IL-21 accelerates xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease correlated with increased B-cell proliferation

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a prevalent and potential complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. An animal model, xenogeneic GVHD (X-GVHD), that mimics accurately the clinical presentation of GVHD would provide a tool for investigating the mechanism involved in disease pathogenesis. Murine models indicated that inhibiting IL-21 signaling was a good therapy to reduce GVHD by impairing T cell functions. We sought to investigate the effect of exogenous human IL-21 on the process of X-GVHD. In this study, human IL-21 was expressed by hydrodynamic gene delivery in BALB/c-Rag2^-/- IL-2Rγc^-/- (BRG) immunodeficient mice which were intravenously transplanted human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). We found that human IL-21 exacerbated X-GVHD and resulted in rapid fatality. As early as 6 days after hPBMCs transplanted to BRG mice, a marked expansion of human CD19⁺ B cells, but not T cells, was observed in spleen of IL-21-treated mice. Compared with control group, IL-21 induced robust immunoglobulin secretion, which was accompanied by increased accumulation of CD19⁺ CD38^high plasma cells in spleen. In addition, we demonstrated that B-cell depletion was able to ameliorate X-GVHD. These results are the first to find in vivo expansion and differentiation of human B cells in response to IL-21, and reveal a correlation between the expansion of B cells and the exacerbation of xenogeneic GVHD. Our findings show evidence of the involvement of B cells in X-GVHD and may have implications in the treatment of the disease     

The tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment impairs the therapy of anti-HER2/neu antibody

It has been well established that immune surveillance plays critical roles in preventing the occurrence and progression of tumor. More and more evidence in recent years showed the host anti-tumor immune responses also play important roles in the chemotherapy and radiotherapy of cancers. Our previous study found that tumor- targeting therapy of anti-HER2/neu mAb is mediated by CD8⁺ T cell responses. However, we found here that enhancement of CD8⁺ T cell responses by combination therapy with IL-15R/IL-15 fusion protein or anti-CD40, which are strong stimultors for T cell responses, failed to promote the tumor therapeutic effects of anti-HER2/neu mAb. Analysis of tumor microenviornment showed that tumor tissues were heavily infiltrated with the immunosuppressive macrophages and most tumor infiltrating T cells, especially CD8⁺ T cells, expressed high level of inhibitory co-signaling receptor PD-1. These data suggest that tumor microenvironment is dominated by the immunosuppressive strategies, which thwart anti-tumor immune responses. Therefore, the successful tumor therapy should be the removal of inhibitory signals in the tumor microenvironment in combination with other therapeutic strategies.     

HLA-G阳性的胎盘间充质干细胞体外诱导Treg的实验研究

目的：研究HLA-G阳性的胎盘间充质干细在体外诱导Treg的产生。方法：从新生儿胎盘中分离胎盘间充质干细胞的,采用脂质体转染的方式将PEGFP-N1-HLA-G质粒转染到胎盘间充质干细胞中,将细胞分为空白对照组、PEGFP-N1组和PEGFP-N1-HLA-G组,每组设置5个复孔,并通过蛋白质免疫印迹检测HLA-G的表达,将鉴定后的细胞与健康人外周血中CD4⁺的T淋巴细胞混合培养24 h和48 h,并检测CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺Treg占T淋巴细胞的比例。结果：PEGFP-N1-HLA-G转染后胎盘间充质干细胞可以表达HLA-G蛋白,与空白对照组和PEGFP-N1组相比有显著性差异（P<0.01）;HLA-G阳性的胎盘间充质干细胞在与CD4⁺的T淋巴细胞混合淋巴细胞培养24 h后,Treg细胞占全部T淋巴细胞的比例为（16.41±0.94）%,在培养48 h后,Treg细胞的占全部T淋巴细胞的比例为（16.46±0.59）%,与空白对照组和PEGFP-N1组相比有显著性差异（P<0.01）。结论：HLA-G基因修饰后胎盘间充质干细胞能够有效的在体外诱导CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺Treg产生。     

