title: Pattern of activation of human antigen presenting cells by genotype GII.4 norovirus virus-like particles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virus-like particles (VLPs) from an Italian GII.4 norovirus strain were used to investigate activation and maturation of circulating antigen presenting cells (APCs) of human origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from five healthy subjects were pulsed ex vivo with VLPs, and stained with a set of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for phenotypic analysis by flow cytometry. Cytokine release in cell supernatants was investigated by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Norovirus VLPs induced activation and maturation of circulating APCs derived from the five donors, as well as production of IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α cytokines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that VLPs can activate antigen presenting cells for an efficient induction of the adaptive immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, V,le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ponterio
authors.forename: Annacarmen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrizzo
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Di Bartolo
authors.forename: Franco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Buonaguro
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buonaguro
authors.forename: Franco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D016366:Open Reading Frames
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines