Artificial antigen presenting cells and uses therefor
The invention relates to novel artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs). The aAPC comprises at least one stimulatory ligand and at least one co-stimulatory ligand where the ligands each specifically bind with a cognate molecule on a T cell of interest, thereby mediating expansion of the T cell. The aAPC of the invention can further comprise additional molecules useful for expanding a T cell of interest. The aAPC of the invention can be used as an “off the shelf” APC that can be readily designed to expand a T cell of interest. Also, the aAPC of the invention can be used identify the stimulatory, co-stimulatory, and any other factors that mediate growth and expansion of a T cell of interest. Thus, the present invention provides powerful tools for development of novel therapeutics where activation and expansion of a T cell can provide a benefit.
1. A method for specifically inducing proliferation of a T cell expressing a known co-stimulatory molecule, said method comprising contacting said T cell with an artificial presenting cell (aAPC) comprising at least one co-stimulatory ligand and CD64, wherein said CD64 is loaded with an anti-CD3 antibody, further wherein said CD64 is expressed from an exogenous expression vector, thereby specifically inducing proliferation of said T cell.
2. A method for specifically inducing proliferation of a T cell expressing a known co-stimulatory molecule, said method comprising contacting a population of T cells comprising at least one T cell expressing said known co-stimulatory molecule with an aAPC comprising at least one co-stimulatory ligand and CD64, wherein said CD64 is loaded with an anti-CD3 antibody, further wherein said CD64 is expressed from an exogenous expression vector, wherein binding of said known co-stimulatory molecule with said co-stimulatory ligand induces proliferation of said T cell.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said T cell is a CD8 T cell.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said T cell is a CD8 T cell.