骨髓间充质干细胞对肾移植受者T淋巴细胞分化和miRNA-155表达的影响

目的探讨骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）对肾移植受者T淋巴细胞分化和miRNA-155表达的影响。 方法选取2013年1月至2017年12月于福州总医院接受MSCs诱导+同种异体肾移植术的受者20例（MSCs组）,对照组为同期配对的异体肾移植受者20例。两组患者术后免疫抑制方案均为霉酚酸酯+他克莫司+强的松。两组患者分别于移植术前、术后第15天抽取静脉血,流式细胞仪检测外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞亚群比值;ELISA检测白细胞介素2（IL-2）、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素10（IL-10）浓度;免疫磁珠分选外周血T淋巴细胞后,Rea1-time PCR法检测外周血T淋巴细胞中miRNA-?155的表达。两组间均数比较采用独立t检验,治疗前后均数比较采用配对t检验。 结果移植前两组肾移植受者外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞比值、IL-2、IL-?10、TNF-α、T淋巴细胞miRNA-155表达水平差异均无统计学意义（P均> 0.05）;术后第15天,与对照组相比,MSCs组外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞亚群比值（30.44﹪?± 4.23﹪? vs 26.06﹪?±4.77﹪,t = 2.365,P = 0.042）、IL-10水平（20.35?ng/?L?±?5.10?ng/?L? vs 16.63?ng/?L±6.26?ng/?L,t = 2.062,P?=?0.046）上升,而IL-2（27.47ng/?L±4.30 ng/?L vs 31.40?ng/?L±5.33 ng/L,t = 2.252,P = 0.015）、TNF-α（41.52?ng/?L±8.32?ng/L vs 46.67?ng/?L±6.71?ng/L,t = 2.157,P = 0.037）和T淋巴细胞miRNA-155表达水平（1.61±0.31 vs 1.89±0.15,t = 3.688,P?= 0.001）则降低。 结论MSCs能够升高肾移植受者外周血CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg细胞/?CD4⁺细胞比值和IL-10水平,降低IL-2、TNF-α和T淋巴细胞miRNA-155表达水平,与MSCs的免疫耐受诱导有关。     

唾液酸免疫球蛋白型凝集素-15促进结直肠癌细胞增殖和迁移并抑制肿瘤组织中CD4+与CD8+T细胞浸润

唾液酸免疫球蛋白型凝集素-15(sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectin-15,Siglec-15)属于Siglecs家族的一员,是一种新型免疫抑制分子。Siglec-15在多种人类肿瘤细胞和肿瘤相关巨噬细胞中高表达,但Siglec-15在结直肠癌(colorectal cancer,CRC)中的生物学功能及其对免疫微环境的影响尚不明确。本文旨在分析Siglec-15异常表达对CRC细胞功能及CD4⁺T细胞、CD8⁺T细胞浸润的影响。首先,分析TCGA数据库中结直肠癌与正常组织中Siglec-15 mRNA表达水平,并对52例人CRC与配对癌旁组织进行免疫组织化学染色(IHC),发现Siglec-15在CRC中的表达水平高于癌旁组织(P<0.01)。CCK8和划痕愈合结果显示,敲低Siglec-15能抑制人CRC细胞SW480增殖(P<0.01)和迁移(P<0.05)。磁珠分选小鼠脾的CD8⁺T细胞并与小鼠CRC细胞MC38共培养,发现MC38细胞过表达Siglec-15能抑制CD8⁺T细胞对其的杀伤以及IFN-γ和TNF-α的分泌(P<0.01)。小鼠荷瘤结果表明,过表达Siglec-15可以促进小鼠肿瘤生长(P<0.05)。单样本基因集富集分析、荷瘤小鼠肿瘤组织及人结直肠癌组织IHC分析均表明,Siglec-15高表达时,肿瘤微环境中CD4⁺T细胞、CD8⁺T细胞浸润减少(P<0.05)。综上所述,Siglec-15可能通过促进CRC细胞增殖迁移以及抑制CD4⁺T细胞、CD8⁺T细胞浸润促进结直肠癌进展。本文为探究Siglec-15在CRC中的免疫抑制作用提供了一些新的实验依据。     

