B Cells Loaded with Synthetic Particulate Antigens: A Versatile Platform To Generate Antigen-Specific Helper T Cells for Cell Therapy

Abstract

Adoptive cell therapy represents a promising approach for several chronic diseases. This study describes an innovative strategy for biofunctionalization of nanoparticles, allowing the generation of synthetic particulate antigens (SPAg). SPAg activate polyclonal B cells and vectorize noncognate proteins into their endosomes, generating highly efficient stimulators for ex vivo expansion of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. This method also allows harnessing the ability of B cells to polarize CD4+ T cells into effectors or regulators.

Keywords: B cell; CD4+ T cell; antigen-presenting cell; bioengineered nanoparticle; biomimetic; cell therapy.