Tetanus toxide epitope embedded into a L-SIGN/DC-SIGN-cross-reactive Ab was targeted to dendritic cells. We believe that the isolated Abs may be useful for selective delivery of Ags to DC-SIGN- or L-SIGN-bearing APCs for the modulation of immune responses and for blocking viral infections.

Autologous dendritic cells are loaded with apoptotic leukemic cells from patients with B-CLL to be used as vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Preliminary data from a clinical study indicate reduction of circulating tumor cells. No adverse effects have been observed.

Three patients were enrolled in a clinical trial and DC vaccine was produced. The DC vaccine was administered into irradiated tumours in RCC of one patient only due to cancer progression in the other two patients. The patient treated is in complete remission 6 months after treatment.

HLA-DP4/MAGE3 molecules have been prepared to stain ex vivo PBL from immunized melanoma patients for a study of anti-tumor responses in melanoma patients that were vaccinated with autologous DCs loaded with a combination of tumor Ag peptides.

Soluble recombinant HLADR1101 MHC class II molecules receptive for loading with either pathogen or tumor-derived peptides were constructed for a study of CD4+ T cell responses against pathogens or tumors in humans.

These dendritic cells were generated from adherent peripheral blood monocytes, subject to quality controls, and subsequently used for intradermal administration in HLA-A1 and HLA-A2 positive patients with stage III/IV melanoma (V administrations with eventual additional ones depending on clinical outcome).

The peptides are used in the generation of monocyte-derived DC (pulsing of the cells at a concentration of 5 µg/mL in approximately 5 mL and at a cell density of 20 x 10e6/mL for 1 h.).

This vaccine was used for RCC patients who were deficient in T cell IFN-gamma and IL-2 production pre-vaccination.

Patients with resected HPV16-positive cervical cancer were vaccinated with an overlapping set of long peptides comprising the sequences of the HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins emulsified in Montanide ISA-51.

Patients with resected HPV16-positive cervical cancer were vaccinated with an overlapping set of long peptides comprising the sequences of the HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins emulsified in Montanide ISA-51.

Commercially available siRNA Smart Pool from Dharmacon targeted against the STAT3 transcription factor have been successfully transfected in human MDDCs.

HSV vector expressing full length tyrosinase, gp100 and MART-1optimised for antigen delivery to dendritic cells by the deletion of HSV genes which usually inhibit DC function. These deliver antigens to DC at very high efficiency and activate the transduced cells similarly to LPS. Biovex provides the possibility of using these vectors for a variety of pre-clinical, and ultimately clinical studies.

These multimers were provided by P. Coulie and used to establish routine monitoring of tumor-specific T-cell subsets by multicolor flow cytometry.

We have generated a monoclonal antibody, 2C44, that reacted to a peptide derived from the Leishmania LACK protein bound to I-Ad MHC class II molecules. We have successfully used the 2C44 mAb to visualize LACK-presenting DCs in mice infected with the L. major.

We showed that, in the absence of additional stimuli, inflammatory signals such as pro-inflammatory stroma-derived cytokines on DC are ineffectual in promoting DC activation and cannot substitute for engagement of innate receptors directly on DC.

Direct administration of ovalbumin (OVA) encoding lentiviral vectors caused in vivo transduction of cells that were found in draining lymph nodes (LNs) and induced potent anti-OVA cytotoxic T cells similar to those elicited by ex vivo transduced DC.

It has been shown that DCs express specific receptors for exosomes. Since ICAM-1 on exosomes is required for their ability to activate T cells via DCs in vitro, the role of Mac-1 and LFA-1 (the major ligands for ICAM-1) as potential receptors for exosomes has been investigated. A new role for LFA-1 on DCs, as a receptor for exosomes has been proposed.

The model antigen OVA was fused to the C1C2 exosome-binding domain of MFG-E8/lactadherin. This construct was used in a study on the capture of antigen-bearing exosomes by DCs and cross-presentation of tumour antigen in exosomes.