K. Fujio et al., Functional reconstitution of class II MHC-Restricted T cell immunity mediated by retroviral transfer of the alpha beta TCR complex, J IMMUNOL, 165(1), 2000, pp. 528-532
Transfer of the alpha beta TCR genes into T lymphocytes will provide a mean
s to enhance Ag-specific immunity by increasing the frequency of tumor- or
pathogen-specific T lymphocytes. We generated an efficient alpha beta TCR g
ene transfer system using two independent monocistronic retrovirus vectors
harboring either of the class II MHC-restricted alpha or beta TCR genes spe
cific for chicken OVA. The system enabled us to express the clonotypic TCR
in 44% of the CD4(+) T cells. The transduced cells showed a remarkable resp
onse to OVA(323-339) peptide in the in vitro culture system, and the respon
se to the Ag was comparable with those of the T lymphocytes derived from tr
ansgenic mice harboring OVA-specific TCR, Adoptive transfer of the TCR-tran
sduced cells in mice induced the Ag-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity
in response to OVA(323-339) challenge. These results indicate that alpha be
ta TCR gene transfer into peripheral T lymphocytes can reconstitute Ag-spec
ific immunity. We here propose that this method provides a basis for a new
approach to manipulation of immune reactions and immunotherapy.