Primed mice were treated with these antibodies. This treatment induced the development of regulatory T cells expressing high levels of ICOS and producing IL-10.

Surface markers were used to establish routine monitoring of tumor-specific T-cell subsets by multicolor flow cytometry. For this purpose multimers were used kindly provided by Pierre Coulie (Brussels) together with CD8 surface markers (and additionally, CD4, CD3, CD45RA, CCR7, CD25, CD27, CD137, CD127) in different 8-color panels on the BD FACSCanto II. Additionally, functional markers such as CD107a were used and intracellular cytokine staining for the further analysis of individual T-cell populations and T-cell clones.

Surface markers were used to establish routine monitoring of tumor-specific T-cell subsets by multicolor flow cytometry. For this purpose multimers were used kindly provided by Pierre Coulie (Brussels) together with CD45RA surface markers (and additionally, CD8, CD4, CD3, CCR7, CD25, CD27, CD137, CD127) in different 8-color panels on the BD FACSCanto II. Additionally, functional markers such as CD107a were used and intracellular cytokine staining for the further analysis of individual T-cell populations and T-cell clones.

IFN alpha was used in a DC maturation process with the final aim to produce a DC vaccine.

Laminarin (500 micrograms/ml) was added to DCs in order to block their beta-glucan receptors.

This DC vaccine was produced from matured DC (matured using TNF alpha, IFN alpha and PGE2) which were subsequently transfected with CD40L-encoding RNA and tumor RNA.

This tumor RNA was used to transfect matured DC with the final aim to produce a DC vaccine.

This RNA was used to transfect matured DC with the final aim to produce a DC vaccine.

This PGE2 was used in a DC maturation process with the final aim to produce a DC vaccine.

TNF alpha was used for DC maturation with the final aim to produce a DC vaccine.

PE-alpha DC80 is used for staining of incubated cells for FACS analysis for activation markers.

The FC-block was used for incubation of cells (1:50 in PBS + 2 % FCS) for FACS staining of activation markers.

Using curdlan as a specific agonist of dectin-1, we have shown that this C-type lectin couple to Syk kinase leads to activation of ERK, JNK and p38 MAPKs, as well as NF-kappaB.

DC based vaccines expressing the tumor antigens PSA or Her2/neu were produced in a pre-clinical work.

These TcR-Tg clones are specific for the P14-GP33 antigen. In the individual T cells, we studied the expression of twenty different genes either mediating effector functions, or coding for different receptors involved in T cell differentiation and memory generation.

The TcR-Tg clones are specific for the 0T-1-OVA antigen. In the individual T cells, we studied the expression of twenty different genes either mediating effector functions, or coding for different receptors involved in T cell differentiation and memory generation.

We used a MHC II presentation pathway targeting vector originally published by Wang et al. 1999 for the delivery of antigens in both murine and human DC.

R848 (along with LPS, Curdlan, yeast RNA and yeast cells in different conditions of culture) was used to induce DC activation.

The CD1d tetramers were generated from in vitro refolded CD1 molecules. The ability to generate CD1d tetramers has provided us with the opportunity of comparing a broad panel of CD1d binding compounds for their ability to stimulate iNKT cells.

Yeast RNA (along with R848, Curdland, LPS and yeast cells in different conditions of culture) was used to induce DC activation.