Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Expansion of Human Peripheral Blood γδ T Cells using Zoledronate
Published on: September 9, 2011
Regression of engineered myeloma cells secreting interferon-gamma-inducing factor is mediated by both CD4(+)/CD8(+) T
1Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, Saskatoon Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 20 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, S7N 4H4, Saskatchewan, Canada. jxiang@scf.sk.ca
IL-18 is a novel cytokine that stimulates T and NK cell activity and has potent antitumor effects. In this study, a mouse IL-18 gene was transfected into the mouse myeloma cell line J558. Our data demonstrated that (i) inoculation of 0.5x10(6) engineered tumor cells J558/IL-18 into syngeneic mice induced a Th1 dominant immune response and resulted in tumor regression in all 8/8 mice; (ii) the IL-18 antitumor effect was significantly decreased in mice depleted of either the CD4(+), or CD8(+), or NK cell subset, respectively but was completely abrogated in mice depleted of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells; (iii) in vivo neutralization of IFN-gamma was accompanied by the growth of J558/IL-18 tumor in all the mice; and (iv) the J558/IL-18 tumor regression further induced protective immunity against a subsequent challenge by the parental J558 tumor, which is mediated by CD8(+) T cells as examined in the cytotoxicity assay in vitro and in the animal study in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that: (i) IL-18 can induce antitumor immune responses mediated by both CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cells and NK cells; and (ii) it is associated with IFN-gamma production. This study thus highlights the potential utility of IL-18 as an antitumor agent, a role that it can fulfil alone or in combination with other immunomodulatory cytokines such as IL-12.
IL-18 is a novel cytokine that stimulates T and NK cell activity and has potent antitumor effects. In this study, a mouse IL-18 gene was transfected into the mouse myeloma cell line J558. Our data demonstrated that (i) inoculation of 0.5x10(6) engineered tumor cells J558/IL-18 into syngeneic mice induced a Th1 dominant immune response and resulted in tumor regression in all 8/8 mice; (ii) the IL-18 antitumor effect was significantly decreased in mice depleted of either the CD4(+), or CD8(+), or NK cell subset, respectively but was completely abrogated in mice depleted of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells; (iii) in vivo neutralization of IFN-gamma was accompanied by the growth of J558/IL-18 tumor in all the mice; and (iv) the J558/IL-18 tumor regression further induced protective immunity against a subsequent challenge by the parental J558 tumor, which is mediated by CD8(+) T cells as examined in the cytotoxicity assay in vitro and in the animal study in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that: (i) IL-18 can induce antitumor immune responses mediated by both CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cells and NK cells; and (ii) it is associated with IFN-gamma production. This study thus highlights the potential utility of IL-18 as an antitumor agent, a role that it can fulfil alone or in combination with other immunomodulatory cytokines such as IL-12.
Related Concept Videos
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

