CD40L and IL-4 stimulation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells results in upregulation of mRNA level of FLICE--an important component of apoptosis
łuczyński, Włodzimierz.; Kowalczuk, O.; Iłendo, E.; Stasiak-Barmuta, A.; Krawczuk-Rybak, M.; Malinowska, I.; Kołtan, A.; Szczepalński, T.; Olejnik, I.; Jaworowski, Rław.; Chyczewski, L.; Matysiak, Mł.; Wysocki, M.; Sońta-Jakimczyk, D.; Wieczorek, M.
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 45(1): 15-20
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0239-8508 PMID: 17378240 Document Number: 612488
The use of cancer vaccines based on dendritic cells (DC) presenting tumor antigens can be a promising tool in the treatment of leukemia. The functional characteristics of leukemia derived DC is still to be elucidated. CD40 promotes survival, proliferation and differentiation of normal B cells. CD40 triggering was used to enhance the poor antigen-presenting capacity of leukemic B-cells. Since it is still unclear whether CD40 ligation drives neoplastic B-cells to apoptosis or not, we assessed the mRNA expression of FLICE, FAS, FADD and TRADD-important components of apoptosis machinery, using real-time PCR in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells before and after CD40 and IL-4 stimulation. ALL cells stimulated with CD40L/IL-4 expressed dendritic cell phenotype at mRNA and protein levels (upregulation of main costimulatory and adhesion molecules noted in real-time RT PCR and flow cytometry); they also expressed higher amounts of mRNA for FLICE, TRADD and FADD after CD40L/IL-4 stimulation. However differences statistically significant comparing cells cultured with CD40L/IL-4 and medium alone regarded only FLICE. Concluding, we showed upregulation of important elements of apoptosis at mRNA level in ALL cells after CD40 ligation.