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Wang Y, Takao Y, Harada M, Yutani S, Ide T, Sata M, Itoh K, Yamada A. New Epitope Peptides Derived from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) 2a Which Have the Capacity to Induce Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in HLA-A2+HCV-Infected Patients. Microbiol Immunol 2013; 50:857-65. [PMID: 17116980 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2006.tb03861.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Because cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play an important role in the specific immunotherapy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a series of CTL epitopes has been defined from HCV genotype 1a or 1b protein. Here, we attempted to identify HCV2a-derived epitopes that are capable of inducing HLA-A2-restricted and peptide-specific CTLs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HLA-A2+ HCV2ainfected patients or healthy donors were stimulated in vitro with each of the HCV2a-derived peptides, which were prepared based on the HLA-A2-binding motif, and their peptide-specific and HLA-A2-restricted cytotoxicities were examined. The HCV2a 432-441, HCV2a 716-724, and HCV2a 2251-2260 peptides were found to efficiently induce peptide-specific CTLs from the PBMCs of HLA-A2+ HCV2ainfected patients. Cytotoxicity was mainly mediated by CD8+ T cells in a HLA class I-restricted manner. These results indicate that the HCV2a 432-441, HCV2a 716-724, and HCV2a 2251-2260 peptides might be applicable for peptide-based immunotherapy of HLA-A2+ HCV2a-infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Cancer Vaccine Development Division, Kurume University Research Center for Innovative Cancer Therapy, Fukuoka, Japan
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Bui HH, Sidney J, Li W, Fusseder N, Sette A. Development of an epitope conservancy analysis tool to facilitate the design of epitope-based diagnostics and vaccines. BMC Bioinformatics 2007; 8:361. [PMID: 17897458 PMCID: PMC2233646 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-8-361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 295] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2007] [Accepted: 09/26/2007] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In an epitope-based vaccine setting, the use of conserved epitopes would be expected to provide broader protection across multiple strains, or even species, than epitopes derived from highly variable genome regions. Conversely, in a diagnostic and disease monitoring setting, epitopes that are specific to a given pathogen strain, for example, can be used to monitor responses to that particular infectious strain. In both cases, concrete information pertaining to the degree of conservancy of the epitope(s) considered is crucial. Results To assist in the selection of epitopes with the desired degree of conservation, we have developed a new tool to determine the variability of epitopes within a given set of protein sequences. The tool was implemented as a component of the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resources (IEDB), and is directly accessible at . Conclusion An epitope conservancy analysis tool was developed to analyze the variability or conservation of epitopes. The tool is user friendly, and is expected to aid in the design of epitope-based vaccines and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huynh-Hoa Bui
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Division of Vaccine Discovery, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Antisense Drug Discovery, 1896 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
| | - John Sidney
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Division of Vaccine Discovery, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Wei Li
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Division of Vaccine Discovery, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nicolas Fusseder
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Division of Vaccine Discovery, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Alessandro Sette
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Division of Vaccine Discovery, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an emerging virus of medical importance. A majority of HCV infections become chronic and lead to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV usually induces robust immune responses, but it frequently escapes the immune defense to establish persistent infection. The fact that HCV exists as an evolving quasispecies plays an important role in the selection of escape mutants. Furthermore, several viral proteins interfere with cellular functions, in particular, those involved in the immune response of the host. Several HCV proteins also modulate cell signalling through interaction with different effectors involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis, or in the interferon-signalling pathway. In addition, HCV infects immune cells such as B and T cells, and thus affects their normal functions. These various strategies used by HCV to counter the immune response of the host are reviewed here. A better understanding of these mechanisms would help design new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Pavio
