ENHANCING THE ASSOCIATION OF EXOGENOUS PEPTIDES WITH CLASS I MHC MOLECULES ON IMMUNE SYSTEM CELLS

摘要

The present invention provides a method for enhancing the association of exogenously prepared polypeptides with class I MHC molecules on the surface of antigen presenting cells to thereby sensitize the target cells for class I MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cell response. The method involves obtaining the polypeptides of interest and presenting the polypeptides to the appropriate antigen presenting cells in the presence of an elevated level of free beta 2-microglobulin. The method of the present invention can also be used to prime naive populations of T lymphocytes for antigen-specific class I MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cell response with exogenous polypeptide and is useful in both in vitro and in vivo applications. A new use for purified beta 2-microglobulin as an adjuvant for synthetic polypeptide vaccines is also provided. In vivo immunization with the synthetic peptides and free beta 2-microglobulin can elicit an antigen-specific CTL response as strong as that produced with endogenously synthesized antigen.