Shi TD, Wu YZ, Jia ZC, Zou LY, Zhou W. Therapeutic polypeptides based on HBV core 18-27 epitope can induce CD
8+ CTL-mediated cytotoxicity in HLA-A2
+ human PBMCs.
World J Gastroenterol 2004;
10:1902-6. [PMID:
15222033 PMCID:
PMC4572227 DOI:
10.3748/wjg.v10.i13.1902]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM: To explore how to improve the immunogenicity of HBcAg CTL epitope based polypeptides and to trigger an HBV-specific HLA I-restricted CD8+ T cell response in vitro.
METHODS: A new panel of mimetic therapeutic peptides based on the immunodominant B cell epitope of HBV PreS2 18-24 region, the CTL epitope of HBcAg18-27 and the universal T helper epitope of tetanus toxoid (TT) 830-843 was designed using computerized molecular design method and synthesized by Merrifield’s solid-phase peptide synthesis. Their immunological properties of stimulating activation and proliferation of lymphocytes, of inducing TH1 polarization, CD8+ T cell magnification and HBV-specific CD8+ CTL mediated cytotoxicity were investigated in vitro using HLA-A2+ human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and chronic hepatitis B patients.
RESULTS: Results demonstrated that the therapeutic polypeptides based on immunodominant HBcAg18-27 CTL, PreS2 B- and universal TH epitopes could stimulate the activation and proliferation of lymphocytes, induce specifically and effectively CD8+ T cell expansion and vigorous HBV-specific CTL-mediated cytotoxicity in human PBMCs.
CONCLUSION: It indicated that the introduction of immunodominant T helper plus B-epitopes with short and flexible linkers could dramatically improve the immunogenicity of short CTL epitopes in vitro.
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