The Immunotherapeutic Effect of SIRPα-Silenced DCs Against Cervical Cancer

Signal regulatory proteinα(SIRPα), a transmembrane protein that is predominantly expressed in dendritic cells (DCs) or macrophages, interacts with CD47 that is overexpressed in almost all types of tumor cells. The interaction between SIRPαand CD47 leads to a negative signal that prevents the phenotypic and functional maturation of DC and inhibits phagocytosis. The SIRPαknockdown in DCs that were pulsed with a modified HPV16E7 (HPV16mE7) protein with enhanced antigenicity and reduced transformation activity results in increased cytokine (TNF-α/IL-12/IL-6) secretion, IFN-γsecretion by T lymphocytes, andin vitro/in vivotumoricidal activity against cervical cancer cells. Taken together, these results suggest that SIRPα-silenced DC vaccination presented potential therapeutic implications against cervical cancer.