title: Activated B cells modified by electroporation of multiple mRNAs encoding immune stimulatory molecules are comparable to mature dendritic cells in inducing in vitro antigen-specific T-cell responses.
abstract: Ex-vivo-activated B cells are an alternative source of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and a potential replacement for dendritic cells (DCs) in immunotherapy. However, the ability of ex-vivo-activated B cells to function as potent APCs has been a concern, especially when compared to DCs. Our study investigated whether modification of activated B cells with immune stimulatory molecules could enhance the ability of activated B cells to stimulate T cells. We show that murine splenic B cells, activated with a combination of Toll-like receptor agonist and agonistic anti-CD40, stimulated antigen-specific CD8+ T cells more efficiently than cells activated with Toll-like receptor agonist or anti-CD40 alone, probably by down-regulation of the immune regulatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). However, the activated B cells were still poor T-cell stimulators compared to mature DCs. Therefore, we modified the activated B cells by simultaneous electroporation of multiple messenger RNAs encoding costimulatory molecules (OX40L and 4-1BBL), cytokines (IL-12p35 and IL-12p40) and antigen. We found that de novo expression or overexpression of OX40L, 4-1BBL and IL-12p70 on activated B cells synergistically enhanced proliferation as well as IL-2 and interferon-gamma production by CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, the RNA-modified activated B cells induced antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses as efficiently as mature DCs in vitro. Unexpectedly, modified activated B cells were inferior to mature DCs at in vivo induction of CD8+ T-cell responses. In summary, activated B cells modified to express immune stimulatory molecules are a potent alternative to DCs in immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, and Duke Translational Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. jaewoo.lee@duke.edu
authors.forename: Jaewoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dollins
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boczkowski
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sullenger
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D053330:4-1BB Ligand / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018274:Electroporation; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D053278:OX40 Ligand; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000819:agonists; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053330:4-1BB Ligand; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053278:OX40 Ligand; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C504586:Tnfsf4 protein, mouse; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors