Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Preparation of Tumor Antigen-loaded Mature Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy
Published on: August 1, 2013
Autophagy promotes BCG-induced maturation of human dendritic cells
1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Abstract:
Dendritic cells (DCs) are important for the initiation of the adaptive immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Autophagy is an innate and adaptive defense mechanism and important for the control of M. tuberculosis. However, the role of autophagy in the adaptive immune response against M. tuberculosis remains to be determined. In the present study, we studied the effects of autophagy on the maturation of DCs infected with Bacillus Calmette- Guerin (BCG). The phenotype and function of the DCs were assessed by measuring the expression of CD86 and HLA-DR and the secretion of IL-10 and IL-6. Autophagy was evaluated by the change in LC3II, a molecular marker for autophagy. Following stimulation of autophagy, DCs that were matured in the presence of BCG showed enhanced expression of CD86 and HLA-DR and increased IL-6 production. The expression of LC3II was increased after the stimulation of autophagy. These results demonstrated that autophagy might result in the increased maturation of BCG-infected DCs, suggesting that autophagy could contribute to an enhanced adaptive immune response against M. tuberculosis.
Related Concept Videos
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Antigen Presenting Cells
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...