Ex vivo Expansion of Tumor-reactive T Cells by Means of Bryostatin 1/Ionomycin and the Common Gamma Chain Cytokines Formulation

It was reported that breast cancer patients have pre-existing immune responses against their tumors^1,2. However, such immune responses fail to provide complete protection against the development or recurrence of breast cancer. To overcome this problem by increasing the frequency of tumor-reactive T cells, adoptive immunotherapy has been employed. A variety of protocols have been used for the expansion of tumor-specific T cells. These protocols, however, are restricted to the use of tumor antigens ex vivo for the activation of antigen-specific T cells. Very recently, common gamma chain cytokines such as IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21 have been used alone or in combination for the enhancement of anti-tumor immune responses³. However, it is not clear what formulation would work best for the expansion of tumor-reactive T cells. Here we present a protocol for the selective activation and expansion of tumor-reactive T cells from the FVBN202 transgenic mouse model of HER-2/neu positive breast carcinoma for use in adoptive T cell therapy of breast cancer. The protocol includes activation of T cells with bryostatin-1/ionomycin (B/I) and IL-2 in the absence of tumor antigens for 16 hours. B/I activation mimics intracellular signals that result in T cell activation by increasing protein kinase C activity and intracellular calcium, respectively⁴. This protocol specifically activates tumor-specific T cells while killing irrelevant T cells. The B/I-activated T cells are cultured with IL-7 and IL-15 for 24 hours and then pulsed with IL-2. After 24 hours, T cells are washed, split, and cultured with IL-7 + IL-15 for additional 4 days. Tumor-specificity and anti-tumor efficacy of the ex vivo expanded T cells is determined.Download video file.^{(45M, mov)}     

Role of the plasma membrane ROS-generating NADPH oxidase in CD34+ progenitor cells preservation by hypoxia

Hypoxia favored the preservation of progenitor characteristics of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in bone marrow. This work aimed at studying the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating NADPH oxidase system regulated by hypoxia in ex vivo cultures of cord blood CD34⁺ cells. The results showed that NADPH oxidase activity and ROS generation were reduced in hypoxia with respect to normal oxygen tension. Meanwhile the ROS generation was found to be inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium (the NADPH oxidase inhibitor), or N-acetylcysteine (the ROS scavenger). Accordingly NADPH oxidase mRNA and p67 protein levels decreased in hypoxia. The analysis of progenitor characteristics, including the proportion of cultured cells expressing the HSPCs marker CD34⁺CD38⁻, colony production ability of the colony-forming cells (CFCs), and the re-expansion capability of the cultured CD34⁺ cells, showed that either 5% pO₂ or reduced ROS favored preserving the characteristics of CD34⁺ progenitors, and promoted the expansion of CD34⁺CD38⁻ cells as well. The above results demonstrated that hypoxia effectively maintained biological characteristics of CD34⁺ cells through keeping lower intracellular ROS levels by regulating NADPH oxidase.     

α1-肾上腺素受体对胶原诱导性关节炎小鼠Treg细胞功能的影响*

目的: 利用胶原诱导性关节炎 (CIA) 模型小鼠,探讨去甲肾上腺素 (NE) 及其α1-肾上腺素受体 (AR ) 对CIA小鼠Treg细胞的作用。方法: 雄性DBA/1小鼠 32 只,随机分为对照组 (n=8) 和CIA模型组 (n=24)。II型胶原 (CII) 乳剂100 μl 尾根部注射DBA/1小鼠制备CIA小鼠模型,在初次免疫后第 41 日,用免疫荧光法检测小鼠脾脏中CD4⁺T与α1-AR的共定位情况;用Western blot法检测小鼠踝关节和脾脏中α1-AR的蛋白表达。分离纯化CIA小鼠脾脏中CD4⁺ T细胞,用抗CD3和抗CD28的单克隆抗体刺激CD4⁺T细胞,进行细胞培养,分为未加药组和加药组,加药组用NE或α1-AR激动剂苯肾上腺素 (phenylephrine) 处理细胞,用流式细胞术检测CIA小鼠CD4⁺T细胞中Treg的细胞数;用Western blot法检测CIA小鼠CD4⁺T中转化生长因子-β (TGF-β) 和IL-10的蛋白表达。结果: CD4⁺ T细胞能够表达α1-AR;与对照组相比,CIA小鼠踝关节和脾脏中α1-AR的蛋白表达显著降低(P＜0.01);与未加药的CIA小鼠的CD4⁺ T细胞相比,NE加入后的CIA小鼠CD4⁺ T细胞中Treg细胞的功能显著增强(P＜0.01);α1-AR激动剂phenylephrine加入后的CIA小鼠CD4⁺ T细胞中Treg细胞的功能显著增强(P＜ 0.01)。结论: 激活CIA小鼠CD4⁺ T细胞上的α1-AR可增强Treg细胞的功能,促进CD4⁺ T细胞向Treg细胞方向分化,发挥抗炎作用。     

