Anti-tumor Effects of CIK Cells Against Lung Cancer Cell Lines A549 in Vitro and in Vivo

Objective To investigate the changes of phenotypes,proliferation activity and cytotoxicity of the human cytokine induced killer(CIK) cells from healthy donor against lung cancer cell lines A549 in vitro and in vivo.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) from healthy donors were incubated to induce CIK cells in the presence of interferon gamma(IFN-γ),IL-2 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody(mAb).The phenotypes changes of CIK cells were identified by flow cytometric analysis.MTT assays were used to determine the cytotoxicity of CIK cells.The antitumor activity of CIK cells were evalulated in BALB/c nude mice bearing A549 lung cancer.Results The total CIK cells significantly increased by(19.7±4.2) fold in cell proliferation number at day 21 incubation.The expression rate of CD3~+ CD56~+ cells rose from(4.9±1.4)% to(26.3±3.6)% on the 14th day.In vitro,CIK cells demonstrated(55.4±6.2)% lysis of A549 at an effector:target ratio of 20:1.In tumor bearing nude mice,CIK cells showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of transplanted lung cancer cell,resulting in a statistical significant difference compared with the control group.Conclusion CIK cells are of highly efficient cytotoxic effector cells against lung cancer cell lines A549 in vitro and in vivo and are likely to be usedas an immune therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.