HPV16 CTL Epitope Peptide-activated Dendritic Cell and Natural Killer Co-culture for Therapy of Cervical Cancer in an Animal Model

There is increasing evidence that natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in antitumor immunityfollowing dendritic cell (DC) vaccination. Little is known, however, about the optimal stimulation of DCs byepitopes and NK interactions for cytotoxicity in tumors. In this study, DC cells activated by the HPV16E7.49-57epitope and LPS were co-cultured with NK cells in vitro, and then used ot immunize mice to study CTL activityof TC-1, which constitutively expresses HPV16E6E7, with an LDH release assay. Cytotoxicity in mice immunizedwith DC loaded with epitope HPVE7.49-57 vaccine co-cultured with NK was enhanced significantly (p<0.01).In conclusion, talk-across between DC and NK cells enhances their functions, also improving cytotoxicityagainsttumor cells, suggesting that activated DC-NK by epitopes has potential application for cancer-specificimmuno-cellular therapy.