Dendritic Cells-based Vaccine and Immune Monitoring for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Human tumors, including those of the hepatobiliary system, express a number of specific antigens that can be recognized by T cells, and may provide potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are rare leucocytes that are uniquely potent in their ability to capture, process and present antigens to T cells. The ability to culture sufficient numbers of DCs from human bone marrow or blood progenitors has attracted a great deal of interest in their potential utilization in human tumor vaccination. CD34⁺ peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were obtained from a patient with a hepatocellular carcinoma. The PBSCs were cultured in the X-VIVO 20 medium supplemented with the Flt-3 Ligand (FL), GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-α for 12 days. The morphology and functions of the cells were examined. The generated cells had the typical morphology of DCs. When the DCs were reinjected into the same patient, an augmentation of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was observed. Concomitantly, an increase in the natural killer (NK) cell activity was also detected in the patient. These results suggest that DCs-based cancer immunotherapy may become an important treatment option for cancer patients in the future.     

Effect of piceatannol in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro

Piceatannol is an anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiproliferative stilbene that has been shown to interfere with the cytokine signaling pathway. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal in the initiation of T-cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive cellular adjuvant for use in cancer vaccines. This study investigated the effect of piceatannol on the phenotypic and functional maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs in vitro. Human monocytes were cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 6 days, followed by another 2 days in the presence of piceatannol or LPS. DCs harvested on day 8 were examined using functional assays. The expression levels of CD1a, CD80, CD83, and CD86 as expressed by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) on DCs differentiated from immature DCs after culture with 1 muM of piceatannol for 2 days were enhanced and decreased endocytic activity. Piceatannol-treated DCs also displayed enhanced T-cell stimulatory capacity in a MLR, as measured by T-cell proliferation. Similar results were obtained with DCs differentiated with LPS from immature DCs. However, piceatannol did not inhibit phenotypic and functional maturation induced by LPS from immature DCs. Piceatannol-treated DCs induced the differentiation of naive T cells towards a helper T-cell type 1 (Th1) response at DCs/T (1:5) cells ratio depending on IL-12 secretion. These results demonstrate that piceatannol may be used on DC-based vaccine for cancer immunotherapy.     

Immunomodulatory Activity of Ginsan, a Polysaccharide of Panax Ginseng, on Dendritic Cells

Ginsan, a Panax ginseng polysaccharide that contains glucopyranoside and fructofuranoside, has immunomodulatory effects. Although several biologic studies of ginsan have been performed, its effects on dendritic cells (DCs), which are antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, have not been studied. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of ginsan on DCs. Ginsan had little effect on DC viability, even when used at high concentrations. Ginsan markedly increased the levels of production by DCs of IL-12 and TNF-α, as measured by ELISA. To examine the maturation-inducing activity of ginsan, we measured the surface expression levels of the maturation markers MHC class II and CD86 (B7.2) on DCs. It is interesting that ginsan profoundly enhanced the expression of CD86 on DC surfaces, whereas it increased that of MHC class II only marginally. In ³H-thymidine incorporation assays, ginsan-treated DCs stimulated significantly higher proliferation of allogeneic CD4⁺ T lymphocytes than did medium-treated DCs. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ginsan stimulates DCs by inducing maturation. Because DCs are critical antigen-presenting cells in immune responses, this study provides valuable information on the activities of ginsan.     

树突状细胞瘤苗诱导的抗神经胶质瘤作用体外实验研究

目的 :研究负载自体神经胶质瘤抗原的树突状细胞 (DCs)瘤苗在体外诱导的特异性细胞毒性淋巴细胞 (CTL)对神经胶质瘤细胞的杀伤效应。方法 :以组合酶消化法从新鲜神经胶质瘤手术标本中获取神经胶质瘤细胞 ,冻融制备神经胶质瘤抗原。GM -CSF、IL -4体外诱导外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC)获得DCs并负载神经胶质瘤抗原 ,继而以其刺激自体T淋巴细胞制备神经胶质瘤抗原特异性CTL ;用CytoTox96TM检测CTL对患自身神经胶质瘤细胞体外杀伤效应。结果 :负载神经胶质瘤抗原DCs诱导的特异性CTL对患者自身神经胶质瘤细胞的杀伤率达88 17 % ,显著高于LAK细胞的杀伤率 (P<0 05)。且其对同种不同分化类型的神经胶质瘤细胞株 (P<0 01)。结论 :负载神经胶质瘤抗原的DCs体外可诱导出高效而特异的抗神经胶质瘤效应 ,提示以DCs为中心的肿瘤生物治疗作用可望提高神经胶质瘤综合治疗水平     

奥沙利铂联合Exosome诱导的效应性T细胞抑制HepG2细胞增殖的研究

目的观察奥沙利铂(OXA)联合负载HepG2细胞裂解物的Exosome诱导的效应性T细胞对肝癌HepG2细胞系增殖的抑制作用。方法自健康人外周血中提取单个核细胞和T淋巴细胞,并以GM-CSF+IL-4的培养方案获得树突状细胞(DC)。将反复冻融后产生的HepG2细胞裂解物体外致敏DC,收集培养上清后以超高速离心法分离得到Exosome,电镜下观察其形态特征。用致敏DC及其分泌的Exosome刺激T淋巴细胞的增殖和活化。以ELISA试验检测不同刺激环境下T细胞分泌IL-1β、IL-2、IL-4、IL-6、IL-10、IFN-γ和TNF-α的能力。以细胞杀伤实验(MTT法)检测不同因素刺激后的T细胞、OXA(2.5、5.0、10.0mg.L-1)以及两者联合应用对HepG2细胞生长的抑制效应。结果与未致敏DC及其分泌的Exosome相比,HepG2细胞冻融裂解物致敏的DC及其分泌的Exosome能显著促进T细胞的增殖,并使其活化和分泌大量的IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、IFN-γ和TFN-α等Th1型细胞因子。活化后的T细胞、OXA以及两者联合应用对HepG2细胞体外增殖均有抑制作用,而活化T细胞联合10mg.L-1OXA对HepG2细胞的杀伤率最高,但与联合5 mg.L-1OXA的效应相比,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论负载肿瘤细胞抗原的DC所分泌的Exosome可在体外刺激T细胞,使其活化为具有抗肿瘤效应的细胞毒性T细胞,该细胞联合低浓度OXA能显著抑制肝癌细胞的体外增殖,并降低OXA的用量。     

Receptor-mediated delivery of antigens to dendritic cells: anticancer applications

Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the use of ex vivo antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) in the immunotherapy for cancer. DCs are powerful adjuvants with the ability to prime naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. As antigen sources, various preparations, including peptides, proteins, crude tumor lysates, and DCs transfected or transformed with various viruses, have been used. These procedures that involve the isolation of patient DCs and reintroduction after in vitro manipulation are time-consuming and expensive. The DC populations used frequently in ex vivo clinical studies are IL-4 and GM-CSF cultured DCs that may not represent the in vivo DC populations. An attractive method of targeting in vivo DCs is to utilize various ligands or antibodies that bind discrete populations of DCs. These cell surface receptors will direct the antigen to different antigen processing pathways depending on the targeted receptor to induce cytotoxic T cell or T helper responses. This review will discuss the various approaches and receptors that have been used for antigen targeting that may eventually be translated to alternative DC-based immunotherapies.     

Dendritic cells maturation promoted by M1 and M4, end products of steroidal ginseng saponins metabolized in digestive tracts, drive a potent Th1 polarization

Ginseng is a medicinal herb widely used in Asian countries, and many of its pharmacological actions are attributed to the ginsenosides. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal in the initiation of T-cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive cellular adjuvant for use in cancer vaccines. In this study, we investigated whether M1 and M4, end products of steroidal ginseng saponins metabolized in digestive tracts, can drive DCs maturation from human monocytes in vitro. Human monocytes were cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 6 days, followed by another 2 days in the presence of M1, M4 or TNF-alpha as a maturation stimulus. Stimulation with 20 microM of M1 or M4 increased expression level of CD80, CD83 and CD86 as expressed by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and decreased endocytic activity. M4-primed mature DCs also displayed enhanced T cells stimulatory capacity in a MLR, as measured by T cell proliferation. Mature DCs differentiated with M1 or M4 induced the differentiation of na?ve T cells towards a helper T cell type 1 (Th1) response at DC/T (1:5) cells ratio depending on IL-12 secretion. In CTL assay, the production of IFN-gamma and 51Cr release on M4-primed mature DCs was more augmented than of immature DCs or TNF-alpha-primed mature DCs. These results suggest that M4 may be used on DC-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.     

