Aim: To investigate the potency and antitumor effect of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by hepatocarcinoma antigen peptide EPVTKAEML-loaded dendritic cells (DCs).
Methods: The healthy donors of HLA-B7 genotype were selected by PCR-SSP. Isolated and cultured DCs from HLA-B7 donors' spleen tissues were loaded with the peptide EPVTKAEML from hepatocarcinoma cell line HHCC. The specific CTL reaction and inhibitory effect of anti-HLA-I molecule mAb on CTL cytotoxicity were detected in-vitro by (51)Cr-release assay.
Results: 4 donors with HLA-B7 genotype were found. Their spleen T lymphocytes could be induced to proliferate and differentiate into specific CTLs by DCs loaded with the peptide. Antibody-blocking test demonstrated that the cytotoxity of CTLs was strictly limited by MHC-I molecule.
Conclusion: EPVTKAEML-loaded DCs can induce efficient and specific antitumor immune reaction in-vitro.