Natural Killer T Cell Ligand α-Galactosylceramide Inhibited Lymph Node Metastasis of Highly Metastatic Melanoma Cells |
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| Authors: | Minoru Nakui Kenji Iwakabe Akio Ohta Masashi Sekimoto Marimo Sato Hiroyasu Makuuchi Tetsu Kawano Masaru Taniguchi Takashi Nishimura |
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| Institution: | Section of Genetic Engineering, Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Cell Transplantation;Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193;Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193;Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST) Project and Department of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670 |
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| Abstract: | The role of natural killer T (NKT) cells in the prevention of multiple tumor metastasis was examined. The i.v. inoculation of a highly metastatic subline of B16-BL6 (B16-BL6-HM) melanoma cells resulted in the formation of metastatic nodules in lymph nodes in addition to lung, intrapleural cavity, and ovary. However, treatment of the mice with the NKT cell ligand α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) three times from 1 day after B16-BL6-HM melanoma inoculation caused a significant inhibition of multiple metastasis. Lymph node metastasis of B16-BL6-HM was almost completely blocked by α-GalCer treatment. This antimetastatic effect of α-GalCer was abolished in NKT celldeficient mice. These results suggest that α-GalCer-activated NKT cells played a critical role in the prevention of lymph node metastasis of melanoma cells. |
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| Keywords: | NKT α-galactosylceramide Metastasis Melanoma Immunotherapy |
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