Characterization of Monocyte‐Derived Dendritic Cells Maturated With IFN‐α

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of immunology Vol. 63; no. 3; pp. 217 - 222
• Main Authors: Svane, I. M., Nikolajsen, K., Walter, M. R., Buus, S., Gad, M., Claesson, M. H., Pedersen, A. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK; Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - physiology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor - pharmacology; Humans; Interferon-alpha - pharmacology; Interleukin-4 - pharmacology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Monocytes - physiology; T-Lymphocytes - physiology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0300-9475; 1365-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2006.01728.x

Dendritic cells (DC) are promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy. These cells can be generated from peripheral blood monocytes cultured with granulocyte macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4). In order to obtain full functional capacity, maturation is required, but the most potent reagents such as LPS or polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) are not approved for clinical use. We tested the ability of type I interferon (IFN) to induce such maturation. We found that 24‐h IFN‐α co‐culture of day 7 monocyte‐derived DC generated with GM‐CSF and IL‐4 induces increased numbers of DC positive for CD54 and CD40 together with the co‐stimulatory molecule CD80 but not the activation marker CD83. Also, IFN‐α maturation leads to an increase in IP‐10 and MCP‐1 chemokine secretion, but only a minor increase in IL‐12p40 secretion. In line with this, maturation with IFN‐α has only a small effect on induction of autologous T‐cell stimulatory capacity of the DC. However, an increase in DC allogeneic T‐cell stimulatory capacity was observed. These data suggest that IFN‐α has a potential as a maturation agent used in DC‐based cancer vaccine trials, but not as a single reagent.