title: Cooperation of dendritic cells with naïve lymphocyte populations to induce the generation of antigen-specific antibodies in vitro.
abstract: The production of monoclonal antibodies by hybridoma technology is dependent on lymphocytes taken from vertebrates which have to be immunized against the corresponding antigen. We present here our first experiments which should allow the replacement of this in vivo immunization step by an in vitro immunization procedure. This work provides new possibilities for the specific activation of immune cells in order to use them for the generation of antibodies which are not of murine origin. Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were loaded with antigen and co-cultured with naïve T and B lymphocytes of non-immunized mice. The interaction and activation of the different cell types were investigated by measuring the expression of specific cell surface markers, the release of activation-dependent interleukins and the secretion of antigen-specific antibodies. We could demonstrate that dendritic cells process and present antigen fragments and activate T cells, that T cells proliferate and release activation-induced interleukins, and that B cells maturate under the influence of activated T cells and secrete antigen-specific antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Junior Research Group Antibody Technologies, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holzlöhner
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neupert
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Micheel
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heilmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007378:Interleukins