Injection of detergent-denatured ovalbumin primes murine class I-restricted cytotoxic T cells in vivo.
Complex adjuvant formulations have been used to introduce soluble protein antigens into the "endogenous" processing pathway and hence to elicit specific, major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. We tested if simple modifications of a model protein antigen, i.e. ovalbumin (OVA), can render it immunogenic for murine class I-restricted CTL when injected into mice in soluble form. Injection of 1-100 micrograms native OVA into C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice did not stimulate a class I-restricted CTL response. In contrast, immunization of mice with 0.5 to 10 micrograms sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)- or deoxycholate (DOC)-denatured OVA efficiently primed CD8+ CTL specific for the well-characterized Kb-restricted OVA257-264 epitope. Gel-purified SDS-denatured OVA devoid of protein fragments and excess detergent efficiently stimulated a specific CTL response in vivo. OVA preparations denatured by heat or urea treatment were not immunogenic for murine CTL. Injection of non-treated or detergent-treated, antigenic OVA257-264 peptide into mice did not elicit a CTL response. Thus, denaturation of OVA by simple detergents such as SDS or DOC dramatically enhances its immunogenicity for class I-restricted CTL but not all modes of denaturation are equally effective.
Schirmbeck
R
R
Department of Bacteriology, University of Ulm, FRG.
Böhm
W
W
Reimann
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003902:Detergents; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011489:Protein Denaturation / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D003902:Detergents; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010047:Ovalbumin