Functional alteration of myeloid dendritic cells through head and neck cancer

Background: In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the secretion of various immunosuppressive mediators contributes to large-scale effects on the immune functions. The influence of HNSCC on various cellular functions of human myeloid dendritic cells (MDC) was analyzed in this work. Materials and Methods: MDCs were isolated from peripheral blood by 'magnetic bead separation'. Cellular functions were analyzed using flow cytometry, migration- and ELISPOT assays as well as cytokine detection assays. Results: HNSCC massively affects MDCs to induce effective T-cell responses. Analysis of MDC migration and cytokine secretion revealed that HNSCC triggers the production of tumor-promoting and immunosuppressive cytokines IL-1 and IL-10 and results in an increased MDC migration activity. CpG-ODN is able to act contradictory to HNSCC. Conclusion: HNSCC is able to modulate various functions of human MDCs. CpG-ODN is suggested as a potential immunostimulatory agent of human MDC.