[Evaluation of immune reconstitution with in vitro-activated T cells from a tumor-bearing host]

To evaluate the reconstituted immune system with in vitro-activated T cells from tumor-bearing rats coupled with ovarian cancer vaccination.

Fischer 344 female rats were injected with cyclophosphamide (CY) as a lymphopenia (LP) model. The immune systems of the rats were reconstituted with in vitro-activated T cells from the same individuals. GM-CSF-modified ovarian cancer cells lines (NuTu-19) were injected within 24 h after immune reconstitution. The tumor vaccine draining lymph nodes (TVDLN) were harvested 8-10 days after vaccination and analyzed by FACS. The proliferative capacity of dendritic cells (DCs) was measured by the levels of MHC-II and CD86 molecules. The activation of T cells was monitored by the percentage of FITC-CD4 and PE-CD8 cells. The biological function of DCs such as processing and presenting antigens was assayed by immature DCs' phagocytosis of FITC-Dextran.

Immune reconstitution with in vitro-activated T cells produced significantly more DCs, T cells and functionally enhanced immature DCs out of TVDLN.

Reconstituting immune system with in vitro-activated T cells from a tumor-bearing host coupled with ovarian cancer vaccination during lymphocytopenia may selectively expand and activate particular T cells and DCs, leading to augmentation of anti-tumor immunity.