Effects of intralymphatic immunotherapy on natural killer activity in malignant melanoma patients

Abstract

Adjuvant immunotherapy has the theoretical attraction of augmenting the host immune response at a time when the tumor burden is low. We have previously reported that intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILI) augments the cytolytic humoral immune responses in melanoma patients. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of ILI on cell-mediated immunity. As a model for the cellular effects of ILI, we investigated the natural killer (NK) cell activity in malignant melanoma patients. Fourteen patients were given an allogeneic cultured tumor cell vaccine (TCV) intralymphatically with concomitant administration of BCG. Natural killer cell activity was assessed sequentially using the single cell lysis and binding assay. Overall NK activity against the K562 target cell line showed a moderate increase over pretreatment levels as reflected by the increased number of target binding lymphocytes. However, the percentage of target binders mediating cell lysis remained unchanged during treatment. Assessment of NK activity against the NK-resistant M14 melanoma cell line reflected similar findings. These results suggest the activation of NK cells by tumor antigens, BCG, and/or alloimmunization with TCV. This increase appears to be manifested by increased target recognition rather than by alterations in effector cell function.

Synergistic effect of glycolic acid on the antioxidant activity of α‐tocopherol and melatonin in lipid bilayers and in human skin homogenates

“…The present report provides evidence that glycolic acid, a peeling agent also shown of some utilky in counteracting the effects of photoaging (13,15,17,25,26) acts synergistically with the antioxidant activity of vitamin E and melatonin m vitro, the effect evaluated with vitamin E being greater than that with melatonin.…”

“…It has been hypothesized (27) that this diol acts as an antioxidant thanks to its molecular structure, similar to that of ascorbic acid, that owes its activity to the existence of an enediol within the molecule. A resonating double bond between carbons in glycolic acid, resulting in a transient enediol structure, could give the molecule its some inconsistency in the reports about effects of glycolic acid on photodamage in humans (13,15,17,25,26). Interactions of glycolic acid with endogenous vitanfin E in different subjects, could affect the individual responses to gtycolic acid treatments and may help to explain these discrepancies.…”

“…The mechanism of action of cr acids on epidermal and dermal compartments needs clarification. Alpha-glycolic acid has been demonstrated effective as a chemical peeling agent (16,17), induces turnover of the stratum corneum (18) and causes a significant increase in glucosaminoglycan and collagen content of epidermis (19). Antioxidant activity ofc~-glycolic acid was also put forward (20).…”

Ganglioside gm2 as a target structure recognized by human natural killer cells

“…Attempts have been made to identify a NK target structure on K562 cclls (7,9, lo), but the biochemical nature of the structure has yet to be defined. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that a human monoclonal antibody to gdnglioside GM2 (1 1,12) had a strong reactivity to K562 cells and that patients receiving GM2-rich tumor cell vaccine displayed heightened levels of anti-GM2 antibody (13) and NK activity (14). Therefore, we hypothesized that GM2 may be a target for NK cells.…”

Effect of chemical peeling on the skin in relation to UV irradiation

“…Chemical peeling is used for treating photoaged skin such as wrinkles and pigmented spots (1,2). Glycolic acid (GA), the most commonly used chemical peeling agent has been reported to contribute to the recovery of photodamaged skin through various actions depending on the skin cell type such as keratinocytes (3)(4)(5)(6), melanocytes (7) and fibroblasts (3,5,6).…”