Phenotypic and functional change of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells during murine melanoma growth.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860951
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAHARA Takeshi 九州大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (40529848)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 樹状細胞 / 悪性黒色腫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated the frequency, phenotype and function of TIDCs over time from early stages of melanoma growth in mice. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the tumors were infiltrated by a significant population of CD11c+MHCII+ DCs, especially at an early stage of tumor growth. The allogeneic stimulatory capacity of TIDCs increased with tumor growth, while this capacity of DCs in lymph nodes decreased. TIDCs harvested at an early stage of melanoma (early TIDCs) accelerated tumor growth, but those harvested at a late stage (late TIDCs) delayed tumor progression when they were co-injected with melanoma cells. Furthermore, co-injection of early TIDCs failed to induce full immunocompetent maturation of CD8+ T cells, with much lower expression of IFNγ, granzyme B and perforin within the tumor microenvironment. In conclusion, TIDCs change their characteristics from an immunoinhibitory to an immunostimulatory phenotype over time in association with tumor progression.

Free Research Field

皮膚免疫