脐血浆培养的脐血树突状细胞对胃癌细胞的特异杀伤作用

目的尝试用脐血浆代替胎牛血清培养脐血树突状细胞（DCs）,并使之负载胃癌抗原,观察其对胃癌细胞的特异杀伤作用。方法分离脐血单个核细胞（CBMCs）并在含10％同源脐血浆的培养体系中诱导培养,部分细胞加入胃癌冻融抗原冲击。流式细胞仪检测细胞表面抗原CD1a和CD83表达,MTT法检测DCs体外刺激淋巴细胞增殖活性,LDH法检测DCs诱导的细胞毒T淋巴细胞（CTLs）对胃癌及肝癌细胞的细胞毒作用。结果CBMCs能分化为表型正常的未成熟DCs,并进而吞噬胃癌细胞冻融抗原成熟,刺激淋巴细胞增殖并诱导对胃癌细胞株特异的CTLs毒性。结论脐血浆培养的脐血DCs能有效捕获胃癌冻融抗原,激发针对胃癌细胞的特异杀伤效应。本实验采用的DCs制备方法具有方法简单、成本较低、瘤苗制备时间较短等优点。     

Estradiol enhances capacity of TLR-matured splenic dendritic cells to polarize CD4+ lymphocytes into IL-17/GM-CSF-producing cells in vitro

There are little data on modulatory effects of estrogens on rat dendritic cell (DC) responses to inflammatory stimuli, and consequently their ability to activate and polarize CD4+ T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses. Splenic conventional DCs from young female Albino Oxford rats were activated in vitro with LPS (TLR4 agonist) or R848 (TLR7/8 agonist) in the presence and absence of 17β-estradiol (E2), and their allostimulatory and CD4+ lymphocyte polarizing ability in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) were studied. Irrespective of the E2 presence, LPS and R848 up-regulated the expression of MHC II on DCs, so they exhibited enhanced allostimulatory capacity in co-culture with CD4+ lymphocytes. On the other hand, E2 promoted stimulatory action of both TLRs on OX62+ DC IL-23 production, augmented their stimulatory effects on IL-6 and IL-1β production, but diminished their enhancing effects on the expression IL-10 and IL-27 by DCs. Consequently, in MLC, OX62+ DCs activated/matured in the co-presence of E2 and either LPS or R848 increased the levels of IL-17, the signature Th17 cell cytokine, when compared with those activated/matured in the absence of E2. GM-CSF levels were also increased in these MLC. Given that the expression of IL-7 mRNA was diminished in DCs activated/matured in the co-presence of E2 and TLR, this increase most likely did not reflect enhanced differentiation of Th cells producing GM-CSF only (Th-GM).ConclusionsE2 augments capacity of LPS- and R848-activated/matured DCs from young rat spleen to induce differentiation of IL-17- and GM-CSF-producing cells.     

Immunization of retrovirus-transfected dendritic cells induces specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes for two distinct malarial peptides presented by Kd molecule

