Pattern of activation of human antigen presenting cells by genotype GII.4 norovirus virus-like particles

• Published in: Journal of translational medicine Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 127
• Main Authors: Ponterio, Eleonora, Petrizzo, Annacarmen, Di Bartolo, Ilaria, Buonaguro, Franco Maria, Buonaguro, Luigi, Ruggeri, Franco Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 24.05.2013; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adaptive Immunity; Adult; Analysis; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigen Presentation; Antigen-Presenting Cells - cytology; Care and treatment; Cell culture; Cloning, Molecular; Cytokines - metabolism; Development and progression; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Experiments; Female; Food safety; Gene expression; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Humans; Immune system; Immunity; Immunology; Infections; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - virology; Lymphocytes; Male; Microbiology; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Molecular biology; Monoclonal antibodies; Norovirus; Norovirus - classification; Norovirus - immunology; Norrie disease; Oncology; Open Reading Frames; Patient outcomes; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Public health; Studies; Tumor necrosis factor; Viral infections; Viruses; Italy
• ISSN: 1479-5876; 1479-5876
• DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-11-127

Virus-like particles (VLPs) from an Italian GII.4 norovirus strain were used to investigate activation and maturation of circulating antigen presenting cells (APCs) of human origin. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from five healthy subjects were pulsed ex vivo with VLPs, and stained with a set of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for phenotypic analysis by flow cytometry. Cytokine release in cell supernatants was investigated by ELISA. Norovirus VLPs induced activation and maturation of circulating APCs derived from the five donors, as well as production of IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α cytokines. The present results suggest that VLPs can activate antigen presenting cells for an efficient induction of the adaptive immune response.