Enhancing Antigen Cross-Presentation and T-Cell Priming by Complexing Protein Antigen to Recombinant Large Heat-Shock Protein

Abstract

Large heat-shock proteins (HSPs), including hsp110 and grp170, are unique immunochaperones capable of carrying and introducing antigens into professional antigen-presenting cells for efficient cross-presentation. Therefore, reconstituted chaperone complexes of large HSPs and protein antigen may be exploited for augmentation of an antigen-specific immune response. The methods for the preparation of the recombinant protein antigen chaperone complex and characterization of its T-cell priming capability in both in vitro and in vivo settings are described.