Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells, a potentially convenient source of autologous antigen-presenting cells for the propagation of certain human cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1994 Nov;1(6):696-700. doi: 10.1128/cdli.1.6.696-700.1994.

Abstract

Antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) are generally elicited in vitro by incubation of effector cells with an appropriate major histocompatibility complex-matched antigen-presenting cell (APC). In the case of CTL derived from inbred rodents, spleen cells from an animal of the same strain serve as a ready source of autologous major histocompatibility complex-identical APC. In outbred human populations, however, a convenient source of human leukocyte antigen-matched APC is ordinarily difficult to obtain, and for that reason human antigen-specific CTL may be difficult to propagate. We describe a method whereby Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B cells (B-LCL) serve as a convenient source of efficient APC for the propagation of human antigen-specific CTL. B-LCL are produced by using B cells from the donor under study and are thus human leukocyte antigen identical to the donor. Using this method, we have propagated human CD4+ Toxoplasma gondii-specific CTL for up to 9 months in vitro, during which time the cells retained their functional capability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / radiation effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Transformation, Viral
  • Cells, Cultured / immunology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • Toxoplasma / immunology