Dendritic cells are the most powerful cells to induce T cell immune reaction. DC derived from leukemia also possess the ability of the antigen processing and presentation. DC pulsed with tumor antigen can effectively initiate T cell immune reaction and induce T cell to cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. In this text, we introduce the advanced development of the biological character of DC, tumor immunology, the mechanism of tumor cell escaping immune surveillance and DC in leukemia immunotherapy.

Objective To explore the effective method for in vitro culture of the dendritic cells(DCs) and the specific anti-leukemic cell effect mediated by dendritic cells pulsed with acute myelogenous leukemia antigen. Methods Bone marrow mononucleas cells (BMMNCs) isolated from AML patients were induced to undergo differentiation with 500 ng/ml A23187 and pulsed with AML antigen. After 96 h, DCs and T cells were co-cultured for 5 to 7 days. The cytotoxic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) to AML were detected with MTT colorimetry. Results BMMNCs isolated from AML patients treated with 100 ng/ml rhGM-CSF in combination with 500 ng/ml A23187 for 96 h exhibited typical morphology of DCs with rapidly increased expression of CD1a and CD83 (P<0.01). Dendritic cells pulsed with acid eluted tumor antigen peptides group displayed the strongest cytotoxic activity of CTL to AML. There was a significant difference between two groups(P<0.01). Conclusion BMMNCs isolated from AML patients can be successfully induced to DCs with rhGM-CSF and A23187 and dendritic cells pulsed with acid eluted tumor antigen peptides group had the strongest cytotoxic activity of CTL to AML.