[The study of dendritic cells derived from acute myeloid leukemia cells]

To induce dendritic cells (DCs) from primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells with cytokines, so as to provide a new approach for immunotherapy of leukemia.

Bone marrow MNCs were isolated from 12 AML patients and 6 healthy donors, and co-cultured with rhGM-CSF 1000 U/ml, rhIL-4500 U/ml and TNF-alpha 50 U/ml for 10 days. The morphologic features were observed by Wright's staining, inverted microscope and electron microscope. CD(80), CD(86), CD(83), CD(1a), HLA-DR expression were assayed by flow cytometry, cytogenetic analysis was performed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), the function of antigen presenting were tested by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR).

After cultured with cytokines, typical dendritic appearance with delicate membrane projections could be founded, the CD(80), CD(86), CD(83), CD(1a) markers and capacity of stimulating allogeneic T cells were upregulated significantly. The cultured DCs were confirmed to generate from malignant origin. There have no difference in morphology and immunophenotype expression between the DCs from AML patients and those from normal individuals. However, DCs derived from AML patients displayed decreased activity when tested in MLR.

Primary AML cells could be induced into AML-DCs with cytokines. The study suggests that it may be used efficiently in immunotherapy of AML.