title: Generation of functional dendritic cells (DC) in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: rationale for a DC-based vaccination program for patients in complete hematological remission.
abstract: The capacity to generate effective dendritic cells (DC) from adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in complete remission (CR) and off-therapy was investigated. Monocyte-derived DC cultured in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin (IL)-4 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha expressed maturation markers, produced IL-12 and loaded apoptotic bodies to a similar extent to normal DC. Patients' circulating T and NK lymphocytes were normally represented and, after stimulation, were capable of producing TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma to a similar extent to control lymphocytes. DC loaded with leukemia-derived apoptotic bodies increased their ability to stimulate both allogeneic and autologous lymphocytes, and to generate specific anti-leukemic CD3 + cells. These findings offer a rationale for the design of DC-based vaccine programs for adult ALL patients in CR with the aim of controlling/eradicating the disease.
authors.affiliation: Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peragine
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Maria Stefania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: De Propris
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Intoppa
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Della Starza
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ariola
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foà
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010587:Phagocytosis; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor