Generation of antigen specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells following immunization with soluble protein formulated with novel glycoside adjuvants

Presentation of peptide on MHC class I molecules is essential to elicit cyt olytic T cell (CTL), activity, Such peptides are a result of the cytosolic, or class I, antigen processing pathway. Due to the segregation of the clas s I and the exogenous processing pathway, soluble protein cannot enter the class I pathway and is thus incapable of inducing CTL. However cartful form ulation with adjuvants can overcome this obstacle. In this study we evaluat ed the capacity of two novel amphiphilic adjuvants, better termed delivery vehicles, to elicit CTL activity in a C57Bl/6 murine model with ovalbumin ( OVA) as an antigen, Incomplete Freund's adjuvant and aluminium hydroxide (A lhydrogel) were used as reference adjuvants, In addition the oil-in-water e mulsion Provax was used throughout as a positive control adjuvant. Both amp hiphile preparations were capable of eliciting potent CTL activity after ad ministration of one immunizing dose of ovalbumin. CTL were CD8(+) restricte d as assessed by in vitro depletion of CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells. CTL activ ity was also MHC-restricted as well as specific for the H-2K(b) OVA motif S IINFEKL. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.