Fig. 6.

DC loaded with irradiated A549-M1 tumor cells induce the expansion of the antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Immature DC were mixed with A549-M1 tumor cells at different DC:tumor cell ratios as indicated or control A549-GFP cells at a ratio of 1:1 and incubated for 24 h. The cells were then matured with BCG and IFNγ and cultured with MHC II-depleted autologous PBMC (84% CD3⁺) at a DC:PBMC ratio of 1:10 in the presence of IL-2 (20 U/ml) and IL-15 (5 ng/ml). One week later, the cells were counted, stained with a FITC-labeled anti-Vβ17 and PE-labeled anti-CD8 antibodies and analyzed by FACS. The absolute number of Vβ17⁺CD8⁺ cells was determined by multiplying the percent Vβ17⁺CD8⁺ cells identified by FACS with the total number of cells counted. A representative experiment of three is shown. ( tw transwell)