[Inhibition of human glioma cell growth by a soluble recombinant human CD40 ligand]

CD40 presents on B cells, monocytes, dendritic cells, and endothelial cells, as well as a variety of neoplastic cell types, including carcinomas. CD40 stimulated by its antibody or CD40 ligand previously had been demonstrated to induce activation-induced cell death in ovarian carcinoma cell lines, colon carcinoma cell lines, breast carcinoma cell lines, and lung carcinoma cell lines and to inhibit their growth in vivo. This study was designed to assess the effects of a recombinant soluble human CD40 ligand (srhCD40L) on human glioma cell lines.

The specimens of human glioma were examined for CD40 expression by immunohistochemistry. The human glioma cell lines were examined for CD40 expression by flow cytometry. The cell lines were incubated with srhCD40L for 24h and 72h, then the markers of proliferation and apoptosis of these cells were determined, respectively.

CD40 expression could be detected in 7/23 human glioma specimens and 1/3 cell line. The srhCD40L inhibited the proliferation of CD40+ human glioma cell line. The viability of these cells was decreased from 98% to 87%. The apoptosis and death of these cells were increased by 17.4%.

CD40 stimulated by its ligand directly inhibits human glioma cell growth in vitro. These results suggest that srhCD40L may be of clinic use to inhibit glioma growth.