Enhancing antigen cross-presentation and T-cell priming by complexing protein antigen to recombinant large heat-shock protein.

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.