T cell hybridomas to study MHC-II restricted B-cell receptor-mediated antigen presentation by human B cells

J Immunol Methods. 2011 Jul 29;370(1-2):35-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2011.05.005. Epub 2011 May 19.

Abstract

MHC-II antigen presentation by B cells is essential in order for B cells to receive optimal costimulation from helper CD4+ T cells. This process is facilitated and focused through the extremely efficient uptake, processing, and presentation of antigen recognized by an individual B cell's unique B-cell receptor (BCR). The investigation of human B-cell antigen presentation has been limited by the varied specificity of BCR found in the mixed populations of B cells in vivo. As a result, there is no readily available method to measure BCR-mediated antigen presentation in this heterogeneous population of B cells. We have overcome this limitation by developing HLA-DR-restricted T-cell lines capable of recognizing a specific antigen taken up via the BCR and presented by the mixed B-cell population through this physiologically relevant mechanism. BCR-mediated presentation was enhanced >4 logs compared to presentation by B cells taking up the antigen through nonspecific mechanisms. The studies presented here characterize T-cell hybridoma lines developed for HLA-DRB1*0101+ and HLA-DRB1*1501+ B cells, but clones could be generated for other HLA-DR types using the methods described. These hybridomas have potential applications including study of the mechanisms of BCR-mediated enhancement of presentation, determination of adjuvant effects on presentation, and optimization of vaccine antigen preparations. Therefore, these T-cell lines could significantly facilitate the study of BCR-mediated antigen presentation required by T helper cell-dependent vaccines in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antigen Presentation*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Hybridomas / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell