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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Development and Functional Characterization of Murine Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells
Published on: May 18, 2018
Stimulation of the maturation of dendritic cells in vitro by a fermented mistletoe extract
Gerburg M Stein1, Arndt Büssing, Michael Schietzel
1Krebsforschung Herdecke, Department of Applied Immunology, University Witten/Herdecke, Communal Hospital, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany. stein.g@debitel.net
Background:
Dendritic cells (DC) play a key role during the initiation of specific immune responses. In cancer patients, however, an alteration of their function was observed. In our investigation we analysed the influence of a fermented mistletoe extract often used for adjuvant treatment of cancer patients on the generation and maturation of DC.
Materials And Methods:
Monocytes from healthy individuals were incubated with a fermented mistletoe extract in the presence or absence of GM-CSF/IL-4. Surface marker expression was measured by flow cytometry.
Results:
While there was no relevant effect on the generation of DC in the absence or presence of GM-CSF/IL-4 in 5-day cultures, the mistletoe extract significantly stimulated the maturation of pre-generated immature DC, as evidenced by a heightened expression of CD83. Like the positive control TNF-alpha, the mistletoe extract significantly activated CD80 and CD86 as well as HLA class I and II molecules on these cells.
Conclusion:
Our data clearly demonstrate an influence of the mistletoe extract on the maturation of DC, but it remains to be elucidated whether the function of DC is also activated and, especially, whether this effect can be observed in tumour patients as well.