Plasmodium yoelli sporozoite surface protein 2 (pySSP2) is considered as an important antigen for protection studies in malaria vaccine development. For the liver stage protection, anti-pySSP2 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity in BALB/c mice was investigated by immunization of genetically engineered bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) expressing pySSP2 peptides. Retrovirus-transfected bone marrow cells cultured with GMCSF and IL-4 for 7 days demonstrated 70-80% of DCs with high CD11c, CD80, CD86, and MHC class I (I-Kd) expression. Dividing bone marrow cells were infected with retrovirus expressing SSP2 on fifth, sixth, and seventh days of culture by prolonged centrifugation for 1 h at 32 degrees C. Transfection efficacy of DCs was assessed using retrovirus-shuttled green fluorescence vector (pMSCV-EGFP neo). A total of 64% of CD11c positive transfected DCs showed green fluorescence. The degree of SSP2 expression in transfected DCs was assessed by immunoprecipitation with SSP2 antibody. Both SSP2 and EGFP transfected DCs had prolonged expression of the engineered gene until day 6 since the transfection. Antigen presentation to nai;ve CTLs was assessed by immunization of retrovirus-infected DCs into BALB/c mice. Kd restricted, antigen-specific two new MHC class I (I-Kd) binding motifs were identified (A and C) in pySSP2 protein. Both A and C induced peptide-specific, IFN-gamma-secreting cytolytic CTLs upon antigen recognition on target cells. Taken together, these data indicate that genetically modified DCs by prolonged centrifugation is effective in enhanced antigen presentation. Immunization of DCs encoding SSP2 gene resulted in identification of two K(d) restricted CTL epitopes and induction of IFN-gamma-secreting cytolytic CD8+ T cells.     

Bispecific Antibody-Bound T Cells as a Novel Anticancer Immunotherapy

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is one of the promising anticancer treatments. It shows a high overall response rate with complete response to blood cancer. However, there is a limitation to solid tumor treatment. Additionally, this currently approved therapy exhibits side effects such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Alternatively, bispecific antibody is an innovative therapeutic tool that simultaneously engages specific immune cells to disease-related target cells. Since programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint molecule highly expressed in some cancer cells, in the current study, we generated αCD3xαPD-L1 bispecific antibody (BiTE) which can engage T cells to PD-L1⁺ cancer cells. We observed that the BiTE-bound OT-1 T cells effectively killed cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. They substantially increased the recruitment of effector memory CD8⁺ T cells having CD8⁺CD44⁺CD62L^low phenotype in tumor. Interestingly, we also observed that BiTE-bound polyclonal T cells showed highly efficacious tumor killing activity in vivo in comparison with the direct intravenous treatment of bispecific antibody, suggesting that PD-L1-directed migration and engagement of activated T cells might increase cancer cell killing. Additionally, BiTE-bound CAR-T cells which targets human Her-2/neu exhibited enhanced killing effect on Her-2-expressing cancer cells in vivo, suggesting that this could be a novel therapeutic regimen. Collectively, our results suggested that engaging activated T cells with cancer cells using αCD3xαPD-L1 BiTE could be an innovative next generation anticancer therapy which exerts simultaneous inhibitory functions on PD-L1 as well as increasing the infiltration of activated T cells having effector memory phenotype in tumor site.     

Immunotherapy of Human Neuroblastoma Using Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Effector Cells

Tumors of the nervous system, including neuroblastoma and glioblastoma, are difficult to treat with current therapies. Despite the advances in cancer therapeutics, the outcomes in these patients remain poor and, therefore, new modalities are required. Recent literature demonstrates that cytotoxic effector cells can effectively kill tumors of the nervous system. In addition, we have previously shown that umbilical cord blood (UCB) contains precursors of antitumor cytotoxic effector cells. Therefore, to evaluate the antitumor potential of UCB-derived effector cells, studies were designed to compare the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of UCB- and peripheral blood (PB)-derived antigen-nonspecific and antigen-specific effector cells against tumors of the nervous system. Mononuclear cells (MNCs) from UCB were used to generate both interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated killer (LAK) cells and tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). UCB-derived LAK cells showed a significant in vitro cytotoxicity against IMR-32, SK-NMC, and U-87 human neuroblastoma and glioblastoma, respectively. In addition, the CTLs generated using dendritic cells primed with IMR-32 tumor cell lysate showed a selective cytotoxicity in vitro against IMR-32 cells, but not against U-87 or MDA-231 cells. Furthermore, treatment of SCID mice bearing IMR-32 neuroblastoma with tumor-specific CTLs resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) inhibition of tumor growth and increased overall survival. Thus, these results demonstrate the potential of UCB-derived effector cells against human neuroblastoma and warrant further preclinical studies.     

Effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide on phenotypic and functional maturation of dendritic cells

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on differentiation, maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. DCs were derived from the murine bone marrow hemopoietic progenitor cells by culturing in RPMI 1640 complete medium supplemented with GM-CSF and IL-4 in the presence or absence of various concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The phenotype of DCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. Mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) was employed to measure the capacity of DC to stimulate the allogeneic T cells. IL-12p70 secretion by DC was examined by ELISA. In the absence of LPS, VIP, in a dose dependent manner, up-regulated the expression of CD80, CD86, CD54 and CD40, but down-regulated the expression of MHC class II molecule (Ia(b)). In the presence of LPS, VIP also dose dependently up-regulated the expression of CD80, CD86, CD54 and CD40, and down-regulated the expression of Ia(b). The capacity to stimulate alloreactive T cells and the production of IL-12p70 by DC were significantly augmented by VIP when compared with VIP-untreated DCs. These data suggest that VIP could promote the phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs, hereby regulating the type and outcome of the conducting immune response.     

负载肝癌排斥抗原肽的树突状细胞瘤苗活化T细胞的应用

目的　探讨负载肝癌排斥抗原肽SLIVHLNEV(C met突变肽 ) [1 ] 的树突状细胞瘤苗活化的T细胞在体外及裸鼠肝癌模型体内诱导的特异性抗肿瘤免疫。方法　用肝癌排斥抗原肽SLIVHLNEV致敏从脾脏中分离培养的树突状细胞 ,再与同源T淋巴细胞混合培养。乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)释放法检测细胞毒作用。同时建立荷人肝癌细胞系HHCC的裸鼠移植瘤模型 ,观察DC瘤苗活化的T细胞预防移植瘤发生和抑制移植瘤生长的作用。结果　在体外实验中 ,DC瘤苗诱导的CTLs能够特异性杀伤HHCC肝癌细胞。在裸鼠模型中 ,CTLs不但能预防裸鼠移植瘤的发生 ,而且抑制裸鼠移植瘤生长。结论　负载肝癌排斥抗原肽SLIVHLNEV的树突状细胞瘤苗活化的T细胞在体外和裸鼠模型中均可诱导较强的抗肿瘤免疫     

Immunomodulatory activity of resveratrol: discrepant in vitro and in vivo immunological effects

trans-Resveratrol is a dietary polyphenolic compound present in grapes, which has been shown to exhibit strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemopreventive activities. In this study we have compared the in vitro and in vivo effects of resveratrol on the development of various cell-mediated immune responses, including mitogen/antigen-induced T cell proliferation, induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), interleukin-2 (IL-2) induced lymphokine activated killer cells, and cytokine production. We found significant suppression (>90%) of the mitogen/antigen-induced T cell proliferation and development of allo-antigen specific CTLs in vitro with resveratrol at a concentration of 25 microM. Intragastric administration of resveratrol (2 mg daily) to mice for 4 weeks showed no effect on age-related gain in body weight, peripheral blood cell counts (WBC, RBC, or platelets), or the cellularity of bone marrow or spleen. The CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in spleen or colony-forming units-total in the marrow also remained unaffected by treatment with resveratrol. Spleen cells, which were stimulated in vitro after being removed from mice which had been administered resveratrol for 2 or 4 weeks, showed no significant change in IL-2 or concanavalin A induced proliferation of T cells or production of IL-2 induced lymphokine activated killer cells. Further, the production of in interferon-gamma and IL-12 was not affected by administration of resveratrol, but production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was reduced. Even when conducted entirely in vivo, treatment with resveratrol was found to only marginally reduce allo-antigen induced T cell proliferation and the generation of CTLs in the draining lymph nodes. Thus, even though resveratrol strongly inhibits T cell proliferation and production of cytolytic cells in vitro, oral administration of resveratrol for 4 weeks does not induce hematologic or hematopoietic toxicity, and only marginally reduces the T cell-mediated immune responses.     

