Comprehensive immunological analyses of colorectal cancer patients in the phase I/II study of quickly matured dendritic cell vaccine pulsed with carcinoembryonic antigen peptide.

Dendritic cell (DC) vaccine has been used to treat patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). The results of vaccine-induced clinical responses have not always been satisfactory partially because of DC incompetence. In order to evaluate the feasibility of novel mature DCs for therapeutic adjuvants against CRC, we conducted clinical trials with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) peptide-loaded DC quickly generated with a combination of OK432 (Streptococcuspyogenes preparation), prostanoid, and interferon-α (OPA-DC).

Impaired cytokine response in myeloid dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C virus infection regardless of enhanced expression of Toll-like receptors and retinoic acid inducible gene-I.

Dendritic cells utilize various sets of Toll-like receptors (TLR) or cytosolic sensors to detect pathogens and evoke immune responses. In patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a higher prevalence of various infectious diseases is reported; suggesting that innate immunity against pathogens is impaired. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the TLR and retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) system in myeloid dendritic cells is preserved or not in chronic HCV infection.

Involvement of dendritic cell frequency and function in virological relapse in pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients.

A combination of pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFNalpha) and ribavirin has been used widely. Enhancement of immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to be involved in the efficacy of the combination therapy. The aim of the study was to elucidate whether the frequency or function of immunocompetent blood cells is related to the outcome of the therapy.

Enhanced ability of peripheral invariant natural killer T cells to produce IL-13 in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background/aims: Human invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells express a TCR Valpha24-JalphaQ paired with Vbeta11 and are activated by a surrogate ligand, alpha-galactosylceramide (alphaGalCer). The iNKT cells are involved in the regulation of anti-viral immune responses; however, little is known about their roles in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: We compared the frequency of peripheral iNKT cells and their cytokine producing capacity reactive to alphaGalCer between chronically HCV-infected patients and healthy subjects.

Reduced expression and functional impairment of Toll-like receptor 2 on dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) utilize Toll-like receptors (TLRs) to sense virus and initiate immune responses. We aimed at elucidating the roles of TLRs on DCs in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Monocyte-derived DCs were obtained from 32 healthy volunteers (HV) and 30 chronically HCV-infected patients (CH).

Quick generation of fully mature dendritic cells from monocytes with OK432, low-dose prostanoid, and interferon-alpha as potent immune enhancers.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are one of the promising tools for enhancing antigen-specific immune responses in clinical settings. Many studies have been performed thus far to verify the efficacy of the DC vaccine in cancer patients; however, the responses have not always been satisfactory, partly because of DC incompetence. To obtain DCs potentially applicable for vaccination of cancer patients, our group sought to establish the strategy of DC generation mainly by modulating culture periods and maturation stimuli.

Impaired function of dendritic cells circulating in patients infected with hepatitis C virus who have persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) induces chronic liver disease in hosts which can eventually progresses to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, progression of liver disease is slower in patients with persistently normal levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) than in those with active hepatitis. Although distinct immune responses against HCV have been proposed in asymptomatic infection, the role of circulating dendritic cells (DC) in the pathogenesis of these patients remains obscure.

Reduced numbers and impaired ability of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells to polarize T helper cells in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces a wide range of chronic liver injuries. The mechanism by which HCV evades the immune surveillance system remains obscure. Blood dendritic cells (DCs) consist of myeloid and plasmacytoid subsets that play distinct roles in the regulation of antivirus immune responses; however, their roles in the pathogenesis of HCV infection are yet to be determined.

Pseudotype hepatitis C virus enters immature myeloid dendritic cells through the interaction with lectin.

Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that regulate immune responses. One of the mechanisms for hepatitis C virus (HCV) persistence is the ability of HCV to suppress DC function. Direct HCV infection to blood DC has been implicated for DC dysfunction.