Objective: To research the maturation regulation of dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell soluble antigens.
Methods: BCG HSP 70 was purified by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and its biological activity was determined with ELISA. Phenotypes of DCs pulsed with antigens or with both antigens and BCG HSP 70 were analysed with flow cytometry. MTT assay was used to estimate the proliferation of self lymphocytes and the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) of BCG HSP 70 primed DCs.
Results: The characteristics of DCs had changed after loaded with soluble antigens of HCC. There were about 10% DCs which had lost their specific markers. The expression levels of CD54, CD83, CD86 molecules and the stimulatory ability in allogeneic MLR decreased. However, after being activated by BCG HSP 70, the DCs pulsed with antigens could keep their special markers and the expression levels of CD54, CD83, CD86 molecules increased too. The stimulatory abilities in allogeneic MLR and proliferation of self lymphocytes also improved.
Conclusion: This study shows that BCG HSP 70 can induce DCs pulsed with antigens maturation and improve their antigen-presenting ability, which may be a useful maturation inducer for dendritic cells.