Transfer of the IL-6 gene into a human colorectal carcinoma cell line and consequent enhancement of tumor antigen expression.
cDNA encoding the human IL gene (580 bp), inserted into a retroviral expression vector carrying neomycin resistance selective marker, was introduced into HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells by lipofection. Interleukin-6 activity was measured by ELISA and bioassay using B9 cells. Interleukin-6 secreted by transfected HT-29 cells was shown to be biologically active. The expression of the human tumor associated antigen CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), HLA classes I and II, and ICAM-1 antigens in the transfected HT-29 cells were also analyzed by flow cytometry. Significant enhancement in the expression of CEA but not in the expression of HLA class I, HLA class II and ICAM-1 antigens, was observed in the transfected HT-29 cells as compared to the parental HT-29 cells. These results provide experimental evidence that enhancement of tumor antigen expression on tumor cells can be induced by IL-6 gene transfection, and suggest another potential role for the use of IL-6 gene transfer in the immunotherapy of human cancers.
Tsang
K Y
KY
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Kashmiri
S V
SV
Qi
C F
CF
Nieroda
C
C
Calvo
B
B
De Filippi
R
R
Greiner
J W
JW
Primus
F J
FJ
Schlom
J
J
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005796:Genes; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008081:Liposomes; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008081:Liposomes; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D004247:DNA