[Efficient generation and functional characteristics of dendritic cells from malignant pleural effusion in patients with lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether functionally competent dendritic cells (DC) can be generated from malignant pleural effusion in patients with lung cancer.


METHODS
Malignant effusion-associated monocytes were separated by adherence from malignant effusion-associated mononuclear cells and cultured in medium with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus interleukin 4 (IL-4). TNF-alpha was added for the last 24 h before culture termination. Cultured DC were identified by (1) using microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and immunocytochemistry for the morphological features; (2) phenotypic markers; and (3) functional characteristics including a high stimulatory capacity to activate proliferation of lymphocyte in an allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction and the ability to produce high levels of IFN-gamma.


RESULTS
Cultured DC had the typical morphological features. The phenotype of DCs generated from effusion showed higher expression of CD(86) (84.6 +/- 6.1)%, HLA-DR (81.1 +/- 13.0)%, CD(40) (42.0 +/- 21.7)%, CD(1a) (20.0 +/- 9.5)% and lower expression of CD(14) (4.8 +/- 3.5)% than the control group. There was a significant difference in the stimulatory activity in allogeneic lymphocyte proliferation and the ability to produce high levels of IFN-gamma between DC derived from the malignant effusion and the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that DC can be generated from malignant pleural effusion, which might be a useful source of DC for immunotherapy.
Zhong
Hua
H
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai 200030, China.
Han
Bao-hui
BH
Dong
Qiang-gang
QG
Feng
Jiu-xian
JX
Bao
Guo-liang
GL
Sha
Hui-fang
HF
Su
Jian-zhong
JZ
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000473:pathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor