Induction of allogeneic tumour- and lymphokine-activated lymphocytes against hepatocellular carcinoma

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1992 Mar-Apr;7(2):136-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1992.tb00950.x.

Abstract

For clinical application of adoptive immunotherapy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is not easy to prepare tumour specific effector cells such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). To induce potent and broad-spectrum effectors, allogeneic cultured hepatoma cell lines (JHH-4 and HuH-6) were used as stimulators of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) instead of autologous HCC cells. Allogeneic tumour- and lymphokine-activated killer cells (ATLAK) were generated by a mixed culture of lymphocytes and allogeneic cultured tumour cells with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). The tumour-killing activity of ATLAK induced by HuH-6 was confirmed against HuH-6 and other different HCC cell lines (JHH-2, HuH-7 and PLC). These activated lymphocytes were significantly more potent than lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK) in [51Cr]-releasing assay. The JHH-4 stimulated ATLAK was reactive not only with JHH-4 but also with JHH-2. The lysis of allogeneic targets could be partially inhibited by anti-CD8 and anti-CD3 but not by anti-CD4. Anti-tumour cytotoxicity in these cultures might be mediated by CD3+CD56- and CD3+CD56+ effectors. These results imply that adoptive immunotherapy for HCC with ATLAK may be more feasible than that with LAK.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antigens, Differentiation / analysis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / immunology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Phenotype
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Differentiation