T cell immunity using transgenic B lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT: 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 (approximately 10(2)). We also demonstrate that T cell priming can occur in the absence

SUBMITTER: Gerloni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC374340 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature