Fusion Protein Encoded by a CTLA-4 Targeted DNA Construct Binds to Human Dendritic Cells

• Published in: Immunological investigations Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 123 - 131
• Main Authors: Xu, Q. A., Zhang, F., Fan, M. W., Liu, S. T., Li, Y. H., Yu, F., Tian, Q. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, CD - genetics; Antigens, CD - immunology; B7-1 Antigen - immunology; Cercopithecus aethiops; COS Cells; CTLA-4 Antigen; Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; DNA - immunology; DNA vaccine; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulin G - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - immunology; Vaccines, DNA - immunology
• ISSN: 0882-0139; 1532-4311
• DOI: 10.1080/08820130802664363

Fusing antigens to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) represents an effective approach to enhance DNA vaccine efficacy. It has been speculated that the direct targeting of CTLA-4 fusion antigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) causes antigens to be processed and presented to T cells more efficiently, leading to a stronger immune response. In the present study, dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent APCs, were generated from human monocytes. The specific binding of CTLA-4 fusion protein to DCs was investigated by flow cytometry. The results showed that the CTLA-4 fusion protein was capable of binding to the B7 molecules on human DCs with specificity.