title: Characterization of interferon-γ-treated melanoma tumor cells for use in dendritic cell-based immunotherapy.
abstract: Efficient delivery of tumor-associated antigens to professional antigen-presenting cells is important for inducing a response in patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is used by the immune system to combat viral and fungal infections by restricting cell proliferation and, in some cases, inducing apoptosis. Using IFN-γ to activate target tumor cells prior to antigen loading of dendritic cells (DCs) may enhance the beneficial qualities of whole-cell tumor vaccines. The incubation of melanoma cell cultures with IFN-γ resulted in an increase in the expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules and ICAM-1 but generally decreased the expression of melanoma-associated tumor antigens. Additionally, important immune-stimulating molecules (heat-shock proteins, high-mobility group box-1 protein, and calreticulin) were also present but differentially regulated by IFN-γ. Loading of DCs with IFN-γ-treated tumor cells resulted in a small but significant increase in the expression of CD83-positive DCs, indicating the initiation of DC maturation (p=0.019). IFN-γ treatment of melanoma cell lines prior to antigen loading of DCs may aid in antigen processing and presentation.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology Laboratory, Hoag Cancer Institute, Newport Beach, California 92663, USA. andrew.cornforth@hoaghospital.org
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cornforth
authors.forename: Abner W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Denysha J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Dillman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008545:Melanoma / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma