Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
Board

Lymphocytes in tumor-bearing patients have been shown to have impaired immune responses, that might in turn contribute to the tumor growth. For development of human cytotoxic CD8+ T cell (CTL), understanding of the cytokine requirements is critical. Previously, we have reported that, by using a combination of IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6, autologous CTL against the human tumor cell lines were induced and maintained for more than 1 month without loss of target specific cytotoxicity. IL-18 is a recently cloned cytokine, designated IFN-g inducing factor. Thus far the activity of IL-18 is on the induction of IFN-g production from Th1 cells and NK cells and the enhancement of their cytotoxicity. We investigated possible involvement of IL-18 in induction and enhancement of human autologous tumor specific CTL. IL-18, together with the 4 cytokines, was added to the culture medium of autologous tumor specific CTL for 7 days, or of naive PBMC during the induction period of CTL. IL-18 enhanced not only the cytotoxicity of previously established autologous tumor specific CTL, but also the induction of autologous CD8+ CTLs from PBMC of tumor-bearing patient. These results suggest that IL-18 is useful for immunotherapy of human tumors.

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Poster Number PAkohyama0327
Keywords: IL-18, autologous CTL