Cutting edge: CD4+ T cell control of CD8+ T cell reactivity to a model tumor antigen

Neoantigens resulting from the inherent genomic instability of tumor cells generally do not trigger immune recognition. Similarly, transfection of tumors with model Ags often fails to elicit CD8+ T cell responses or alter a tumor's growth rate or lethality. We report here that the adoptive transfer of activated Th1-type CD4+ T cells specific for a model tumor Ag results in the de novo generation of CD8+ T cells with specificity to that Ag and concomitant tumor destruction. The anti-tumor effects of the CD4+ T cells required the presence of both MHC class I and class II on host cells, as evidenced by experiments in knockout mice, suggesting that CD4+ T cells enhanced the ability of host APC to activate endogenous CD8+ T cells. These results indicate that the apparent inability of tumor cells expressing highly immunogenic epitopes to activate tumor-specific CD8+ T cells can be altered by activated CD4+ T cells.     

Modulating the differentiation status of ex vivo-cultured anti-tumor T cells using cytokine cocktails

The genetic modification of CD8+ T cells using anti-tumor T-cell receptors (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptors is a promising approach for the adoptive cell therapy of patients with cancer. We previously developed a simplified method for the clinical-scale generation of central memory-like (Tcm) CD8+ T cells following transduction with lentivirus encoding anti-tumor TCR and culture in the presence of IL-2. In this study, we compared different cytokines or combinations of IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-21 to expand genetically engineered CD8+ T cells. We demonstrated that specific cytokine combinations IL-12 plus IL-7 or IL-21 for 3 days followed by withdrawal of IL-12 yielded the phenotype of CD62L^highCD28^high CD127^highCD27^highCCR7^high, which is associated with less-differentiated T cells. Genes associated with stem cells (SOX2, NANOG, OCT4, and LIN28A), were also up-regulated by this cytokine cocktail. Moreover, the use of IL-12 plus IL-7 or IL-21 yielded CD8 T cells showing enhanced persistence in the NOD/SCID/γc?/? mouse model. This defined cytokine combination could also alter highly differentiated TIL from melanoma patients into cells with a less-differentiated phenotype. The methodology that we developed for generating a less-differentiated anti-tumor CD8+ T cells ex vivo may be ideal for the adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.     

Bystander Activation and Anti-Tumor Effects of CD8+ T Cells Following Interleukin-2 Based Immunotherapy Is Independent of CD4+ T Cell Help

