title: CD40-activated B cells as antigen-presenting cells: the final sprint toward clinical application.
abstract: Efficient antigen presentation is a prerequisite for the development of a T-cell-mediated immune response in vitro and in vivo. CD40-activated B cells (CD40B cells) are a promising alternative to dendritic cells as professional APCs for immunotherapy. CD40 activation dramatically improves antigen presentation by normal and malignant B cells, efficiently inducing naive and memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses. Moreover, CD40B cells do not only attract T cells by release of chemokines, but also home to secondary lymphoid organs. Furthermore, CD40B cells can be expanded exponentially over several weeks at high purity without a loss of antigen-presenting function, providing an almost unlimited source of cellular adjuvant. Vaccination with CD40B cells was shown in mice and dogs to induce a specific immune response. This article summarizes the achievements of intense research on CD40B cells over the last decade, as well as novel developments critical for a rapid translation into clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Cologne Interventional Immunology, Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. kerstin.wennhold@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wennhold
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimabukuro-Vornhagen
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Theurich
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Bergwelt-Baildon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines