TY - JOUR T1 - Cytidine-phosphate-guanosine Oligodeoxynucleotides and Interferon-alpha-expressing Tumor Cells Effectively Induce Dendritic Cell Maturation <em>In Vitro</em> JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 211 LP - 218 VL - 26 IS - 1A AU - AYAKO HIRAIDE AU - KAZUMASA HIROISHI AU - SHIGEAKI ISHII AU - JUNICHI EGUCHI AU - MICHIO IMAWARI Y1 - 2006/01/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/1A/211.abstract N2 - Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in immune response and cytidine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) as well as interferon (IFN)-α have been proven to induce DC maturation. In this study, the synergistic effects of CpG-ODN and IFN-α on DC maturation were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Surface molecules on DCs and the stimulatory responses of DCs to allogeneic splenocytes were analyzed after cultivation with CpG-ODN and IFN-α-overexpressing murine colorectal cancer MC38 cells (MC38-IFNα). Results: Co-incubation with CpG-ODN and MC38-IFNα, but not wild-type MC38 cells (MC38-WT), effectively up-regulated co-stimulatory molecules on the DCs. CpG, in combination with IFN-α, stimulated IL-1β and TNF-α production by DCs effectively. When DCs pre-incubated with CpG-ODN and MC38-IFNα were co-incubated with allogeneic splenocytes in vitro, the proliferation of these splenocytes was significantly enhanced compared with that of splenocytes incubated with CpG-ODN and MC38-WT cells (p=0.041). Conclusion: Since CpG-ODN and IFN-α have synergistic effects on DC maturation, they may induce potent antitumor immune responses and combination therapy should be considered for clinical application. Copyright© 2006 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -