90% +/- 6% of cells recovered after granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 stimulation expressed all surface markers typical of immature dendritic cells and demonstrated a high capacity of uptaking soluble antigens as shown by the FITC-dextran assay. Subsequent exposure to maturation stimuli induced the downregulation of CD1a and upregulation of CD83, HLA-DR, costimulatory molecules and induced the secretion of large amounts of interleukin-12. Mature CD83(+) cells showed a diminished ability of antigen uptake whereas they proved to be potent stimulators of allogeneic T cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells, pulsed before the addition of maturation stimuli, were capable of presenting soluble proteins such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin and tetanus toxoid to autologous T cells for primary and secondary immune response, respectively. Conversely, pulsing of mature (CD83(+)) dendritic cells was less efficient for the induction of T-cell proliferation. More importantly, CD14(+) cells-derived dendritic cells stimulated autologous T-cell proliferation in response to a tumor antigen such as the patient-specific idiotype. Moreover, idiotype-pulsed dendritic cells induced the secretion of interleukin-2 and gamma-interferon by purified CD4(+) cells. T-cell activation was better achieved when Fab immunoglobulin fragments were used as compared with the whole protein. When dendritic cells derived from CD14(+) cells from healthy volunteers were analyzed, we did not find any difference with samples from myeloma patients as for cell yield, phenotypic profile, and functional characteristics. These studies demonstrate that mobilized purified CD14(+) cells represent the optimal source for the production of a homogeneous cell population of mature CD83(+) dendritic cells suitable for clinical trials in multiple myeloma.