Antigen-specific polyclonal cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by fusions of dendritic cells and tumor cells

J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010:2010:752381. doi: 10.1155/2010/752381. Epub 2010 Apr 7.

Abstract

The aim of cancer vaccines is induction of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that can reduce the tumor mass. Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells and play a central role in the initiation and regulation of primary immune responses. Thus, DCs-based vaccination represents a potentially powerful strategy for induction of antigen-specific CTLs. Fusions of DCs and whole tumor cells represent an alternative approach to deliver, process, and subsequently present a broad spectrum of antigens, including those known and unidentified, in the context of costimulatory molecules. Once DCs/tumor fusions have been infused back into patient, they migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, where the generation of antigen-specific polyclonal CTL responses occurs. We will discuss perspectives for future development of DCs/tumor fusions for CTL induction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Fusion*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology*
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Models, Animal
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Histocompatibility Antigens