BACKGROUNDDendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful antigen-presenting cells to induce specific T-cell immunity, which plays an important role in the body's anti-tumor responses. In this study, we assessed the feasibility and efficacy of inducing T-cell immunity against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated tumors in vivo using dendritic cells transfected with EBV latent membrane 2A (LMP2A) recombinant adenovirus.

METHODSCytokine-activated bone marrow-derived DCs transfected with EBV LMP2A recombinant adenovirus were infused into BALB/c mice. Splenic cytotoxic T-cell responses were evaluated by cytotoxicity and interferon-gamma production assays. in vivo immune protection was then assessed in the mice tumor models implanted with tumor cells expressing EBV LMP2A.

RESULTSDCs transfected with EBV LMP2A recombinant adenovirus could strongly induce EBV LMP2A-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses and upregulate interferon-gamma production in vivo. Vaccination using these DCs led to prolongation of overall survival rates in the mice tumor models and retarded tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that DCs transfected with EBV LMP2A recombinant adenovirus can serve as a feasible and effective tool for eliciting LMP2A-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses against EBV LMP2A in vivo in the treatment of EBV-associated tumors.