Differential presentation of hepatitis B S-preS(2) particles and peptides by macrophages and B-cell like antigen-presenting cells

Abstract

Different cell types, including dendritic cells, macrophages and Ia+ B cells, have been described to present soluble antigen (Ag) to T-cell hybridomas. However, it is still not clear whether these different cell types can act as antigen-presenting cells (APC) for complex and insoluble Ag such as viral particles. Using yeast recombinant hepatitis B S-preS(2)-containing particles, T-cell hybridomas were generated and used as a tool to study processing and presentation of antigen. Different types of APC were compared in regard to their capacity to process and present the protein-lipid composed S-preS(2) particles and the thereof derived T-cell epitope containing peptides by different types of A..