Role of alpha3 domain of class I MHC molecules in the activation of high- and low-avidity CD8+ CTLs

Mucosal immunity and HIV-1 infection: applications for mucosal AIDS vaccine development

Natural transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) occurs through gastrointestinal and vaginal mucosa. These mucosal tissues are major reservoirs for initial HIV replication and amplification, and the sites of rapid CD4(+) T cell depletion. In both HIV-infected humans and SIV-infected macaques, massive loss of CD4(+) CCR5(+) memory T cells occurs in the gut and vaginal mucosa within the first 10-14 days of infection. Induction of local HIV-specific immune responses by vaccines may facilitate effective control of HIV or SIV replication at these sites. Vaccines that induce mucosal responses, in particular CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), have controlled viral replication at mucosal sites and curtailed systemic dissemination. Thus, there is strong justification for development of next generation vaccines that induce mucosal immune effectors against HIV-1 including CD8(+) CTL, CD4(+) T helper cells and secretory IgA. In addition, further understanding of local innate mechanisms that impact early viral replication will greatly inform future vaccine development. In this review, we examine the current knowledge concerning mucosal AIDS vaccine development. Moreover, we propose immunization strategies that may be able to elicit an effective immune response that can protect against AIDS as well as other mucosal infections.

Structural basis of the CD8 alpha beta/MHC class I interaction: focused recognition orients CD8 beta to a T cell proximal position

In the immune system, B cells, dendritic cells, NK cells, and T lymphocytes all respond to signals received via ligand binding to receptors and coreceptors. Although the specificity of T cell recognition is determined by the interaction of T cell receptors with MHC/peptide complexes, the development of T cells in the thymus and their sensitivity to Ag are also dependent on coreceptor molecules CD8 (for MHC class I (MHCI)) and CD4 (for MHCII). The CD8alphabeta heterodimer is a potent coreceptor for T cell activation, but efforts to understand its function fully have been hampered by ignorance of the structural details of its interactions with MHCI. In this study we describe the structure of CD8alphabeta in complex with the murine MHCI molecule H-2D(d) at 2.6 A resolution. The focus of the CD8alphabeta interaction is the acidic loop (residues 222-228) of the alpha3 domain of H-2D(d). The beta subunit occupies a T cell membrane proximal position, defining the relative positions of the CD8alpha and CD8beta subunits. Unlike the CD8alphaalpha homodimer, CD8alphabeta does not contact the MHCI alpha(2)- or beta(2)-microglobulin domains. Movements of the CD8alpha CDR2 and CD8beta CDR1 and CDR2 loops as well as the flexibility of the H-2D(d) CD loop facilitate the monovalent interaction. The structure resolves inconclusive data on the topology of the CD8alphabeta/MHCI interaction, indicates that CD8beta is crucial in orienting the CD8alphabeta heterodimer, provides a framework for understanding the mechanistic role of CD8alphabeta in lymphoid cell signaling, and offers a tangible context for design of structurally altered coreceptors for tumor and viral immunotherapy.

Generation of functionally active HIV-1 specific CD8+ CTL in intestinal mucosa following mucosal, systemic or mixed prime-boost immunization

Gastrointestinal and vaginal mucosa are major sites of entry in natural HIV infection and therefore the preferred sites to elicit high-avidity CD8+ CTL by vaccination. We directly compare systemic and mucosal immunization in mice after DNA priming and boosting with rgp160 env expressed either in MVA or Ad for their ability to induce mucosal as well as systemic HIV-specific CTL. The optimal CTL response in the gut mucosa was observed after priming with the HIV-1 gp160 env DNA vaccine and boosting with rMVA or rAd encoding the same envelope gene all administered intrarectally (IR). Maximum levels of high-avidity CD8+ T cells were seen in intestinal lamina propria following this regimen. When the prime and boost routes were distinct, the delivery site of the boost had a greater impact than the DNA priming. IM DNA prime and IR rMVA boost were more effective than IR DNA prime and IM rMVA boost for eliciting mucosal CD8+ T-cell avidity. A systemic DNA-prime-followed by systemic rMVA boost induced high levels of high-avidity CD8+ T cells systemically, but responses were undetectable in mucosal sites. A single systemic immunization with rMVA was sufficient to induce high-avidity IFN-gamma secreting CD8+ T cells in systemic organs, whereas a single mucosal immunization with rMVA was not sufficient to elicit high-avidity CD8+ T cells in mucosa. Thus, a heterologous mucosal DNA prime-viral vectored boost strategy was needed. The requirement for a heterologous DNA prime-recombinant viral boost strategy for generation of high-avidity CD8+ T cells in mucosal sites in mice may be more stringent than for the induction of high-avidity CD8+ T cells in systemic compartments.