A novel method of human B cell activation by liposomes coated with Fab' fragments of anti-IgM.
A novel method for activating fresh human B cell, using liposomes decorated with Fab' fragments of anti-human IgM antibodies (immunoloposomes), is described. In our immunoliposome preparation, more than 80% of Fab' were efficiently bound to liposomes and over 95% of the vesicles were uniformly coated with Fab'. Immunoliposomes could activate fresh B cells from peripheral blood of normal donors at least 100-fold better than soluble F(ab')2 fragments, as detected by [3H]uridine uptake. Such activation was also reflected in the enlarged cell size and highly increased [3H]thymidine uptake by B cells when human B cell growth factor (BCGF) was added. Density of Fab' on the liposomes surface did not affect the efficacy of immunoliposomes. The activation of B cells by immunoliposomes was short lived (less than 3 days), due perhaps to rapid internalization of the vesicles by B cells.