Interleukin-4 plus tumor necrosis factor alpha augments the antigenicity of melanoma cells

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 1993 Nov;37(6):378-84. doi: 10.1007/BF01526794.

Abstract

Immune cytokines are important regulators of the immune response to neoplastic cells. We previously reported that interleukin 4 (IL-4) and either tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) or interferon gamma (IFN) synergistically inhibit melanoma cell growth and induce cell differentiation. In the present study we used various combinations of IL-4, IFN and TNF to enhance the antigenicity of melanoma cells. IL-4 plus TNF significantly increased the ability of melanoma cells to stimulate cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and act as targets of these CTL; IL-4 plus IFN was somewhat less effective, while TNF plus IFN was not as effective. IL-4 plus TNF also increased the expression of HLA class I and HLA-DR antigens on melanoma cells. The CTL lines examined in this study were CD3+CD4+ and oligoclonal. These preclinical results suggest that the immune response to melanoma whole-cell vaccines might be enhanced by pretreating vaccine cells with IL-4 plus TNF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, CD / drug effects
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / biosynthesis*
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • Drug Combinations
  • Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • HLA-DR Antigens / biosynthesis
  • HLA-DR Antigens / drug effects
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / biosynthesis
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*
  • beta 2-Microglobulin / biosynthesis
  • beta 2-Microglobulin / drug effects

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Drug Combinations
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • beta 2-Microglobulin
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma