ABSTRACT
AIM To study if the activated T lymphocytes induced by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rejection antigenic peptide SLIVHLNEV (mutant peptide of C met) pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) can provide protection against tumor challenge in nude mice HCC model and in vitro . METHODS SLIVHLNEV was eluted from HCC cell line HHCC by mild acid buffer and was identified by the mass spectrometry technique. SLIVHLNEV pulsed DCs isolated from HLA A2+ ruptured spleen were co cutured with isogeneic T lymphocytes. Cytotoxicity was tested using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were implanted into nude mice in order to protect them against transplanted HHCC tumor cells. The inhibition effect of CTLs on the growth of implanted tumor in nude mice was also observed. RESULTS The CTLs induced by SLIVHLNEV pulsed DCs had unique ability to kill HHCC tumor cells in vitro. They also protected the nude mice against the further challenge of HHCC tumor cells and inhibited the growth of implanted tumor. CONCLUSION DC based HCC rejection antigenic peptide SLIVHLNEV vaccine can induce powerful immune reaction both in nude mice HCC model and in vitro.