We have previously demonstrated that immunotherapy combining agonistic anti-CD40 and IL-2 (IT) results in synergistic anti-tumor effects. IT induces expansion of highly cytolytic, antigen-independent “bystander-activated” (CD8⁺CD44^high) T cells displaying a CD25⁻NKG2D⁺ phenotype in a cytokine dependent manner, which were responsible for the anti-tumor effects. While much attention has focused on CD4+ T cell help for antigen-specific CD8+ T cell expansion, little is known regarding the role of CD4+ T cells in antigen-nonspecific bystander-memory CD8+ T cell expansion. Utilizing CD4 deficient mouse models, we observed a significant expansion of bystander-memory T cells following IT which was similar to the non-CD4 depleted mice. Expanded bystander-memory CD8+ T cells upregulated PD-1 in the absence of CD4+ T cells which has been published as a hallmark of exhaustion and dysfunction in helpless CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, compared to CD8+ T cells from CD4 replete hosts, these bystander expanded cells displayed comparable (or enhanced) cytokine production, lytic ability, and in vivo anti-tumor effects suggesting no functional impairment or exhaustion and were enriched in an effector phenotype. There was no acceleration of the post-IT contraction phase of the bystander memory CD8+ response in CD4-depleted mice. The response was independent of IL-21 signaling. These results suggest that, in contrast to antigen-specific CD8+ T cell expansion, CD4+ T cell help is not necessary for expansion and activation of antigen-nonspecific bystander-memory CD8+ T cells following IT, but may play a role in regulating conversion of these cells from a central memory to effector phenotype. Additionally, the expression of PD-1 in this model appears to be a marker of effector function and not exhaustion.     

Helper and suppressor functions of panned populations of immune peritoneal T cells with reactivity to the rat mammary adenocarcinoma 13762A

The phenotype of glass-adherence-depleted tumor-immune peritoneal exudate lymphocytes (PEL) which generated anti-tumor reactivity against the rat mammary adenocarcinoma 13762A in vitro was examined by indirect panning. Monoclonal antibodies W3/25 and OX8, directed against the CD4 and CD8 differentiation antigens, respectively, were used to separate immune PEL into subsets of functionally different T cells. The panned populations of immune PEL were examined for anti-tumor reactivity in three different in vitro assays. Tumor-specific proliferation, tumor-specific induction of the helper lymphokine interleukin 2 (IL-2), and tumor-specific induction of an antiproliferative tumor-induced suppressor lymphokine (TISL) were determined. Panning experiments together with indirect immunofluorescence analysis of unpanned immune PEL indirectly indicated that a proportion of cells (15-20%) coexpressed CD4 and CD8 antigens. Strong tumor-specific proliferation and IL-2 and TISL production were generated from these double-positive cells, as determined by double-panning experiments. Significant tumor-specific proliferation and IL-2 production were produced also from CD4+CD8- cells, but TISL production was minimal, and could be accounted for by contaminating CD4+CD8+ cells. CD4-CD8+ cells produced negligible responses against the tumors as measured by these three assays, and no synergistic responses were demonstrated when CD4-CD8+ cells were incubated together with CD4+CD8- cells. These data demonstrated that CD4+CD8+ T cells exist in primed populations of rat peripheral lymphocytes, and that both helper and suppressor functions were generated from these double-positive cells.     

白细胞介素4降低脐带间充质干细胞对造血干细胞分化潜能的维持能力

目的探讨白细胞介素4（IL-4）对脐带间充质干细胞（UC-MSC）维持造血干细胞分化的影响。 方法将UC-MSC与脐带血CD34⁺造血干细胞按照造血支持能力常用的方案共培养,实验分为对照组和IL-4组,IL-4处理组加入IL-4（20 ng/ml）培养14 d。收集细胞并计数,使用流式细胞仪检测表达CD34的细胞比例。取3×10³个细胞,加入到半固体培养基,培养14 d后,通过倒置显微镜观察比较各种集落的形成,并使用流式细胞仪分析其中巨噬细胞和粒细胞表面特异性蛋白CD11b、CD14和CD15的表达。对两独立样本进行t检验统计学分析。 结果加入IL-4后,共培养体系中细胞数量（1.31±0.05）×10⁵个/孔与对照组（2.80±0.28）×10^5?个/孔相比下降,差异有统计学意义（t = 7.31,P < 0.05）,并且流式细胞分析显示其中的CD34⁺细胞比例也有降低。3×10³个IL-4组得到的细胞形成巨噬细胞集落形成单位的能力（9.33±1.53）?个/孔较对照组（17.67±0.58）个/孔有明显下降,差异有统计学意义（t = 8.84,P?< 0.001）;形成粒-巨噬集落形成单位的能力（15.67±3.22）个/孔较对照组（29.33±4.04）?个/?孔有明显下降,差异有统计学意义（t = 4.58,P < 0.05）;形成总集落单位的能力（39.33±9.07）个/?孔较对照组（62.67±6.66）?个/?孔也有下降,差异有统计学意义（t = 3.59,P < 0.05）。IL-4组得到的细胞分化出的细胞总数（3.67±1.71）×10⁵个/孔与对照组（9.50± 3.13）×10⁵个/孔相比也明显下降,差异有统计学意义（t = 2.83,P < 0.05）,而流式细胞术分析发现分化成的细胞中CD14⁺细胞比例也下降。 结论IL-4可以降低UC-MSC对造血干细胞分化潜能的维持能力,提示在Ⅱ型辅助T细胞相关体液免疫疾病中使用间充质干细胞治疗时,也需要兼顾机体造血相关功能。     

