Method for using peptide complexes/major histocompatibility complex to obtain or purify antigen-specific T cells and to stimulate cells

摘要

The invention features methods for using MHC/peptide complexes. The successful peptide-specific T lymphocyte purification by adsorption on a solid support coupled with a high density of MHC recombinant molecules, charged with a single peptide is disclosed. This method has enabled the isolating, purifying and quantifying of tumoral specific T lymphocytes, from peritoneal exudate and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. These purified T lymphocyte populations can be further multiplied in vitro. The resulting cells show a superior cytotoxic activity and an enhanced anti-tumoral action by re-injection in the tumor carrier. This novel approach is important for analysing the T lymphocytes repertoire at the peptide specificity level and to improve novel T lymphocyte adoptive immunotherapy based therapeutic treatments. Further, the MHC/peptide specific complexes can induce or stimulate peptide-specific T lymphocytes. Thus are also disclosed methods to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). These CTL can be used in turn to fight tumoral cell growth in vitro or in vivo. The MHC recombinant molecule charged with a single peptide can be effectively used in polymer form to stimulate specific immune response ex vivo or in vivo after being injected in man or animal.