Hepatitis C virus core region: helper T cell epitopes recognized by BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice

Peptides for Vaccine Development

This review discusses peptide epitopes used as antigens in the development of vaccines in clinical trials as well as future vaccine candidates. It covers peptides used in potential immunotherapies for infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, and others. In addition, peptides for cancer vaccines that target examples of overexpressed proteins are summarized, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), mucin 1 (MUC1), folate receptor, and others. The uses of peptides to target cancers caused by infective agents, for example, cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), are also discussed. This review also provides an overview of model peptide epitopes used to stimulate non-specific immune responses, and of self-adjuvanting peptides, as well as the influence of other adjuvants on peptide formulations. As highlighted in this review, several peptide immunotherapies are in advanced clinical trials as vaccines, and there is great potential for future therapies due the specificity of the response that can be achieved using peptide epitopes.

Heterologous Expression of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein in Oil Seeds of Brassica napus L

Background:

Hepatitis c virus (HCV), prevalent among 3% of the world population, is a major worldwide public health concern and an effective vaccination could help to overcome this problem. Plant seeds as low-cost vaccine expression platforms are highly desirable to produce antigens.

Objectives:

The present study was aimed at investigating the possible expression of recombinant HCV core protein, as a leading HCV vaccine candidate, in canola (Brassica napus) plant seeds in order to be used as an effective immunogen for vaccine researches.

Materials and Methods:

A codon-optimized gene harboring the Kozak sequence, 6 × His-tag, HCVcp (1 - 122 residues) and KDEL (Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu) peptide in tandem was designed and expressed under the control of the seed specific promoter, fatty acid elongase 1 (FAE1), to accumulate the recombinant protein in canola (B. napus L.) seeds. Transgenic lines were screened and the presence of the transgene was confirmed in the T0 plants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The quantity and quality of the HCV core protein (HCVcp) in transgenic seeds were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot, respectively.

Results:

Western blot analysis using anti-His antibody confirmed the presence of a 15 kDa protein in the seeds of T1 transgenic lines. The amount of antigenic protein accumulated in the seeds of these transgenic lines was up to 0.05% of the total soluble protein (TSP).

Conclusions:

The canola oilseeds could provide a useful expression system to produce HCV core protein as a vaccine candidate.

Comparative Immunogenicity in Rabbits of the Polypeptides Encoded by the 5' Terminus of Hepatitis C Virus RNA

Recent studies on the primate protection from HCV infection stressed the importance of immune response against structural viral proteins. Strong immune response against nucleocapsid (core) protein was difficult to achieve, requesting further experimentation in large animals. Here, we analyzed the immunogenicity of core aa 1–173, 1–152, and 147–191 and of its main alternative reading frame product F-protein in rabbits. Core aa 147–191 was synthesized; other polypeptides were obtained by expression in E. coli. Rabbits were immunized by polypeptide primes followed by multiple boosts and screened for specific anti-protein and anti-peptide antibodies. Antibody titers to core aa 147–191 reached 10⁵; core aa 1–152, 5 × 10⁵; core aa 1–173 and F-protein, 10⁶. Strong immunogenicity of the last two proteins indicated that they may compete for the induction of immune response. The C-terminally truncated core was also weakly immunogenic on the T-cell level. To enhance core-specific cellular response, we immunized rabbits with the core aa 1–152 gene forbidding F-protein formation. Repeated DNA immunization induced a weak antibody and sustained proliferative response of broad specificity confirming a gain of cellular immunogenicity. Epitopes recognized in rabbits overlapped those in HCV infection. Our data promotes the use of rabbits for the immunogenicity tests of prototype HCV vaccines.

