Enhanced antitumor immunity by murine cytokine activated T lymphocytes after cocultured with bone marrow derived dendritic cells pulsed with whole tumor lysates.

Human cytokine induced killer cells (CIK) have shown potent non-major histocompatibility (MHC)-restricted antitumor activity in vitro in recent years. Using a similar protocol, we generated murine cytokine activated T lymphocytes (CAT) from splenocytes with the sequential addition of IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, anti-CD3 and IL-2. The NK depleted CATs did not possess significant antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. However, after cocultured with dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with whole tumor lysates, significant specific antitumor activity was observed both in vitro and in vivo. Our data demonstrated that the CATs cocultured with dendritic cells pulsed with whole tumor lysates have potent specific antitumor effects and might be useful in the treatment of malignancies.