Antigen presenting system and methods for activation of T-cells

A method for activating CD8 T-cells against a selected peptide in vitro, the method comprising:

• a) providing a synthetic antigen presenting cell line suitable for use with T-cell lymphocytes and comprising:
• (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding for a Class I MHC heavy chain operably linked to a first promoter expressing a Class I MHC heavy chain;
• (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding for a β-2 microglobulin operably linked to a second promoter expressing a β-2 microglobulin that with the MHC heavy chain forms an MHC molecule;
• and
• (iii) a nucleotide sequence encoding for a for an assisting molecule operably linked to a third promoter for expressing a membrane bound assisting molecule that interacts with a molecule on the T-cell lymphocytes, said assisting molecule selected from the group of molecules consisting of B7.1, B7.2, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3, and LFA-3;
• transformed into an insect host cell, such that the MHC class I molecules and assisting molecules are presented on the surface of the cell in sufficient numbers to activate a population of T lymphocytes specific for said peptide when the peptide is bound to the MHC class I molecules;
• b) culturing the cell line under conditions such that MHC class I molecules are produced on the surface of the cell line that are bound to the selected peptide;
• and
• c) contacting the cultured cells with the CD8 T-cells against the selected peptide.