FIBROBLASTS AS EFFICIENT ANTIGEN-PRESENTING CELLS IN LYMPHOID ORGANS

Only so-called ''professional'' antigen-presenting cells (APCs) of hem atopoietic origin are believed capable of inducing T lymphocyte respon ses. However, fibroblasts transfected with viral proteins directly ind uced antiviral cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vivo, without invol vement of host APCs. Fibroblasts induced T cells only in the milieu of lymphoid organs. Thus, antigen localization affects self-nonself disc rimination and cell-based vaccine strategies.