Synthetic phospholipid vesicles containing a purified viral antigen and cell membrane proteins stimulate the development of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Abstract

Synthetic phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) containing the purified glycoprotein (G) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and solubilized membrane proteins from cells of the appropriate H-2 haplotype elicited H-2-restricted cytotoxic T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes (CTL) that lysed VSV-infected target cells. The CTL were elicited by intact liposomes, not by released components. When spleen cells from VSV-primed H-2d .times. H-2b hybrid mice were stimulated with liposomes having G protein + membrane proteins from cells with 1 of the parental H-2 haplotypes, the resulting CTL lysed only VSV-infected target cells with that parent''s H-2 type. T cells in general may recognize only processed antigenic fragments on macrophages. Liposomes were only effective when G protein and cell membrane proteins were included in the same vesicles. For effective interaction with CTL precursors the antigen (G protein) and products of the H-2 complex must be closer to each other than 600-1000 .ANG., the diameter of the lipid vesicles used.