Shark cartilage 14 kDa protein as a dendritic cells activator

Abstract

Low molecular weight components of shark cartilage are reported to have anti-tumor as well as immuno-stimulating effects. Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that have a key role in establishment of anti-cancer immune response. In this study, the effect of 14 kDa protein from shark cartilage was investigated on stimulation and maturation of dendritic cells. The isolated 14 kDa protein from shark cartilage extract was added to DCs medium during overnight culture and their maturation and T cells stimulation potential was investigated. The majority of shark-cartilage-treated DCs expressed higher levels of maturation markers and were more effective in stimulation of allogenic T cells compared with non-treated DCs (p < 0.05). Our results showed that shark cartilage 14 kDa protein can potentially be used in DC-mediated T-cells stimulation and induction of desirable immune responses in clinical trials such as cancer immunotherapy. However, further studies are required to examine this proposal.

• Allogenic MLR
• dendritic cell
• shark cartilage
• T cell stimulation
• tumor

Acknowledgements

The authors thank faculty members in Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, for providing perspective and helpful commentary.

Declaration of interest

All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to Immunophamacology and Immunotoxicology. The authors also declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work. This work was financed and organized by Tarbiat Modares University.