Immunization with hepatitis C virus core gene triggers potent T-cell response, but affects CD4+ T-cells

Numerous attempts to induce immunity against HCV core (HCV-C) by DNA immunization met serious difficulties in optimizing T-helper cell and antibody responses. Immunomodulatory properties of HCV-C could be blamed that seem to be dependent on the genotype of HCV source. Here, we characterized HCV-C gene from HCV 1b isolate 274933RU. Eukaryotic expression of HCV-C was effectively driven by CMVIE, while human elongation factor 1 alpha promoter directed low levels of HCV-C expression. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with CMVIE-driven HCV-C gene, and assessed for specific antibody production, T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion. The number and proportion of CD19+, CD3+, CD3+/CD4+, and CD3+/CD8+ splenocytes in HCV-C gene recipients was evaluated by flow cytometry. A significant mounting drop in CD3+/CD4+ T-cell counts occurred in HCV-C gene-recipients as compared to the controls. Despite that, 75% of mice exhibited core-specific cellular reactivity revealed as high proliferative responses to HCV-C and HCV-C peptides. Stimulated T-cells secreted predominantly IFN-gamma and IL-2. A shift of epitope specificity was observed with the early response being broad, and the late limited to the HCV-C C-terminus. Thus, we demonstrate both T-cell immunogenicity and T-cell modulation by core of HCV 1b. Immune modulation by HCV core may affect host ability to mount long-lasting cellular and antibody response and should be dealt with in designing core-based HCV vaccines.

Identification of the epitopes on HCV core protein recognized by HLA-A2 restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes

AIM

To identify hepatitis C virus(HCV) core protein epitopes recognized by HLA-A2 restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL).

METHODS

Utilizing the method of computer prediction followed by a 4h(51)Cr release assay confirmation.

RESULTS

The results showed that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from two HLA-A2 positive donors who were infected with HCV could lyse autologous target cells labeled with peptide "ALAHGVRAL (core 150-158)". The rates of specific lysis of the cells from the two donors were 37.5% and 15.8%, respectively. Blocking of the CTL response with anti-CD4 mAb caused no significant decrease of the specific lysis. But blocking of CTL response with anti-CD8 mAb could abolish the lysis.

CONCLUSION

The peptide (core 150-158) is the candidate epitope recognized by HLAA2 restricted CTL.

Pathomorphological Characteristics and Pathogenesis of Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis (VH) is an inflammatory reaction of the liver to hepatotropic viruses. Acute VH can be classified according to the virus and type of necrosis. Chronic hepatitis (CH) might be active, persistent or lobular based on previous classification. More recently the grade (necroinflammatory activity) and stage (fibrosis and architectural distorsion) of CH have been distinguished and scored. Apoptosis and necrosis probably coexist in VH and contribute to hepatocyte death. Several "death factors", such as transforming growth factor b, Apo1/Fas and tumor necrosis factor play a role in the execution of cell death. Injury of hepatocytes during viral infection can occur as a direct effect of the virus or as a result of the host immune response. Expression of different viral antigens can be detected during VH and might be visualized. Phenotyping of the portal inflammatory cell infiltrate in CH has shown a T-cell zone comprised of CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ supressor/cytotoxic T cells at the periphery of the lobules. The pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for the final outcome of viral infection depend on viral factors (such as genotype, mutation etc.), virus-host interaction, expression of viral protein, several cytokines etc. which finally lead to the well known histological alterations of viral hepatitis.

Flow cytometric analysis of peptide binding to major histocampatibility complex class I for hepatitis C virus core T-cell epitopes

BACKGROUND/METHODS

To characterize the repertoire of T-cell epitopes on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein, we studied major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I binding of 75 decapeptides on 20 human B-cell lines and murine spleen cells using a flow cytometric assay. The results were compared with MHC class I stabilization on T2 cells, the SYFPEITHI algorithm, and known T-cell epitopes from the literature.

RESULTS

Binding of peptides proved to be specific for MHC class I molecules. We observed peak fluorescence signals at positions amino acids (aa) 35-44, aa 87-96, aa 131-140, and aa 167-176 in virtually all HLA-A2-positive cell lines. These sites corresponded to T-cell epitopes predicted by SYFPEITHI and the positions of known T-cell epitopes, whereas T2 stabilization was at variance for two peptides. The assay was applied to HLA-A2-negative cells and murine spleen cells without further modification, and identified additional peptides, corresponding to known T-cell epitopes.

CONCLUSIONS

Peptide binding to different MHC class I alleles can be mapped rapidly by a flow cytometric assay and enables a first orientation on the sites of possible T-cell epitopes. Application of this assay to HCV core suggests a rather limited repertoire of epitopes in the Caucasoid population.

