Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor protects dendritic cells from anticancer drug-induced apoptosis

Joo, Hong-Gu

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2003;43(4):607-613.

Hong-Gu Joo

Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cheju National University

수지상세포에서 GM-CSF의 항암제유도 세포사멸 방지효과에 관한 연구

주홍구

제주대학교 수의학과

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an essential role in a variety of immune reactions involving $CD4^+$ T cells and have been used to enhance tumor-specific immune responses. Immunosuppression in patients with cancer includes the downregulation of function and number of DCs. Although DCs have been studied, the apoptosis of Des induced by anticancer drugs for chemotherapy remains largely uncharacterized. This study demonstrated that GM-CSF protects DCs from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or mitomycin C-induced apoptosis. After 6 - 10 days culture, DCs were characterized by specific surface marker, CD11c and MHC class II. MTT assay revealed that GM-CSF significantly enhanced the viability of DCs treated with 5-FU or mitomycin C. The percentage of dead cells of DCs was determined by cell size using FACScan and GM-CSF was clearly effective. However, GM-CSF did not increase the expression of MHC class II on viable DCs gated, suggesting that GM-CSF may differentially regulate critical factors involved in the function of DCs. For the quantitative analysis of apoptosis, annexin V-FITC staining was performed. 5-FU induced the apoptosis of DCs and GM-CSF significantly protects DCs from 5-FU-induced apoptosis. Taken together, the results in this study that GM-CSF has an anti-apoptosis effect on DCs may provide patients with cancer with clinical benefits to overcome the immunosuppression induced by the decrease of number and functional insufficiency of DCs.

Key Words: dendritic cells, apoptosis, 5-FU, GM-CSF