title: Soluble CD40 ligand-activated human peripheral B cells as surrogated antigen presenting cells: A preliminary approach for anti-HBV immunotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to clarify whether soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) activated B cells may be loaded with HBcAg18-27 peptide and served as antigen-producing cells (APCs) to induce HBV-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human B cells could be cultured in the presence of sCD40L up to 54 days, and the proportion of B cells in the S phase increased from 0% to 8.34% in the culture. The expression of CD80, CD86, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classes I and II molecules on the sCD40L-activated B cell was significantly increased after long-time culture. Cytometry and fluorescence microscopy showed that more than 98% sCD40L-activated B cells were loaded by the HBcAg peptide. Furthermore, the peptide-pulsed activated B cells could induce HBcAg18-27 specific CTLs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that sCD40L-activated B cells may function as APCs and induce HBV-specific CTLs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guangmei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Junhao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yi-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zuhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D023201:CD40 Ligand