Engaging Macrophages and Dendritic Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

[1]

MacroVax conjugated with GFP or fused with survivin peptides entered and activated antigen-presenting cells

Confocal image of GFP fusion inside a human dendritic cell

Flow cytometry analysis of mouse macrophages showed increased activation compared to relevant controls.

Using a blocking antibody for the immune cell receptor of interest, the specificty of the construct was confirmed.

MacroVax stimulated mouse macrophages to express activation markers:

MacroVax enters cells through a specific immune receptor:

[3]

MacroVax generates a tumor-specific T cell response in mice

Mouse T lymphocytes collected from CpG control-treated mice (left) and MacroVax-treated mice (right) spleens (3 weeks of treatment) were exposed to tumor specific antigens and analyzed for clonal expansion through cell proliferation assays.

MacroVax Treated

Control

Rapid T cell proliferation in MacroVax treated mice when exposed to tumor-specific antigens:

Mouse T lymphocytes collected from control, CpG/Lysate-treated, and MacroVax-treated mouse spleens (3 weeks of treatment) were exposed to tumor specific antigens and analyzed for activation via an ELISA for IFN-γ.