Anti-tumor effects of dendritic and tumor cell fusions are not dependent on expression of MHC class I and II by dendritic cells

Vaccination of fusion cells (FCs) made from dendritic and tumor cells elicits anti-tumor effects. We investigated whether major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II play an important role in the induction of anti-tumor immunity by FCs. Immunization with fusion cells composed of syngeneic, allogeneic, or MHC I−/−II−/− DCs and B16 cells inhibited tumor growth. Elispot assay showed a higher population of interferon-γ secreting T lymphocytes in mice immunized with fusion cells. These data suggest that anti-tumor effects of DCs and tumor cell fusions are not dependent on the expression of MHC class I and II on DCs.