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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Orthotopic Implantation and Peripheral Immune Cell Monitoring in the II-45 Syngeneic Rat Mesothelioma Model
Published on: October 2, 2015
Immunotherapy by gene transfer with plasmids encoding IL-12/IL-18 is superior to IL-23/IL-18 gene transfer in a rat
Christian Liebau1, Christian Roesel, Sebastian Schmidt
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Asklepios Clinic, 38667 Bad Harzburg, Germany.
Background:
Osteosarcomas are primary malignant tumors of bone or soft parts arising from bone-forming mesenchymal cells. Despite dramatic therapeutic advances, namely neo-adjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, progress is at a plateau. Cytokine-mediated gene therapy might represent a further advance in the therapy of the osteosarcoma.
Materials And Methods:
We transfected UMR 108 osteosarcoma cells with different plasmids encoding IL-12, IL-23, proIL-18 and ICE (Interleukin-converting enzyme). IFN-gamma induction, which is known to induce antitumor effects mediated by the immune system, and cytotoxic effects of various cytokine combination were investigated.
Results:
Our results show that local secretion of IL-12 by UMR 108 cells led to an induction of cytotoxic effects mediated by mononuclear cells, which were enhanced by additional administration of recombinant IL-18. In contrast to IL-18, IL-23 showed a moderate increase of IFN-gamma induction when transfected alone and could only slightly increase the IFN-gamma induction mediated by IL-12. IL-18 enhanced IFN-gamma induction when applied alone and was able to increase the IFN-gamma production that was induced by IL-12.
Conclusion:
IL-23 seems to be a less effective immuno-therapeutic for adjuvant treatment of osteosarcomas than IL-12 and IL-18, when taking only IFN-gamma induction into consideration.
