Differential responsiveness to IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 common receptor gamma chain cytokines by antigen-specific peripheral blood naive or memory cytotoxic CD8+ T cells from healthy donors and melanoma patients.

Common receptor gamma chain (c-gamma) cytokines (CKs) support proliferation of CD8+ T cells in presence or absence of antigen triggering and help maintaining the immunologic memory. We addressed the effects of low (< or = 5 ng/mL)-dose interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, or IL-15 on human naive and memory antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Peripheral blood CD8+ lymphocytes proliferated with decreasing efficiency in response to IL-15, IL-7, and IL-2.

Efficient stimulation of T cell responses by human IFN-alpha-induced dendritic cells does not require Toll-like receptor triggering.

Dendritic cells (DC) can be activated by proinflammatory cytokines or upon toll-like receptor (TLR) triggering. These stimuli induce specific patterns of phenotypic modulation and gene expression profiles. We investigated whether TLR triggering represents an indispensable requirement for the induction of T cell responses by human DC generated upon culture of monocytes in the presence of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interferon-alpha (IFN-DC).

Local activation of the innate immune system in Buruli ulcer lesions.

Buruli ulcer (BU) caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is a chronic necrotizing disease of the skin and the underlying soft tissue. Fat tissue necrosis accompanied by minimal inflammation is considered the most reliable histopathologic feature of BU. There may be a constant influx of inflammatory cells to the sites of active infection but these are thought to be killed by mycolactone, a polyketide toxin produced by M.

Cancer/testis antigen expression and specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in non small cell lung cancer.

Non small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) express cancer/testis antigens (CTA) genes and MAGE-A expression correlates with poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinomas. We addressed cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses to HLA class I restricted CTA epitopes in TIL from NSCLC in an unselected group of 33 patients consecutively undergoing surgery. Expression of MAGE-A1, -A2, -A3, -A4, -A10, -A12 and NY-ESO-1 CTA genes was tested by quantitative RT-PCR.

Advanced liposomal vectors as cancer vaccines in melanoma immunotherapy.

Malignant tumors represent a major source of disability and account for more than one of five deaths in Western countries. Among the different cancers, melanoma harbors two distinctive features. First, its has long been recognized as an immunogenic tumor, and second, an unprecedented rise in incidence is currently observed, in face of few therapeutic options.

Efficient induction of tumoricidal cytotoxic T lymphocytes by HLA-A0201 restricted, melanoma associated, L(27)Melan-A/MART-1(26-35) peptide encapsulated into virosomes in vitro.

Cancer immunotherapy requires the induction of HLA class I restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for tumor associated antigens (TAA). While a number of TAA have been identified, there is an urgent need for the development of adjuvants capable of stimulating CTL responsiveness. Previously, we reported the capacity of immunopotentiating reconstituted influenza virosomes (IRIV) to enhance CTL responses specific for synthetic peptides simultaneously added to cultures in soluble form.

Selective responsiveness to common gamma chain cytokines in peripheral blood-derived cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by Melan-A/MART-1(27-35)targeted active specific immunotherapy.

We have comparatively evaluated the proliferative response of CTL induced in metastatic melanoma patients upon immunization against Melan-A/MART-1(27-35) tumor associated antigen (TAA) to IL-2, IL-7 or IL-15 cytokines, sharing a receptor common gamma-chain (c gamma-c cytokines). Twenty-eight CTL clones were generated from CD8+ T cells obtained from 3 patients during the contraction phase of immune response following a successful vaccine mediated expansion of specific effectors. All clones were able to kill tumor cell lines expressing HLA-A0201 and Melan-A/MART-1, and displayed phenotypic characteristics of effector/memory (CD45RA-/CCR7-) or CD45RA+/CCR7- effector cells in intermediate to late developmental stage (CD28-/CD276+/-) CTL.