Analysing antigen loading strategies for DC, we found that the priming capacity of MelanA/HLA-A2-specific autologous CD8+ T cells by lipofected DC was higher compared to electroprated DC.

CD83 overexpression on Melan-A/MART-1-specific tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) circumvents the need for CD83 expression on DC.

Cells are separated into lymphocytes (and monocytes) by elutriation in a closed system (Elutra). [The fraction richest in lymphocytes contained > 90% lymphocytes and viability was > 95%.]

MAGE-A3 specific CD4+ T cells were found also in a high percentage of melanoma patients but CD4+ T cells showed an unpolarized or Th2 skewed phenotype. We have optimized the MAGE-A3 peptides to load onto HLA-DR*1101 tetramers.

My laboratory continued to analyse the ability of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells to assist priming of antigen specific T and B cell responses. We have demonstrated that activation of human DC by Toll like receptor ligands (TLR-L) modulates the lipid biosynthetic pathway, resulting in enhanced recognition of CD1d-associated lipids by iNKT cells; we have clarified the mechanisms by which CD1d-restricted lymphocytes translate T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of lipids with similar group heads into distinct biological responses; and we demonstrated that pathogen-derive...

It was found that lymph nodes that drain sites of mature DC or adjuvant inoculation recruited L-selectin- CCR7- effector cells.

HPV-18 E6 specific CD4+ T cells were found in a high percentage of patients with cervical lesions and we showed that the quality of the response (i.e. the level of IFN-? produced) could predict the clinical outcome after surgery.

Our current efforts in a study of functional homogeinity involve a transition to 8 colours surface staining, and the evaluation of antigen-specific cell sets identified with MHC tetramers. For the later process, we initiated data collection of EBV, CMV and HIV specific T cell sets.

Down-regulation of CD83 expression on human DC through RNA interference (RNAi) results in a less potent induction of allogeneic T cell proliferation, reduced IFN-gamma secretion by established T cells and decreased capacity in the priming of functional tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes.

These T lymphocytes are exposed to HIV-1 to examine if this can directly modulate their functions or interfere with their cross-talk. Preliminary results indicated that, although virus exposure of gamma-delta T cells does not significantly affect their properties, HIV-exposed DCs exhibit a reduced capacity to deliver activation and proliferative signals to gamma-delta T lymphocytes. Moreover, a dysregulated pattern of cytokines and chemokines produced by both cell populations is observed in the presence of the virus.

All lymphocytes (6,4 x 10e9) were frozen in 90% A-plasma and 10% GMP-grade DMSO.

Granzyme expressing T cells were observed in human Hemato-Lymphoid System Rag2-/-gc-/- mice after being infected with EBV and mounting an immune response. They infiltrated in B cell infected areas in lymphoid organs in situ.

These T cells are specific for the 0T-1-OVA antigen. They were used to study the expression of twenty different genes either mediating effector functions, or coding for different receptors involved in T cell differentiation and memory generation.

These T cells are specific for the P14-GP33 antigen. They were used to study the expression of twenty different genes either mediating effector functions, or coding for different receptors involved in T cell differentiation and memory generation.

Our current efforts in a study of functional homogeinity involve a transition to 8 colours surface staining, and the evaluation of antigen-specific cell sets identified with MHC tetramers. For the later process, we initiated data collection of EBV, CMV and HIV specific T cell sets.

Cytotoxic T cells proliferation was observed in human Hemato-Lymphoid System Rag2-/-gc-/- mice after being infected with EBV and mounting an immune response.

Our current efforts in a study of functional homogeinity involve a transition to 8 colours surface staining, and the evaluation of antigen-specific cell sets identified with MHC tetramers. For the later process, we initiated data collection of EBV, CMV and HIV specific T cell sets.

We studied the correlation between CD8 multiple cell surface markers and functional profiles studied at single cell level. For that purpose, we subdivided peripheral CD8 T cells into eleven different cell subtypes based on the association of multiple cell surface markers. In each subtype, we isolated single-cells. In each single cell, we quantified the expression of multiple genes. Moreover, we isolated and studied cells from different normal donors.

CEA specific CD4+ T cells were found both in normal donors and in patients with high-grade cervical lesions, pancreas adenocarcinoma and advanced melanoma but CD4+ T cells from the patients compared to normal donors showed impaired IFN-gamma production.

We observed that ICAM-1 expression by mature DCs is critical for long-lasting contacts with CD8+ T cells, but dispensable for short-lived antigen-specific interactions. Serial brief T cell-dendritic cell contacts induced early CD8+ T cell activation, proliferation and effector CTL differentiation in the first few days after immunization.