Immunotherapy of melanoma by GPI-anchored IL-21 tumour vaccine involves down-regulating regulatory T cells in mouse model

Int J Immunogenet. 2011 Feb;38(1):21-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-313X.2010.00962.x. Epub 2010 Aug 19.

Abstract

In this study, we developed a tumour cell vaccine expressing a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored IL-21 to test the effect of immunotherapy of melanoma in mouse model. The results indicated that the tumour vaccine was functional, exhibiting delayed tumour growth and prolonging longevity of tumour bearing mice. The immunotherapeutic effect was associated with decreasing the numbers of CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg (Tregs) cells, increasing IFN-γ level and promoting lymphocyte-infiltration in tumour tissues. Overall, our data demonstrate that the GPI-anchored IL-21 tumour vaccine regulates immune responses at least in part by down-regulating Tregs and reveals enhanced efficacy of tumour vaccine therapy of melanoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / genetics
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Down-Regulation*
  • GPI-Linked Proteins* / immunology
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Interleukins* / immunology
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cytokines
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Interleukins
  • interleukin-21