Tucaresol down-modulation of MUC1-stimulated human mononuclear cells

• Published in: Immunological investigations Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 160 - 169
• Main Authors: Wright, Stephen E., Rewers-Felkins, Kathleen A., Chowdhury, Nazrul I., Ahmed, Jewel, Srivastava, Sanjay K., Lockwood-Cooke, Pamela R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare USA, Inc 01-01-2014; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - immunology; Adenocarcinoma - therapy; Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells - drug effects; Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Antigens, Neoplasm - immunology; Benzaldehydes - administration & dosage; Benzoates - administration & dosage; Breast Neoplasms - immunology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - drug effects; Humans; Immunological Synapses - metabolism; Immunosuppression; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; MCF-7 Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, SCID; Mucin-1 - immunology; Protein Carbonylation; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; tucaresol; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• ISSN: 0882-0139; 1532-4311
• DOI: 10.3109/08820139.2013.860161

Interaction between antigen presenting cells and T lymphocytes, through receptors and co-stimulatory molecules present on the surface of these cells, is one of the key means to modulate the adaptive immune system. Tucaresol, a Schiff-base-forming chemical, can be used as a substitute for the physiological donor of carbonyl groups of antigen presenting cells, which can interact with the amine groups of T lymphocytes to modulate the adaptive immune system. This study was done to determine whether tucaresol can enhance killing of cancer cells in vitro as well as protect non-obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficient mice from tumor development by mucin 1 stimulated human mononuclear cells through the adaptive immune system. The expected hypothesis was not supported. Percent specific lysis of MCF-7 tumor cells by mucin 1 stimulated human mononuclear cells was reduced by tucaresol. Furthermore, tucaresol abolished the protective effect of mucin 1 stimulated human mononuclear cells against MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth in non-obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficient mice. This study implies that tucaresol may be of use as an immunosuppressive agent.