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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Wedemeyer H, Mizukoshi E, Davis AR, Bennink JR, Rehermann B. Cross-reactivity between hepatitis C virus and Influenza A virus determinant-specific cytotoxic T cells. J Virol 2001; 75:11392-400. [PMID: 11689620 PMCID: PMC114725 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.75.23.11392-11400.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2001] [Accepted: 08/20/2001] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular immune response contributes to viral clearance as well as to liver injury in acute and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. An immunodominant determinant frequently recognized by liver-infiltrating and circulating CD8(+) T cells of HCV-infected patients is the HCV(NS3-1073) peptide CVNGVCWTV. Using a sensitive in vitro technique with HCV peptides and multiple cytokines, we were able to expand cytotoxic T cells specific for this determinant not only from the blood of 11 of 20 HCV-infected patients (55%) but also from the blood of 9 of 15 HCV-negative blood donors (60%), while a second HCV NS3 determinant was recognized only by HCV-infected patients and not by seronegative controls. The T-cell response of these healthy blood donors was mediated by memory T cells, which cross-reacted with a novel T-cell determinant of the A/PR/8/34 influenza A virus (IV) that is endogenously processed from the neuraminidase (NA) protein. Both the HCV NS3 and the IV NA peptide displayed a high degree of sequence homology, bound to the HLA-A2 molecule with high affinity, and were recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes with similar affinity (10(-8) M). Using the HLA-A2-transgenic mouse model, we then demonstrated directly that HCV-specific T cells could be induced in vivo by IV infection. Splenocytes harvested from IV-infected mice at the peak of the primary response (day 7 effector cells) or following complete recovery (day 21 memory cells) recognized the HCV NS3 peptide, lysed peptide-pulsed target cells, and produced gamma interferon. These results exemplify that host responses to an infectious agent are influenced by cross-reactive memory cells induced by past exposure to heterologous viruses, which could have important consequences for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Wedemeyer
- Liver Diseases Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20982, USA
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Abstract
Several recent developments have hallmarked progress in tumour immunology and immunotherapy. The use of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in cancer patients demonstrated that an immunological manipulation was capable of mediating the regression of established growing cancers in humans. The identification of the genes encoding cancer antigens and the development of means for effectively immunizing patients against these antigens has opened important new avenues of exploration for the development of effective active and cell-transfer immunotherapies for patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Rosenberg
- National Cancer Institute, Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Kurokohchi K, Arima K, Nishioka M. A novel cytotoxic T-cell epitope presented by HLA-A24 molecule in hepatitis C virus infection. J Hepatol 2001; 34:930-5. [PMID: 11451179 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(01)00041-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS It has been suggested that cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have crucial roles for the hepatocellular damage in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A series of CTL epitopes located in the HCV protein have been identified. However, no CTL epitopes restricted by HLA-A24, a common HLA allele in humans, has been identified. METHODS Peripheral blood and liver infiltrating mononuclear cells from the patients with hepatitis C virus infection and healthy controls were stimulated with a series of peptides containing HLA-A24 binding motifs located in HCV protein. RESULTS An immunodominant HLA-A24 restricted CTL epitope (A24-4; AYSQQTRGL, amino acids 1031-1039) presented by HLA-A24 molecule was identified using a series of synthetic peptides containing the HLA-A24 binding motifs. The CTL activity against this peptide was induced both in peripheral blood and liver infiltrating mononuclear cells from HLA-A24-positive chronic hepatitis C patients, not from HLA-A24-negative patients and HLA-A24-positive healthy controls. CTL activity was blocked by anti-HLA-A24 and anti-CD8 antibodies, not by anti-CD4 antibody. Furthermore, the A24-4-specific CTL recognized the HCV gene transfected target cells. CONCLUSIONS Because this peptide is presented by a common HLA class I molecule, it might be useful for protection against hepatocellular damage and vaccine development in large population of the HCV-infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kurokohchi
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, Kita-gun, Japan.
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Inchauspé G. Réponses et mécanismes immunitaires liés aux infections par le virus de l'hépatite C. Med Mal Infect 2000. [DOI: 10.1016/s0399-077x(00)88857-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Lechmann M, Woitas RP, Langhans B, Kaiser R, Ihlenfeldt HG, Jung G, Sauerbruch T, Spengler U. Decreased frequency of HCV core-specific peripheral blood mononuclear cells with type 1 cytokine secretion in chronic hepatitis C. J Hepatol 1999; 31:971-8. [PMID: 10604568 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(99)80307-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Since the outcome of hepatitis C infection appears to be correlated with the immune response to the HCV core protein, the aim of this study was to investigate the T cell response to hepatitis C virus core and core-derived antigens. METHODS As this response may be regulated importantly by differential secretion of cytokines, we determined the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that secreted IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma in response to a recombinant HCV core protein and a panel of 19 core-derived peptides, using the ELI-Spot-technique. Two groups of patients were studied: group A: 11 patients with previously self-limited HCV infection; group B: 12 patients with chronic hepatitis C. RESULTS In group B significantly less IFN-gamma spot forming cells (SFC) could be detected, both after stimulation with the core protein (0.083+/-0.083 SFC vs. 1.3+/-0.4 SFC/10(5) PBMC; p = 0.005 and with the core-derived peptides (1.3+/-0.5 vs. 4.4+/-1.1 SFC SFC/10(5) PBMC; p = 0.007). By analyzing the cytokine response to each single peptide, we found IFN-gamma responses to peptides aa 39-63 and aa 148-172 in group A but not in group B (p<0.03). In group B also, fewer IL-2 secreting cells were found after peptide stimulation (p = 0.04). Whereas subjects of group B showed IL-10-specific responses to HCV peptides more frequently than patients with self-limiting hepatitis C (p = 0.03), the number of IL-4-producing cells was not different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that patients with persistent viremia and chronic liver disease (group B) have less PBMC showing type 1 cytokine (IL-2, IFN-gamma) responses to HCV core protein than patients with self-limited HCV infection (group A).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lechmann
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Bonn, Germany
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Rehermann B, Chang KM, McHutchison JG, Kokka R, Houghton M, Chisari FV. Quantitative analysis of the peripheral blood cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. J Clin Invest 1996; 98:1432-40. [PMID: 8823309 PMCID: PMC507570 DOI: 10.1172/jci118931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are present in the peripheral blood and liver of chronically infected patients. The current study was performed to study the relationship between the strength of the CTL response, liver disease severity, and viral load. The results may be summarized as follows: first, using CTL precursor frequency (CTLpf) analysis to quantitate the peripheral blood CTL response, chronically infected patients were less strongly sensitized to a panel of well-defined HCV epitopes than they were to an epitope within the influenza matrix protein. Second, HCV-specific CTLpf did not correlate with disease activity or viral load in the majority of patients on a cross-sectional basis, although it did increase in three patients concomitant with sharp increases in liver disease. Finally, interferon therapy did not enhance the CTLpf against the HCV epitopes studied in these patients, indicating that its antiviral effect is independent of the CTL response. Since the HCV-specific CTLpf in the blood is actually quite low, the CTL may contribute to ongoing liver disease in these patients while being quantitatively inadequate to destroy all of the infected hepatocytes, thereby facilitating HCV persistence and contributing to chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Rehermann
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are estimated to comprise up to 1% of human DNA. While the genome of many ERVs is interrupted by termination codons, deletions or frame shift mutations, some ERVs are transcriptionally active and recent studies reveal protein expression or particle formation by human ERVs. ERVs have been implicated as aetiological agents of autoimmune disease, because of their structural and sequence similarities to exogenous retroviruses associated with immune dysregulation and their tissue-specific or differentiation-dependent expression. In fact, retrovirus-like particles distinct from those of known exogenous retroviruses and immune responses to ERV proteins have been observed in autoimmune disease. Quantitatively or structurally aberrant expression of normally cryptic ERVs, induced by environmental or endogenous factors, could initiate autoimmunity through direct or indirect mechanisms. ERVs may lead to immune dysregulation as insertional mutagens or cis-regulatory elements of cellular genes involved in immune function. ERVs may also encode elements like tax in human T-lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) or tat in human immunodeficiency virus-I (HIV-I) that are capable of transactivating cellular genes. More directly, human ERV gene products themselves may be immunologically active, by analogy with the superantigen activity in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of mouse mammary tumour viruses (MMTV) and the non-specific immunosuppressive activity in mammalian type C retrovirus env protein. Alternatively, increased expression of an ERV protein, or expression of a novel ERV protein not expressed in the thymus during acquisition of immune tolerance, may lead to its perception as a neoantigen. Paraneoplastic syndromes raise the possibility that novel ERV-encoded epitopes expressed by a tumour elicit immunity to cross-reactive epitopes in normal tissues. Recombination events between different but related ERVs, to whose products the host is immunologically tolerant, may also generate new antigenic determinants. Frequently reported humoral immunity to exogenous retrovirus proteins in autoimmune disease could be elicited by cross-reactive ERV proteins. A review of the evidence implicating ERVs in immune dysfunction leads to the conclusion that direct molecular studies are likely to establish a pathogenic role for ERVs in autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nakagawa
- Burnet Clinical Research Unit, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia
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