Shigeo Koido1, Jianlin Gong. 1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 163-1 Kashiwa-shita, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan. shigeo_koido@jikei.ac.jp
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous work has shown that fusion of dendritic cells (DCs) and tumor cells induces potent antitumor immune responses. However, little is known on whether fused cells directly present tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) through major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II pathways in the context of co-stimulatory molecules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fusion cells were generated between DCs and MC38 carcinoma cells stably expressing mucin-1 (MUC1) by polyethylene glycol. The characterization of structure and antigen presentation by fused cells was examined by immunoelectron microscopic and flow cytometric analyses. RESULTS: The cytoplasm from both cellular entities was integrated, while their nuclei were independently preserved. Short-term culture gave fused cells sufficient time to integrate and directly display MUC1 through MHC class I and II pathways in the context of co-stimulatory molecules. CONCLUSION: DC-derived molecules and TAAs are presumably synthesized at separate sites of fused cells, to converge and complex with each other.
BACKGROUND: Previous work has shown that fusion of dendritic cells (DCs) and tumor cells induces potent antitumor immune responses. However, little is known on whether fused cells directly present tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) through major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II pathways in the context of co-stimulatory molecules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fusion cells were generated between DCs and MC38 carcinoma cells stably expressing mucin-1 (MUC1) by polyethylene glycol. The characterization of structure and antigen presentation by fused cells was examined by immunoelectron microscopic and flow cytometric analyses. RESULTS: The cytoplasm from both cellular entities was integrated, while their nuclei were independently preserved. Short-term culture gave fused cells sufficient time to integrate and directly display MUC1 through MHC class I and II pathways in the context of co-stimulatory molecules. CONCLUSION: DC-derived molecules and TAAs are presumably synthesized at separate sites of fused cells, to converge and complex with each other.