[Immunotherapeutic effects of beta-elemene combined with interleukin-23 gene-modified dendritic cells on murine pancreatic carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Dendritic cell (DC) vaccine is a kind of treatment vaccine with clinical application potency. Functional cytokines can enhance anti-tumor immune response of dendritic cells. This study was to investigate the protective effects on murine pancreatic carcinoma by beta-elemene combined with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) modified with murine interleukin (IL)-23 gene.

METHODS

The murine IL-23 cDNA was sub-cloned into dual-expression vector. DCs were pulsed with tumor cell lysate after modified by IL-23 gene. Mice were injected with IL-23-transfected DC vaccine, non-transfected DC vaccine, and sodium, respectively. The immune preventative and immunotherapeutic effects of DC vaccines on mice and the cytokine release in vivo were assessed. Effects of vaccine combined with beta-elemene on tumor growth and survival period of the mice were observed.

RESULTS

IL-23 protein apparently increased the antigen-presenting ability of DCs. After the vaccination of DC vaccines, IFN-gamma production in treatment group was significantly more than that of the control group (P<0.01), as well as, IL-4 production was less than that in the normal group (P<0.05). Tumor growth was obviously inhibited and the survival period of the mice was obviously prolonged in beta-elemene combined with DC vaccine group than in DC, beta-elemene, or control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

IL-23-modified DC vaccines can enhance specific Th1-type and CTL response against pancreatic carcinoma cells, induce not only preventative immunity, but also auto-immunity against pancreatic carcinoma. Moreover, beta-elemene has great collaborative anti-tumor function.