OBJECTIVESChemokines play an important role in the infiltration of immune cells into tumor tissues. Anti-tumor immune response has been elicited in many tumor models by chemokine gene transfection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of inducing anti-hepatocellular carcinoma active immune response by transfection of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cells MM45T.Li with chemokine FK gene.

METHODSMouse FK gene was transduced into mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cells MM45T.Li using of liposome.G418-resistant clones were selected and the FK mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. In vivo experiments were performed to observe the tumorigenicity of wild type MM45T.Li and FK gene modified tumor cells. The immune cell infiltration in tumor tissues was detected histopathologically. The level of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood were detected by FACS.

RESULTSRT-PCR detection showed that FK was expressed in FK gene transfected G418-resistant clones (MM45T.Li-FK), but not in the wild type MM45T.Li. In vivo experiments the tumorigenicity of MM45T.Li-FK had decreased compared to the wild type MM45T.Li. In the tumor tissues from MM45T.Li-FK, many infiltrated immune cells were found, but few immune cells infiltrated into the tumor tissues from the controls. The level of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had obviously increased in MM45T.Li-FK compared to the controls (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTransfection with chemokine FK gene can induce anti-hepatocellular carcinoma active immune response.