Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells, a potentially convenient source of autologous antigen-presenting cells for the propagation of certain human cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) are generally elicited in vitro by incubation of effector cells with an appropriate major histocompatibility complex-matched antigen-presenting cell (APC). In the case of CTL derived from inbred rodents, spleen cells from an animal of the same strain serve as a ready source of autologous major histocompatibility complex-identical APC. In outbred human populations, however, a convenient source of human leukocyte antigen-matched APC is ordinarily difficult to obtain, and for that reason human antigen-specific CTL may be difficult to propagate. We describe a method whereby Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B cells (B-LCL) serve as a convenient source of efficient APC for the propagation of human antigen-specific CTL. B-LCL are produced by using B cells from the donor under study and are thus human leukocyte antigen identical to the donor. Using this method, we have propagated human CD4+ Toxoplasma gondii-specific CTL for up to 9 months in vitro, during which time the cells retained their functional capability.
Purner
M B
MB
Division of Infectious Disease, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Berens
R L
RL
Krug
E C
EC
Curiel
T J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology