Efficient in vitro Expansion of JC virus-Specific CD8+ T-Cell Responses by JCV peptide-stimulated Dendritic Cells from patients with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

摘要

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the brain caused by JC virus (JCV) for which there is no cure. PML patients who have JCV-specific CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in their blood have a better clinical outcome. We compared JCV-specific CTL responses in vitro elicited either by JCV peptide-loaded dendritic cells (DC) or by direct peptide stimulation of lymphocytes from 20 HLA A*0201⁺ healthy controls, HIV⁺ and PML patients. JCV peptide-loaded DC elicited a stronger CTL expansion in 13/15 responders. DC can induce potent JCV-specific CTL response in vitro, and may constitute a promising approach for PML immunotherapy.