Figure 2. T cells Proliferation by purified DC-tumor hybrids or other components of the fusion products.

Non-adherent PBMCs from the same patient (from patient1) were purified using nylon wool to remove antigen-presenting cells and B cells. They were incubated with purified hybrid cells, adherent tumor cells, the non-adherent cell fraction, the adherent cell fraction, purified hybrid cells supplemented with non-adherent cell fraction, total fusion products, DCs mixed with tumor cells, or DCs at a ratio of 10∶1 in the presence of 20 units/ml human IL-2. T cells cultured in the presence of 20 units/ml human IL-2 were used as a control. T cell proliferation was determined using the standard [³H] thymidine uptake assay. Columns, mean values of triplicate samples; bars, SD. *P<0.05 for T cell proliferation stimulated by purified hybrids, the adherent cell fraction, the non-adherent cell fraction, total fusion products or purified hybrid cells supplemented with the non-adherent cell fraction compared with adherent tumor cells, DCs mixed with tumor cells, DCs, or IL-2 alone. **P<0.05 for T cell proliferation stimulated by the total fusion products, purified hybrid cells supplemented with the non-adherent cell fraction, purified hybrid cells or the adherent cell fraction compared with the non-adherent cell fraction. ***P<0.05 for T cell proliferation stimulated by the total fusion products or purified hybrid cells supplemented with the non-adherent cell fraction compared to purified hybrid cells or the adherent cell fraction. There was no difference between the total fusion products and purified hybrid cells supplemented with the non-adherent cell fraction or between purified hybrids and the adherent cell fraction (P>0.05).