PubMed · 2002 · 12 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesCancer BiologyImmunologyImmunizationImmunoregulationImmunotherapyCancer ImmunotherapyCell-mediated ImmunityDendritic Cell BiologyDendritic Cell RegulationImmune Response To VaccinationVaccinationAdjuvant MechanismsBiologic Response ModifiersCellular Adhesion MoleculesDendritic Cell AdhesionDendritic Cell CostimulationHla Class Ii MoleculesMhc Class Ii Molecules
The effects of biological response modifiers (BRMs) on the functions of two types of dendritic cells (DCs) were examined in relation to anti-tumor therapy. The two BRMs studied in our assay system were OK432 (a streptococcal preparation) and KP-40 (Propionibacterium avidum: a heat-inactivated bacterial vaccine). Recently, techniques for isolating human DCs from peripheral blood have been established, and DCs can be divided into two subsets: CD11c+ DCs (myeloid DC population) and CD11c- DCs (lymphoid DC population). Both OK432 and KP-40 were found to up-regulate the activity of myeloid-lineage DCs: the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and adhesion/costimulatory molecules increased, and the production of IL-12 also increased. Therefore, DCs pulsed with OK432 and KP-40 could be applied to vaccination as a new adjuvant for specific immunotherapies.