Fig. 1Dose response analyses of cultured cells during CI treatment. DCs rapidly expressed several molecules within 1 to 2 days, and the optimal CI concentrations were determined to be 180 and 270 ng/ml. The expression of various surface markers was detected by flow cytometry. The data shown represent the mean percentage expression (±SEM) from three independent samples of leukemic DCs generated in vitro by culture with CI at various concentrations.
Fig. 2Immunophenotypic analysis of untreated AML cells (A) and leukemic DCs (B). AML cells isolated from BM of patients with AML were cultured in the presence of CI (270 ng/ml) for 2 days. Phenotypic analysis of cells was done by flow cytometry with isotype controls (solid histograms) versus antigen-specific antibodies (solid histograms) in one representative sample of six independent experiments (A, B), and the data show the mean percentage expression (±SEM) from six independent samples (C). *indicates p<0.05.
Fig. 3Allogeneic T cell stimulatory capacity of AML cells and leukemic-DC. Incorporation of [3H]-methylthymidine into allogeneic CD3+ T cells stimulated with DCs or AML cells was determined. The allostimulatory capacities of leukemic DCs cultured with CI (270 ng/ml) toward CD3+ T cells obtained from a normal healthy donor are higher than those of leukemic cells. The addition of IL-4 did not augment the MLR activity. The data shown are the mean cpm (±SEM) of triplicate cultures from three independent experiments.
Fig. 4Apoptosis using flow cytometry for Annexin-V and Propidium Iodide. AML cells cultured with CI (270 ng/ml) and/or IL-4 (50 ng/ml) for 2 days showed more significant apoptosis than primary cultures of AML cells for 2 days. The figure shows one representative experiment.
Table 1Characteristics of patients with AML