[The killing effects of cytotoxic T lymphocytes stimulated by specific hAFP-derived peptides on hepatocellular cancer cells].

Objectives: To compare the in vitro killing effects of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by dendritic cells(DCs) that modified with 4 different specific hAFP-derived peptides.

Methods: DCs derived from normal human peripheral monocytes were activated by GM-CSF and IL-4. MTT assay was applied to analyse the proliferation activities of the DCs. To induce the specific CTLs, DCs modified with four immunodominant epitopes from alpha fetoprotein (AFP) were cocultured with MNC derived CD8+ lymphocytes. The acquired specific CTLs were cocultured with SMMC-7721 cells at different dilutions, and the killing effects were detected by flow-cytometry and Non-Radioactive Cytotoxity kit.

Results: The CTLs stimulated by DCs modified with the four immunodominant epitopes from alpha fetoprotein (AFP) had specific killing activities on the SMMC-7721 cells. And statistical differences of the killing effects existed between the hAFP(158-166) (FMNKFIYEI) group and the other three groups.

Conclusion: CTLs induced by the DCs modified with the four immunodominant peptides had significant killing effects on the hepatocellular cancer cells in vitro. The hAFP(158-166) (FMNKFIYEI) peptide had a relatively higher efficiency in inducing DCs and stimulating specific CTLs.