Ampligen (R) (poly[I]: poly[C12U]): a GMP-grade agent which is a powerful inducer of dendritic cell maturation

Phenotypic and functional maturation of dendritic cells (DC) is crucial for the efficient generation of antigen-specific T cell responses. Previous studies have shown Toll-like receptor ligands CpG or poly [I]:poly[C], to be effective at triggering DC maturation, however their toxicity and species-specific limitations make them unsuitable for use in clinical applications. We have therefore evaluated Ampligen(R) poly[I]:poly[C12U] as a clinical-grade non-toxic agent for human DC maturation. Our findings demonstrate that Ampligen(R) is not only effective in inducing phenotypic and functional maturation of human DC in vitro but preferentially promotes the production of inflammatory (Th1-type) cytokines. These characteristics make Ampligen(R) an ideal candidate for use in future immunotherapeutic regimes.