Differences in Dendritic Cell Activation and Distribution After Intravenous, Intraperitoneal, and Subcutaneous Injection of Lymphoma Cells in Mice

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for initiating immune responses. However, in recent years, several groups have shown the defective function of DCs in tumor-bearing mice and in cancer patients. Our aim was to study the effects of lymphoma on DC differentiation and maturation and to assess the input of the tumor microenvironment and intravasation of tumor cells on DC precursors. EL-4 lymphoma cells were administrated via different routes (intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and intravenous) and DC phenotype was investigated. Bone marrow-derived DCs and APCs obtained from the spleen were examined by flow cytometry, and immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoma, lungs, l…