Murine epidermal Langerhans cells and splenic dendritic cells present tumor-associated antigens to primed T cells

• Published in: European journal of immunology Vol. 24; no. 2; p. 315
• Main Authors: Cohen, P J, Cohen, P A, Rosenberg, S A, Katz, S I, Mulé, J J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-02-1994
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Antigens, Neoplasm - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Epidermis - immunology; Female; Immunologic Memory; Langerhans Cells - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neoplasms, Experimental - immunology; Spleen - immunology
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830240206

We examined the ability of epidermal Langerhans cells and splenic dendritic cells to present tumor-associated antigens (Ag) to immune T cells. Methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced subcutaneous fibrosarcomas derived from C57BL/6 mice were used as tumor models. Our data demonstrate that both murine Langerhans cells and splenic dendritic cells have the capacity to present tumor-associated Ag to primed T cells. We found that variously treated tumor preparations (irradiated viable tumor cells, irradiated frozen-stored tumor cells, mitomycin C-treated viable tumor cells, and snap freeze-thawed tumor cell lysates) can be utilized for tumor Ag-pulsing. Primed CD4+ T cells demonstrated in vitro specificity towards their respective tumors and did not cross-react to other syngeneic MCA-induced or non-MCA-induced tumors. The T cell proliferative response critically depended on the presence of immune CD4+ T cells. We discuss the implications of these findings for the adoptive immunotherapy of cancer using immune CD4+ T cells.