Characterization of the specific CD4+ T cell response against the F protein during chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
PLoS One 2010;
5:e14237. [PMID:
21151917 PMCID:
PMC2997803 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0014237]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 11/06/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) Alternate Reading Frame Protein (ARFP or F protein) presents a double-frame shift product of the HCV core gene. We and others have previously reported that the specific antibodies against the F protein could be raised in the sera of HCV chronically infected patients. However, the specific CD4(+) T cell responses against the F protein during HCV infection and the pathological implications remained unclear. In the current study, we screened the MHC class II-presenting epitopes of the F protein through HLA-transgenic mouse models and eventually validated the specific CD4(+) T cell responses in HCV chronically infected patients.
METHODOLOGY
DNA vaccination in HLA-DR1 and-DP4 transgenic mouse models, proliferation assay to test the F protein specific T cell response, genotyping of Chronic HCV patients and testing the F-peptide stimulated T cell response in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) by in vitro expansion and interferon (IFN)- γ intracellular staining.
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
At least three peptides within HCV F protein were identified as HLA-DR or HLA-DP4 presenting epitopes by the proliferation assays in mouse models. Further study with human PBMCs evidenced the specific CD4(+) T cell responses against HCV F protein as well in patients chronically infected with HCV.
CONCLUSION
The current study provided the evidence for the first time that HCV F protein could elicit specific CD4(+) T cell response, which may provide an insight into the immunopathogenesis during HCV chronic infection.
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