Synthetic antigen presenting matrix

Abstract

Materials and methods for activating T lymphocytes with specificity for particular antigenic peptides are described, as well as the use of activated T lymphocytes in vitro for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions. In particular, a method for producing a synthetic antigen presenting cell line for activating T lymphocytes to a specific peptide is described.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A synthetic antigen-presenting matrix comprising: 
 a) a solid support;    b) an extracellular portion of a Class I MHC molecules capable of binding to a selected peptide and being operably linked to the solid support; and    c) an extracellular portion of an assisting molecule operably linked to the solid support such that the extracellular portion of the MHC and assisting molecules are present in sufficient numbers to activate a population of T-cell lymphocytes against the peptide when the peptide is bound to the extracellular portion of the MHC molecule.    
     
     
         2 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the extracellular portion of the MHC molecule is linked to the solid support by a transmembrane domain of an MHC molecule.  
     
     
         3 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the support is a solid surface.  
     
     
         4 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the extracellular portion of the MHC molecule is linked to an epitope which reacts with an antibody to link the portion to the solid support.  
     
     
         5 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the extracellular portion of the MHC molecule is linked to (His)6 which reacts with nickel to link the portion to the solid support.  
     
     
         6 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the solid support is a porous material.  
     
     
         7 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the assisting molecule is a costimulatory molecule.  
     
     
         8 . The matrix of  claim 7  wherein the costimulatory molecule is a member of the group consisting of B7.1 and B7.2.  
     
     
         9 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the assisting molecule is an adhesion molecule.  
     
     
         10 . The matrix of  claim 9  wherein the adhesion molecule is a member of the group consisting of ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3 and LFA-3.  
     
     
         11 . The matrix of  claim 1  having a gene for two assisting molecules the first assisting molecule being a costimulatory molecule and the second assisting molecule being an adhesion molecule.  
     
     
         12 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the peptide is bound to the extracellular portion of the MHC molecule.  
     
     
         13 . The matrix of  claim 1  wherein the extracellular portion of the MHC molecule is empty.