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

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.

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.

CD1 molecules that are subsequently to be refolded in vitro in order to generate CD1 tetramers.

TLR ligands (simultaneous activation of TLR4 and TLR8 signaling cascades) were used as stimuli for MDDC and resulted in a marked inhibition of the secretion of the proinflammatory chemokine CCL2 with respect to stimulation through a single TLR.

The autologous, apoptotic, leukemic cells (Apo-DC) vaccine was given to 2 cohorts of patients: without additional adjuvants and with GM-CSF as an adjuvant. These two cohorts were monitored for 52 weeks. The clinical and immune monitoring data is being currently analyzed.

CD1 molecules are refolded in vitro in order to generate CD1 tetramers.

The protein vaccines were injected combined with a combination of iNKT cell-agonist alpha-GalCer and MPL, a detoxified version of LPS that signals through TLR4. This combination treatment stimulates antigen-specific T and B cell responses that are greater than those elicited with alpha-GalCer or MPL alone.

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.

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

TNF-alpha is used during maturation of the DCs.

50 mg/ml of streptomycin (Gibco BRL) containing 10% (vol/vol) FCS (Hyclone) were added to the monocyte cell culture.

50 U/ml of penicillin were added to the monocyte cell culture.

100 mM sodium pyruvate were added to the monocyte cell culture.

1% (vol/vol) non-essential amino acids were added to the monocyte cell culture.

2 mM L-glutamine (Sigma) was added to the monocyte cell culture.