Autoimmune hepatic inflammation by vaccination of mice with dendritic cells loaded with well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma cells and administration of interleukin-12

Vaccination of mice with dendritic cells loaded with Hepa1–6, well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (DC/Hepa1–6), induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes against Hepa1–6. Liver-specific inflammation was generated by vaccination of mice with DC/Hepa1–6 and subsequent administration of interleukin (IL)-12. Vaccination with DCs loaded with MC38 or B16 and administration of IL-12 did not generate significant liver-specific inflammation. Splenic T cells from DC/Hepa1–6-vaccinated mice showed proliferative response by stimulation with S-100 protein of the liver and showed cytotoxic activity to hepatocytes. Hepatic mononuclear cells from DC/Hepa1–6 + IL-12-treated mice also showed cytotoxic activity to hepatocytes. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from DC/Hepa1–6-vaccinated mice produced hepatic inflammation in recipient mice that had been pretreated with IL-12. IL-12 upregulated the expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines in the liver. In conclusion, CTLs responsive to hepatocytes induced by DC/Hepa1–6 and enhanced expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines in the liver by IL-12 would produce autoimmune hepatic inflammation.