T Cell Immunity Using Transgenic B Lymphocytes

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2004-03, Vol.101 (11), p.3892-3897
• Main Authors: Gerloni, Mara, Rizzi, Marta, Castiglioni, Paola, Zanetti, Maurizio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen presenting cells; Antigens; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological Sciences; Bone Marrow - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Chimera - immunology; Gene Transfer Techniques; Immune System - immunology; Immunology; Lymphocytes; Mice; Molecules; Pathogens; Plasmids; Spleen - immunology; Spleen cells; T lymphocytes; Transgenic animals; transgenic lymphocytes; Transgenic plants; Tumors
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0400138101

Adaptive immunity exists in all vertebrates and plays a defense role against microbial pathogens and tumors. T cell responses begin when precursor T cells recognize antigen on specialized antigen-presenting cells and differentiate into effector cells. Currently, dendritic cells are considered the only cells capable of stimulating T lymphocytes. Here, we show that mature naïve B lymphocytes can be genetically programmed by using nonviral DNA and turned into powerful antigen-presenting cells with a dual capacity of synthesis and presentation of antigen to T cells in vivo. A single i.v. injection of transgenic lymphocytes activates T cell responses reproducibly and specifically even at very low cell doses (≈ 102). We also demonstrate that T cell priming can occur in the absence of dendritic cells and results in immunological memory with protective effector functions. These findings disclose aspects in the regulation of adaptive immunity and indicate possibilities for vaccination against viruses and cancer in humans.