Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered as professional antigen presenting cells (APCs), containing a variety of subsets, that can be resident in organs or migrating among the lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs. In a normal steady condition, DCs concomitantly process and present antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II. However, they are further activated after exposing to antigens. Recently, several approaches have been exerted to improve antigen presentation potency, to elicit powerful immune responses against tumor cells.
In DC-based cancer immunotherapy, DC is obtained from patient and modulated ex vivo using cytokines and in order to entice the immune system toward tumor elimination. Several approaches have been on the evaluation for long-term anti-tumor immune responses by DCs. On the other side, combination of DC vaccines with other cancer therapies, like chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies could confer efficient cancer therapeutics.
Fusions of dendritic cells (DCs) and whole tumor cells (DC-tumor FCs) display a characteristic phenotype comprised of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, MHC class II molecules, co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), and multiple tumor-associated antigens.
Dendritic cells influence the fate of CD4+ T cells. Naive CD4+ T cells can develop into a variety of subtypes when in interaction with DC. Regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper (Th) subtypes, including Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, are among them. Different transcription factors expressed by each subtype control the function and pattern of cytokine release in the cells. The interaction of DC with T cells and the cytokines in the microenvironment play a significant role in the complicated phenomena of T cell fate choice.
We prepare effective mature Dendritic cells from immature dendritic to activated T cells using biological cocktails to express co stimulatory molecules, MHC II expression to present tumor antigens, secrete proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
