[Effect of dendritic cells co-cultured with cytokine induced killer cells on cytotoxicity against drug resistant K562 cells]

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of dendritic cells (DC) co-cultured with cytokine induced killer (CIK) cells on cytotoxicity against K562 and K562 drug-resistant (K562/ADM) cells.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) isolated from healthy adult donors were induced to obtain CIK cells and DC respectively and then these two kinds of cells were co-cultured. The cytotoxicity of the co-cultured cells against K562 and K562/ADM cells was measured with MTT assay.

Results: The cytotoxicity CIK cells alone to K562 and K562/ADM cells was (20.0 +/- 1.2)% - (61.1 +/- 2.2)% and (17.5 +/- 2.1)% - (45.2 +/- 3.3)% respectively at low effector to target ratios (2.5 - 20.0). This effect was significantly enhanced by co-culturing with DCs being (25.2 +/- 2.3)% - (70.9 +/- 4.1)% and (22.4 +/- 2.7)% - (62.3 +/- 5.0)%.

Conclusion: CIK cells showed high cytotoxicity against K562 and K562/ADM cells and the activity could be enhanced by co-culturing with DC.