Ex vivo expansion and lentiviral transduction of Macaca nemestrina CD4+ T cells

Background  Macaca nemestrina is a nonhuman primate used as a model in preclinical studies of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and adoptive transfer of T cells. Adoptive T cell transfer studies typically require ex vivo expansion of substantial numbers of T cells prior to their reinfusion into the subject.
Methods  Pigtailed macaque peripheral blood CD4⁺ cells were expanded using CD3 and CD28 antibody-coated beads. These cells were transformed using Herpesvirus saimiri and were also transduced with HIV-1 based lentiviral vectors.
Results  We report an efficient method for the ex vivo expansion of CD4⁺ T cells from Macaca nemestrina peripheral blood. With this protocol, primary CD4⁺ T cells can be expanded between 300- to 6000-fold during 24-day period and can be efficiently transduced with lentiviral vectors. Furthermore, these T cells can be transformed by Herpesvirus saimiri and maintained in culture for several months. The transformed T cell lines can be productively infected with the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strain SIV_mac239.
Conclusions  We have established methods for the expansion and transformation of primary M. nemestrina CD4⁺ T cells and demonstrated the utility of these methods for several applications.     

T淋巴细胞亚群CD4+比例标准物质的研制

CD4⁺ T细胞的减少常见于恶性肿瘤、遗传性免疫缺陷症、艾滋病等。检测实验室常需要对CD4⁺ T细胞检测能力进行质控,急需有准确CD4⁺比例量值的T淋巴细胞标准物质。将人工制备的T淋巴细胞进行纯化后,使用流式细胞术进行标准物质候选物的均匀性检验、稳定性检验。联合8家检测实验室采用流式细胞微球计数法对标准物质候选物进行协同定值。实验数据统计表明,该标准物质候选物的均匀性好,并且在-20 ℃储存条件下可稳定12个月以上,其标准量值CD4⁺比例为74.0%±6.7%（k=2）。该标准物质适用于流式细胞仪中CD4⁺细胞占总淋巴细胞的百分比项目的计量校准,以及流式细胞术检测过程的方法验证和检测结果的质量控制。     

GMP production of anti-tumor cytotoxic T-cell lines for adoptive T-cell therapy in patients with solid neoplasia

BACKGROUND: The adoptive transfer of ex vivo-induced tumor-specific T-cell lines provides a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy. We have demonstrated previously the feasibility of inducing in vitro long-term anti-tumor cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) lines directed against different types of solid tumors derived from both autologous and allogeneic PBMC. We have now investigated the possibility of producing large amounts of autologous anti-tumor CTL, in compliance with good manufacturing practices, for in vivo use. METHODS: Four patients with advanced solid tumors (two sarcoma, one renal cell cancer and one ovarian cancer), who had received several lines of anticancer therapy, were enrolled. For anti-tumor CTL induction, patient-derived CD8-enriched PBMC were stimulated with DC pulsed with apoptotic autologous tumor cells (TC) as the source of tumor Ag. CTL were then restimulated in the presence of TC and expanded in an Ag-independent way. RESULTS: Large amounts of anti-tumor CTL (range 14-20 x 10(9)), which displayed high levels of cytotoxic activity against autologous TC, were obtained in all patients by means of two-three rounds of tumor-specific stimulation and two rounds of Ag-independent expansion, even when a very low number of viable TC was available. More than 90% of effector cells were CD3(+) CD8(+) T cells, while CD4(+) T lymphocytes and/or NK cells were less than 10%. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining large quantities of anti-tumor specific CTL suitable for adoptive immunotherapy approaches.     

