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Background: Since researchers were able to produce dendritic cells (DCs) from peripheral blood monocytes, many scientists have been in search of discovering the best way of producing dendritic cells and optimizing the DCs maturation processes in vitro to treat some diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the maturation of DCs for tumor immunotherapy. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, DCs were produced in two stages. In the first stage, monocyte cells were converted to immature DCs by GM-CSF and IL-4. In the second stage, immature DCs were made mature in the presence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and PHA -activated T lymphocytes conditioned media and maturation factors. Results: The produced DCs with appropriate phenotype, phagocytosis ability, and proliferation of T lymphocytes stimulation traits could secrete high levels of cytokines. Conclusion: Endothelial cells and T lymphocytes conditioned media can produce Th1 and DC1 in vitro. Therefore, DCs produced through this method are suitable for immunotherapy treatment applications and cancer treatment through treatment cells.

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Background: The present study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of molecules secreted by decidual cells on dendritic cells (DCs) function in abortion-prone compared with non-abortion-prone mice.

Materials and Methods: The decidual cell supernatants (DS) were obtained from abortion and non-abortion mouse models. DCs were purified from CBA/J mice spleens and treated with antigen and DS. Treated DCs were injected into mice palms. After 5 days, draining lymph nodes were removed, cultured in the presence of cognate antigen, and proliferation of lymphocyte cells was measured by 3H-thymidin incorporation.

Results: Our results showed that immunosuppressive activity of DS from non-abortion-prone mice significantly decrease dendritic cells' ability to stimulate lymphocytes proliferation compared with DS from abortion-prone mice (Simulation index (SI) of 4.93 ± 0.34 versus 11.84 ± 0.79).We, also found that DS prepared from non-resorption sites compared with DS from resorption sites in abortion-prone mice had increased immunosuppressive activity on DC function (SI of 7.31 ± 1.02 versus 2.67 ± 0.49).

Conclusion: Due to our results, we concluded that immunomodulatory activity of molecules secreted within decidual tissue is different between abortion-prone and non-abortion-prone mice. Based on the key role of DCs in inducing fetomaternal tolerance, we claimed that these molecules, through modulation of DCs function, play crucial role on pregnancy outcome.

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Background: Delivery of antigens directly to dendritic cells enhances the immune responses to the antigen and is an attractive approach for eliciting cellular immune responses against mutagenic pathogens like HIV virus. So the aim of this study is evaluation of immune responses elicited by delivered multi-epitopic HIV-1 tat/pol/gag/env recombinant protein to dendritic cells in sito using &alphaDEC-205 mAb.

Materials and Methods: In this study, recombinant protein expressed by pET23a-HIVtop4 plasmid including HIVtop4 sequence (Gag158-186, Pol150-190, ENV296-323, ENV577-610, Tat1-20 and Tat44-61) in BL21 E. coli cells was used as vaccine model. To exploiting dendritic cells, properties for immunization purposes, we conjugated this recombinant protein chemically to anti body against DEC-205 receptor on these cells. Balb/c mice immunized subcutaneously (s.c.) with conjugated multi-epitopic protein or un-conjugated one (as control) simultaneously with Poly I: C as dendritic cell maturation factor. Lymphocyte proliferation was measured by bromo di uridine assay, Cytotoxicity by Grenzyme B production activity, IL-4, IL-17, IFN- cytokines production and total antibody by direct and indirect ELISA methods in order.

Results: Immunization by anti DEC-205 conjugated peptide led to a significant increase in the proliferative responses of lymphocytes, production of Gr-B, IFN-&gamma, IL-4 and IL-17 cytokines and total antibody titer in comparison with the none targeted groups.

Conclusion: It is concluded that targeting of protein antigens to DEC-205+dendritic cells significantly enhances immune responses in compare to non-targeting strategies.