IFN-induced dendritic cels in patients with multiple myeloma

The phenotypical and functional properties of dendritic cells (DCs), generated in vitro with GM-CS and IFN-α, were studied in the healthy donors (n=34) and patients with multiple myeloma (MM, n=12). The normal quantity of mature/non-mature and semi-mature cells was found in DCs population, generated in patients with MM. The level of IFN-γ and TNF-α production by DCs of patients was comparable with healthy donors. However, DCs of patients with MM were characterized by low percentage of activated CD25+cells coupled with enhance IL-10 production, which obviously cause the decrease of DCs stimulatory activity in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). Nevertheless, DCs of patients were able to induce Th1 response that was accompanied by 5-fold increase of CD3+IFN-γ+ Т-cells relative number in MLC. Our data argue the possibility of clinical application of DCs in patients with MM (in the form of cellular vaccines, particularly, in combination with adjuvant cytokine therapy) with the aim to enhance the efficiency of anti-tumor immune response.