自剪切多肽P2A对自然杀伤细胞的高效诱导扩增作用的研究

目的改进现有过继性人自然杀伤（NK）细胞体外诱导、分化及扩增方法,实现高效定向分化及大量扩增NK细胞的目的。 方法利用自剪切多肽P2A连接IL-15和4-1BBL基因,通过慢病毒感染和药物筛选的方法制备稳定表达IL-15和4-1BBL的K562滋养层细胞株。该方法可刺激人PBMC细胞向NK细胞分化及高效增殖。实验结果以 ±s表示并用两样本t检验进行比较。 结果经该方法培养的CD3^- CD16⁺ 56⁺ NK细胞增殖倍数达到（4480.43±37.80）倍;CD3^- CD16⁺ 56⁺ NK细胞纯度达到94.79%;细胞内表达IFN-γ和TNF-α的NK细胞比例为（63.07±3.37）%和（54.85±2.04）%,分别高于对照组（16.28±2.86）%和（14.53±1.15）%（t = 62.25,22.66,P均< 0.01）;细胞分泌至培养上清液中的IFN-γ和TNF-α浓度为（111.39±6.95）?pg/ml和（32.76±3.23） pg/ml,分别高于对照组（44.99±4.74）pg/ml和（11.09±2.45）?pg/ml（t = 20.56,7.21,P均< 0.01）;在体外,该方法培养的NK细胞对K562细胞的杀伤效率为（78.52±7.36）%,高于对照组（48.53±6.66）%（t = 11.56,P < 0.01）;对H520细胞的杀伤效率为（65.03±3.27）%,高于对照组（35.85±3.99）%（t = 11.35,P < 0.01）。 结论利用自剪切多肽P2A构建稳定高表达的IL-15和4-1BBL的K562滋养层细胞株,从而提高了NK细胞增殖倍数、纯度和细胞毒性。     

T cells from tumor-immune mice nonspecifically expanded in vitro with anti-CD3 plus IL-2 retain specific function in vitro and can eradicate disseminated leukemia in vivo.

The therapeutic efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy of cancer has been shown to positively correlate with the dose of tumor-immune T cells transferred. Therefore, the success of this therapy is critically dependent on the ability to procure large numbers of functionally active T cells. Previous studies in animal models have shown that the limited therapeutic efficacy of a small number of immune T cells can be greatly enhanced by expansion of T cells in vitro to greater numbers before transfer in vivo. Optimal regimens for T cell expansion in vitro have generally employed the use of intermittent stimulation of the TCR with specific Ag followed by exogenous IL-2. The use of IL-2 alone does not provide for requisite episodic up-regulation of IL-2R. Stimulation of the invariant CD3 portion of the TCR/CD3 complex with antibody to CD3 (anti-CD3) represents an alternative method of up-regulating IL-2R and has been used to nonspecifically induce the growth of Ag-specific T cell lines and clones long-term in vitro with maintenance of function and specificity. The current study examined whether resting T cell populations containing small numbers of memory tumor-specific T cells could be rendered more effective in tumor therapy by nonspecific expansion in vitro with anti-CD3 plus IL-2. Spleens from C57BL/6 mice previously immunized to FBL-3, a syngeneic virus-induced leukemia, were nonspecifically stimulated with anti-CD3 plus IL-2. The resultant T cells were expanded in number, were nonlytic to FBL-3 but retained the ability to become lytic upon specific stimulation by FBL-3, and were effective in specific tumor therapy. The Ag-specific anti-tumor immune function declined on a per cell basis after each cycle of anti-CD3-induced T cell expansion. However, the approach resulted in a substantial increase in total T cell number and an overall net increase in the function of the effector T cell population. Thus, stimulation of tumor-immune T cell populations with anti-CD3 plus IL-2 represents a nonspecific method for expanding the number of specific effector T cells for cancer therapy.