As a key molecule involved in cell recognition, calreticulin (CRT) may be expressed on the surface of (pre‑) apoptotic cells and provide the signal that is recognized by dendritic cells (DCs) or other antigen presenting cells (APCs), which results in phagocytosis. Within the APCs, tumor‑associated antigens (TAAs) may be subsequently presented to T lymphocytes, which triggers a specific antitumor immune response. It has been hypothesized that CRT is able to act as the immunologic adjuvant and translocate itself and TAAs to the cell surface and induce a specific antitumor immune response. In the present study, CRT was demonstrated to translocate itself and mucin 1 (MUC1), a breast cancer antigen, to the surface of 4T1 cells and the MUC1‑CRT‑coated cells were able to induce apoptosis in a time‑dependent manner. When DCs were infected with adenovirus containing MUC1‑CRT, an increase in T cell proliferation and cytokine production was exhibited. These results suggest that CRT may act as an immunologic adjuvant with MUC1 and induce a strong immune response.

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