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

These DC still have functional receptors and are exposed to the receptor antagonist laminarin in order to block them.

These bone marrow derived murine dendritic cells (BM-DC) were generated with GM-CSF according to Lutz et al. (J Immunol Methods 1999, 223: 77-92) and were used for the investigation of chemokine dependent CCR7 signalling.

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.

These mice were generated with the intention to elucidate in vivo DC developmental regions in steady state and inflammation in situ.

By selecting for cytokine receptor expression relevant to DC development, we were able to identify highly cycling Lin–c-KitintFlt3+M-CSFR+ cells with a distinct gene-expression profile in mouse bone marrow that, on a clonal level in vitro and as a population both in vitro and in vivo, efficiently generated plasmacytoid and conventional DCs but no other lineages, which increased in number after in vivo injection of the cytokine Flt3 ligand.

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

Co-cultures of mDCs and pDCs in response to CpGs, LPS and bacterial particles were studied to identify a possible cooperation between myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs in response to different microbial stimuli, and to characterize the mechanisms of this cooperation.

These T lymphocytes are exposed to HIV-1 to examine if this can directly modulate their functions or interfere with their cross-talk. Preliminary results indicated that, although virus exposure of gamma-delta T cells does not significantly affect their properties, HIV-exposed DCs exhibit a reduced capacity to deliver activation and proliferative signals to gamma-delta T lymphocytes. Moreover, a dysregulated pattern of cytokines and chemokines produced by both cell populations is observed in the presence of the virus.

These T cells are specific for the 0T-1-OVA antigen. They were used to study the expression of twenty different genes either mediating effector functions, or coding for different receptors involved in T cell differentiation and memory generation.

These T cells are specific for the P14-GP33 antigen. They were used to study the expression of twenty different genes either mediating effector functions, or coding for different receptors involved in T cell differentiation and memory generation.

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.

These DC were used to elicit CTL responses in a mouse model.

The animal(s) were immunized in vivo with in vitro matured DC and / or treated using a maturation signal.

A significant number of patients was enrolled in the DC-based immunotherapy trial. After vaccination, vaccine-induced depigmentation and vitiligo were observed.

Exosomes were used to treat a chohort of 77 gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cancer patients.

This supernatant contains the infective MAGE-3 encoding viruses and the natural tumour peptides and is needed for metastatic melanoma vaccine production.

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.