Antigen Transduced T Cells Used as a Delivery System for Antigens

Abstract

A delivery system comprising a T cell comprising at least one antigen capable of loading antigen-presenting-cells with the antigen.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of monitoring the immune response to an antigen comprising the step of administering a T cell comprising a first antigen and a second antigen capable of raising an immune response and monitoring the response of the immune system against the second antigen as a measure of the response of the immune system to said first antigen. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the first antigen is a tumor antigen. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the first antigen is a bacterial or viral antigen. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the second antigen is a strongly immunogenic antigen. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the second antigen is HSV-Tk or CD20. 
     
     
         24 . A method of loading APCs with an antigen in vivo comprising the step of exposing the APCs to a T cell containing the antigen to obtain APCs loaded with said antigen. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein the antigen is a tumor antigen. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein the antigen is a bacterial or viral antigen. 
     
     
         27 . method according to  claim 24  wherein the T cell contains a marker. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the marker is a marker gene. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the marker is a bacterial resistance gene. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29  wherein the bacterial resistance gene confers neomycin resistance. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the marker is a further antigen. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the marker is HSV-Tk or CD20. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein the T cell expresses at least one of the following markers: HLA-I, HLA-11, CD80, CD86, CD27, CD40L, CD62L, CCR7, CD54 and CD25. 
     
     
         35 . A method of obtaining a T cell for use in the method of claim  18  comprising
 isolating a T cell;   activating the T cell;   culturing the T cell; and   introducing an antigen into the T cell.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the T cell is transduced with the antigen. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the T cell is activated with phytoemoagglutinine, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, or anti-CD3/CD28 monoclonal antibody-coated beads. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the T cell is cultured in the presence of growth factors. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the growth factors include hu-r-IL-2. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the T cell is cultured in a culture media which comprises 5% autologous serum. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the T cell is cultured at 1×10 6  cells/ml. 
     
     
         42 . A T cell obtainable by the process of  claim 28 . 
     
     
         43 . A T cell loaded with antigen. 
     
     
         44 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method for the treatment or presentation of a tumor or infection comprising administering an effective amount of a T cell as defined in  claim 42  for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a tumor, or infection to a patient in need of the same.