Enhanced anti-tumor immunity by superantigen-pulsed dendritic cells

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2011 Jul;60(7):1029-38. doi: 10.1007/s00262-011-1015-5. Epub 2011 Apr 26.

Abstract

Staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) are classical models of superantigens (SAg), which induce potent T-cell-stimulating activity by forming complexes with MHC class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells. This large-scale activation of T-cells is accompanied by increased production of cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Additionally, as we previously reported, IFN-γ-producing CD8(+) T cells act as "helper cells," supporting the ability of dendritic cells to produce interleukin-12 (IL-12)p70. Here, we show that DC pulsed with SAg promote the enhancement of anti-tumor immunity. Murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) were pulsed with OVA(257-264) (SIINFEKL), which is an H-2Kb target epitope of EG7 [ovalbumin (OVA)-expressing EL4] cell lines, in the presence of SEA and SEB and were subcutaneously injected into naïve C57BL/6 mice. SAg plus OVA(257-264)-pulsed DC vaccine strongly enhanced peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells exhibiting OVA(257-264)-specific cytotoxic activity and IFN-γ production, leading to the induction of protective immunity against EG7 tumors. Furthermore, cyclophosphamide (CY) added to SAg plus tumor-antigens (OVA(257-264), tumor lysate, or TRP-2) pulsed DC immunization markedly enhanced tumor-specific T-cell expansion and had a significant therapeutic effect against various tumors (EG7, 2LL, and B16). Superantigens are potential candidates for enhancing tumor immunity in DC vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / metabolism
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma / immunology*
  • Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Male
  • Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Ovalbumin / physiology
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology
  • Superantigens / immunology*
  • Survival Rate
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vaccines, Subunit / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Cytokines
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Lancl1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Superantigens
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Ovalbumin