title: Liposomes with incorporated MHC class II/peptide complexes as antigen presenting vesicles for specific T cell activation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to design a well-characterized liposomal carrier system for multivalent antigen presentation in order to activate T cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  MHC class II molecules were loaded with peptide and subsequently reconstituted into liposomes. A FACS assay was developed to monitor peptide loading and MHC class II incorporation in the liposomes. For in vitro testing of the resulting MHC class II/peptide liposomes, a T cell hybridoma assay was employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FACS assay provided a qualitative means to visualize the amount of incorporated MHC class II and peptide molecules that were oriented in the appropriate way for antigen presentation to the T cells. Interestingly, when MHC class II molecules were loaded with the appropriate peptide prior to liposome incorporation, such liposomes were fully capable of inducing IL-2 production of a T cell hybridoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first article showing that MHC class II/peptide liposomes can serve as 'artificial antigen presenting cells' for activation of a CD4+ T cell hybridoma. As compared to soluble MHC class II/peptide complexes, the multivalency of liposomal complexes may be an important advantage when studying possible applications in immunotherapy.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), The Netherlands. a.rensen@pharm.uu.nl
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: van Rensen
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Wauben
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Grosfeld-Stulemeyer
authors: W
authors: W
authors: van Eden
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Crommelin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008081:Liposomes; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008081:Liposomes; D010455:Peptides