Fusion of Dendritic Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts for Activation of Anti-Tumor Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2018 Oct 1;14(10):1826-1835. doi: 10.1166/jbn.2018.2616.

Abstract

Here we explored the fusion of dendritic cells (DCs), potent antigen-presenting cells that initiate primary immune responses, with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are a stromal component needed for tumor progression, with the aim of stimulating T cells to inhibit tumor growth. Dendritic cells from the bone marrow of BALB/c mice were co-cultured with CAFs from H22 mouse hepatoma cells. CAFs were found to express fibroblast activation protein and α-smooth muscle actin by flow cytometry, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Polyethylene glycol was added to the co-culture medium to encourage fusion, and the ability of the resulting fusion cells to produce TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12p70 was confirmed using ELISA. These fusion cells efficiently stimulated T lymphocytes in vitro, causing them to generate IFN-α and IFN-γ. T cells activated by DC/CAF fusion cells led to strong CTL response against CAFs in vitro. The activated T cells also inhibited growth of H22 xenografts in vivo. These results indicate that DC/CAF fusion cells show potential for stimulating T cells as a novel anti-tumor vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dendritic Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines