Objective: To investigate the proliferation and cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) induced by ovarian cancer cells transfected with a CD80 gene containing retroviral vector.
Methods: The ovarian cancer cell line TYK cells were transfected with retro-virus vector PLXSN-hCD80. After geneticin (G418) selection, the CD80 expression of the transfectants was confirmed by flow cytometry. CTL was induced by co-culture of CD80-expressing TYK cells (TYK-hCD80) and peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the presence of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (McAb). Proliferation of PBMC was measured using 3H-Thymidine incorporation assay. The lysis activity of CTL toward tumor cells was determined using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.
Results: After transfection and G418 selection, the CD80 expression was proved by flow cytometry. The highest rate of CD80 expression was 84.9%. The TYK cell line expressing high CD80 was named TYK-hCD80. In the presence of anti-CD3 McAb, TYK-hCD80 significantly enhanced proliferation of PBMC than TYK cells (3H-Thymidine incorporation, (40,604 +/- 842) vs (8,000 +/- 594) cpm (P < 0.05). The lysis activity of CTL activated by TYK-hCD80 was higher than that of TYK(P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Ovarian cancer cells expressing CD80 can induce the production of CTLs which have high lysis activity and high proliferation rate in the presence of anti-CD3 McAb. This study may provide the experimental basis for immunogenic therapy of ovarian cancer.