title: Dendritic cells transfected with interleukin-12 and tumor-associated antigen messenger RNA induce high avidity cytotoxic T cells.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) transfected with messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding tumor-associated antigens (TAA) are able to induce potent tumor-specific T-cell responses directed to a broad spectrum of tumor-associated epitopes. The in vitro generation of DC possessing all the features crucial for the induction of type 1 immune responses, such as mature state, migratory potential and interleukin-12 (IL-12p70) production is complicated. Particularly migratory potential is inversely correlated with IL-12p70 production after maturation with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is included in maturation cocktails currently used in most vaccination trials. Here, we show that transfection of PGE2 matured DC with a single mRNA strain encoding for ubiquitin followed by a TAA which was linked to IL-12 by a self-cleaving 2A sequence, produced biological active IL-12p70 and were able to present the transfected TAA up to 72 h after transfection. Furthermore, use of the anti-reverse cap analog for in vitro transcription of the IL-12 mRNA enabled constitutive IL-12p70 production for up to 5 days. These transfected mature DC migrated efficiently towards lymph node derived chemokines. DCs constitutively expressing IL-12p70, generate TAA-specific cytotoxic T cells with an high functional avidity, independent of CD4+ T-cell help.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. hj.bontkes@vumc.nl
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bontkes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ruizendaal
authors.forename: E W M
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kueter
authors.forename: V F I
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: van Tendeloo
authors.forename: C J L M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hooijberg
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; C548667:MLANA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018664:Interleukin-12