Fucoidan stimulation induces a functional maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Fucoidan is a complex sulfated polysaccharide with a wide variety of biological activities for modulating immune cell functions. However, the effects of fucoidan on maturation process and activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) remain to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that the level of special marks and polarization phenotype of DCs was altered by fucoidan. Human monocytes were cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 5 days followed by another 2 days in the presence of fucoidan or LPS. Then DCs were harvested on day 7 and were examined using functional assays. We demonstrated that fucoidan up-regulated the expression of HLA-DR and co-stimulatory molecules of DCs. However the endocytic activity was impaired markedly. Fucoidan induces their Th1-promoting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) secretion, and enhances their allostimulatory capacity. In an allogeneic MLR assay, DCs treated with fucoidan were potent in the secretion of IL-12p70, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Naive T cells stimulated by fucoidan-treated DCs differentiated towards a helper T cell type 1 (Th1) response depending on IL-12 secretion. These results suggest that fucoidan may induce immature DCs maturation and drive their differentiation towards a Th1-polarizing phenotype. Moreover, our data suggest that DCs appear to be a potential target for the immunomodulatory capacity of fucoidan and fucoidan may be used on DC-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.     

Platonin modulates differentiation and maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Platonin is a photosensitizer with NF-kappaB inhibitory activity that activates macrophages and suppresses lymphocyte response. In this study, we tested the effect of platonin on differentiation and maturation of human myeloid dendritic cells (DC) from CD14+ monocytes. Triggering of DC differentiation by GM-CSF and IL-4 resulted in typical immature DCs that were further stimulated to maturation by combination of cytokines. When platonin (2 to 50 ng/mL) was added to the culture, the resulting DCs had thicker and blunter protruding projections, lower CD83 expression, greater CD80 expression, and less stimulatory activity on allogeneic naive CD4+CD45RA+ T cells in terms of their proliferation and interferon-gamma production. This suggests that platonin redirects DC differentiation toward an intermediate stage of maturation, whereby the DCs have uniquely enhanced expression of CD80 which may confer some degree of immune tolerance.     

Experimental attempt to produce mRNA transfected dendritic cells derived from enriched CD34+ blood progenitor cells

It Peripheral blood progenitor enriched CD34+ cells (PBPC) are rather often used as stem cell background in cancer patients following high dose therapy. Keeping in mind that precursor dendritic cells (DCs) originate from haematopoietic progenitor cells, purified CD34+ cells might also serve as starting cells for ex-vivo production of DC. The aim of the present study is to develop a clinical grade procedure for ex-vivo production of DC derived from enriched CD34+ cells. Various concentrations of CD34+ cells were grown in gas-permeable Teflon bags with different serum-free and serum-containing media supplemented with GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-a, SCF, Flt-3L and INF-a. Serum-free CellGroSCGM medium for 7 days followed by CellGroDC medium in 7 days gave equal results as serum-containing medium. Following incubation, the cultured cells containing immature DCs were concentrated and transfected with tumour mRNA from human prostate cancer cell lines employing a highly efficient electroporation procedure. Thawed transfected DCs were able to elicit primary T-cell responses in vitro against antigens encoded by the prostate cancer mRNA as shown by ELISPOT assay using mock-transfected DCs as control. The results of our study show that frozen enriched CD34+ cells can be an alternative and efficient source for production of DCs for therapeutic purpose.     

Estrogen influences the differentiation, maturation and function of dendritic cells in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

AIM: To examine if estrogen can affect the immune response at the dendritic cells (DCs) level in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). METHODS: Lewis rats were immunized with inoculum containing MBP68-86. DCs were derived from spleen monocytes of EAE rats with IL-4 and GM-CSF in presence of 17β-estradiol (E2). Nitric oxide (NO) was detected by Griess reagent. The surface markers and cytokines production of DCs were shown by flow cytometry. DCs were cocultured with MBP-specific T cells, [^3H]-TdR incoportation was used to reveal the antigen presentability, the supernatant of the coculture were collected to examine the cytokines secretion by ELISA. RESULTS: E2 activated DCs by accelerating the maturation process characterized by upregulation of MHC Ⅱ and costimulating molecule B7-1, B7-2, drastic high expression of CD40. IFN-γ-producing DCs were also elevated without any alteration of IL-10. Estradiol-treated DCs (E2-DCs) secreted more NO in the culture supernatant. By contrast, E2-DCs showed decreased antigen presentation ability with reduced secretion of IFN-γ but no alteration of IL-10 in the coculture with T cells. CONCLUSION: Estrogen can affect the differentiation, maturation and function of DCs from EAE rats, which may be attributed to its protection against EAE and the remission of multiple sclerosis patients in pregnancy.