title: Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity by fusion-active peptide-containing virosomes.
abstract: Priming of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity with exogenous antigen requires introduction of the antigen into the MHC class I presentation pathway of antigen-presenting cells. In the present study, we used fusogenic reconstituted envelopes (virosomes), derived from influenza virus, as a carrier system for delivery of a synthetic soluble peptide corresponding to a major murine CTL epitope of the influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP). Virosomes containing encapsulated NP-peptide efficiently sensitized target cells for recognition by influenza-specific CTLs generated through priming of mice with infectious virus. Intramuscular immunization of mice with peptide-containing virosomes induced a potent class I MHC-restricted CTL response against influenza-infected target cells. By contrast, an equal dose of NP-peptide encapsulated in fusion-inactivated virosomes did not induce CTL activity, indicating an essential role of the membrane fusion activity of the virosomes in the induction of the response. Likewise, NP-peptide encapsulated in liposomes, NP-peptide mixed with empty virosomes and NP-peptide in IFA failed to induce a CTL response. These results demonstrate that fusion-active virosomes represent a promising delivery system for induction of class I MHC-restricted CTL activity with non-replicating viral antigens.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, Department of Physiological Chemistry, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arkema
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huckriede
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilschut
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Daemen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins