AG-858

To investigate the killing effect of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced with heat shock protein-peptide complexes (HSP-PC70) derived from tumor cells.

Cell culture, flow cytometric analysis, affinity chromatography for protein extraction and purification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, CTL induction and expansion, and LDH release were used.

63.5% of the HcaF cells expressed HSP-PC70 on their membrane by FCM analysis under physiological condition, and the expression was 75.5% of the stressed cells (P < 0.01). HcaF cells had high HSP70 expression and inducibility. The cytotoxic activity of the CTLs induced with HSP70 obtained by affinity chromatography from HcaF cells was 84.2%, 47.9% and 14.8% respectively at E/T ratio of 50 : 1, 25 : 1 and 12.5 : 1. The CTLs were CD8 positive T cells. All mice which received CTL injection got long period survival (over 90 days, P < 0.01), compared with control group (10.6 days).

HSP-PC70 derived from tumor cells has strong immunogeneicity, and can activate CTLs with high peculiarity and killing activity. HSP-PC70 induced CTL adoptive immunotherapy can be a promising treatment for human to fight cancers.