In vitro proliferation capacity and killing efficacy of CIK cells from umbilical cord blood versus patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To observe the in vitro proliferation capacity and killing efficacy of cytokine- induced killer ( CIK) cells from umbilical cord blood ( UCB) and versus chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) patients of different ages. Methods Five samples of UCB from healthy fetuses born in our hospital from January to December, 2012, as well as 20 samples of peripheral blood from CHB patients, were divided into group A ( 5 samples of UCB) , group B ( 12 samples of peripheral blood from CHB patients aged 20- 35 years) , and group C ( 8 samples of peripheral blood from CHB patients aged over 35 years) . Mononuclear cells were separated by Ficoll- Hypaque centrifugation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were induced into CIK cells in the presence of cytokines. The immunophenotypes of CIK cells were determined by flow cytometry. The killing efficacy of CIK cells against K562 cells was measured by MTT assay. Results On day 15, CIK cells from group B multiplied 589. 15 ± 237. 6 times, versus 600. 93 ± 249. 1 times for group A ( P > 0. 05) ; CIK cells from group C multiplied 370. 45 ±165. 2 times, which were significantly lower than those for groups A and B ( P < 0. 05) . The killing efficacy of CIK cells from groups A, B, and C against K562 cells was ( 77. 3 ± 5. 1) %, ( 54. 5 ± 3. 5) %, and ( 44. 1 ± 3. 4) %, respectively; there were significant differences in killing efficacy between group A and groups B and C ( P < 0. 01) . Conclusion UCB- derived CIK cells have high in vitro proliferation capacity and killing efficacy. The in vitro proliferation capacity of CIK cells declines in CHB patients aged over 35 years, so autologous transplantation of CIK cells is not suitable for this group of patients.