Compositions and methods for inducing specific cytolytic T cell responses

A method of inducing CD8+ T lymphocytes (TL) selective for a pathologically aberrant cell ex vivo, comprising contacting a pathologically aberrant non-B-cell leukemia cell with a mixture having at least dendritic cells (DC), CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and culturing said pathologically aberrant non-B-cell leukemia cell with said mixture for sufficient time to generate CD8+ TL having antigenic specificity for said pathologically aberrant non-B-cell leukemia cell.

A method of inducing CD8+ T lymphocytes (TL) selective for a pathologically aberrant cell ex vivo, comprising contacting an apoptotic pathologically aberrant cell with a mixture having at least dendritic cells (DC), CD40L or IL-12 and CD8+ TL, and culturing said apoptotic pathologically aberrant cell with said mixture for sufficient time to generate CD8+ TL having antigenic specificity for said pathologically aberrant cell.

A method of inducing CD8+ T lymphocytes (TL) selective for a pathologically aberrant cell ex vivo, comprising contacting a pathologically aberrant non-B-cell leukemia cell with a mixture having at least dendritic cells (DC), CD40L or IL-12 and CD8+ TL, and culturing said pathologically aberrant non-B-cell leukemia cell with said mixture for sufficient time to generate CD8+ TL having antigenic specificity for said pathologically aberrant non-B-cell leukemia cell.

A method of inducing CD8+ T lymphocytes (TL) selective for one or more target antigens ex vivo, comprising contacting said one or more target antigens with a mixture having at least dendritic cells (DC), CD4+ T cells, CD8+ TL and IL-7, and culturing said one or more target antigens with said mixture for sufficient time to generate CD8+ TL having selective immune reactivity toward said one or more target antigens.

A method of inducing CD8+ T lymphocytes (TL) selective for one or more target antigens ex vivo, comprising contacting said one or more target antigens with a mixture having at least dendritic cells (DC), CD40L or IL-12, CD8+ TL and IL-7, and culturing said one or more target antigens with said mixture for sufficient time to generate CD8+ TL having selective immune reactivity toward said one or more target antigens.

A method of identifying an antigen associated with a pathologically aberrant cell, comprising:

• (a) contacting one or more antigens suspected of being associated with a pathologically aberrant cell with a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) selective for a pathologically aberrant cell expressing said one or more antigens;
• and,
• (b) determining the immunoreactivity of said CTL selective for a pathologically aberrant cell expressing said one or more antigens toward said one or more antigens, wherein a CTL having selective immunoreactivity for said one or more antigens characterizes said one or more immunoreactive antigens as being associated with said pathologically aberrant cell.

A method for preparing mature dendritic cells (DC) in vitro, comprising sequentially in order or simultaneously:

• a) contacting immature DC with an antigen for a period of time sufficient for the DC to take-up the antigen;
• and
• b) culturing the DC and the antigen with CD4+ T cells for a period of time sufficient to induce the maturation of the DC into mature DC.