Effect of PHA on CIK cells' morphology and immunophenotype

Aim: To study the effect of phytohemagglutinin(PHA) on cytokine induced killers' (CIK) morphology and immunophenotype. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) from healthy person were divided into two groups. One group was cultured CIK cells by traditional method. The other group was added PHA to stimulate PBMNCs for 24 hours, then cultured like incubating CIK cells. On 15th day the morphological changes were observed by cell pigmentation and the immunophenotype was examined by flow cytometry. Results: The morphology has no significant difference between these two groups. Both volume and nucleus became larger. Granule and vacuole appeared in some cytoplasm. The cytoplasm was filled with PAS positive granules in most of cells. After cultured each subset' s ratio was different. The ratio of CD3 +,CD8 +,and CD3 -CD56 + cells changed significantly (P0.05). Conclusion: PHA could increase CIK cells' CD3 +,CD8 + ,and CD3 +CD8 + cells'counts. It provides an experimental basis for immunotherapy with plenty and efficient immune cells.