Use of conventional or replicating nucleic acid-based vaccines and recombinant Semliki forest virus-derived particles for the induction of immune responses against hepatitis C virus core and E2 antigens

Replicating and nonreplicating nucleic acid-based vaccines as well as Semliki Forest-recombinant Viruses (rSFVs) were evaluated for the development of a vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV). Replicating SFV-DNA vaccines (pSFV) and rSFVs expressing HCV core or E2 antigens were compared with classical CMV-driven plasmids (pCMV) in single or bimodal vaccine protocols. In vitro experiments indicated that all vaccine vectors produced the HCV antigens but to different levels depending on the antigen expressed. Both replicating and nonreplicating core-expressing plasmids induced, upon injection in mice, specific comparable CTL responses ranging from 10 to 50% lysis (E:T ratio 100:1). Comparison of different injection modes (intramuscular versus intraepidermal) and the use of descalating doses of DNA (1-100 microgram) did not show an increased efficacy of the core-SFV plasmid compared with the CMV-driven one. Surprisingly, rSFVs yielded either no detectable anticore CTL or very low anti-E2 antibody titers following either single or bimodal administration together with CMV-expressing counterparts. Prime-boost experiments revealed, in all cases, the superiority of DNA-based only vaccines. The anti-E2 antibody response was evaluated using three different assays which indicated that all generated anti-E2 antibodies were targeted at similar determinants. This study emphasizes the potential of DNA-based vaccines for induction of anti-HCV immune responses and reveals an unexpected and limited benefit of SFV-based vaccinal approaches in the case of HCV core and E2.

Schistosoma mansoni: genetic restriction and cytokine profile of the CD4 + T helper cell response to dominant epitope peptide of major egg antigen Sm-p40

Granuloma formation in schistosomiasis is mediated by MHC class II-restricted CD4 + T helper lymphocytes sensitized to egg antigens. We previously reported that C3H mice, which develop large granulomas, display strong CD4 + T helper cell responses to the major egg antigen Sm-p40. Moreover, all members of a panel of egg antigen-specific T cell hybridomas responded to the Sm-p40 antigen. Given the significance of the Sm-p40 molecule in the C3H T cell repertoire against schistosomal egg antigens, the current work was undertaken to map its immunogenic epitopes, using a library of 15 synthetic overlapping 30-mer peptides. The dominant epitope recognized by polyclonal CD4 + Th cells was located in peptide 10 (amino acids 229-258); subdominant epitopes were detected in peptides 8 (amino acids 179-208) and 12 (amino acids 279-308). The anti-Sm-p40 T cell hybridomas variously responded to any one of the same three stimulatory peptides. Furthermore, studies with various mouse strains demonstrated that a strong anti-Sm-p40 response was restricted by H-2(k). Interestingly, the cells responding to peptide 10 and to the Sm-p40 antigen only secreted IL-2 and IFN-gamma, but not IL-4 and IL-10, indicating that they are entirely of the Th-1-type, a subset with demonstrated capacity to mediate egg granuloma formation. The identification of dominant epitopes within key egg antigens offers opportunities for desensitization of the CD4 + Th cells that mediate pathology in schistosomia sis.

Differential cellular and humoral immune responses to HCV core and HBV envelope proteins after genetic immunizations using chimeric constructs

Development of a broad based cellular and humoral immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) structural proteins may be important for eradication of viral infection. In previous studies in mice we demonstrated that facilitated DNA-based immunization with an HCV core DNA-expression construct stimulated the generation of weak cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), helper T cell (Th), and humoral immune responses against HCV core related epitopes. To enhance the immunogenicity of this non-secreted viral structural protein at both the B- and T-cell level, several chimeric HBV-HCV constructs were prepared which were designed to express and secrete HCV core protein along with various regions of the hepatitis B envelope protein. No secretion of the chimeric proteins into the culture supernatant was detected using sensitive radioimmunoassays. However, such chimeric proteins were capable of generating CD4+ inflammatory T cell and CD8+ CTL activity against both HBV and HCV components of the fusion proteins. It was determined that the proliferative activity of T cells as well as the humoral immune responses to HCV core protein were substantially enhanced by some chimeric fusion proteins as compared to the HCV core protein alone. The strength of the immune responses appeared directly related to the level of Th1 cytokines produced by CD4+ T cells obtained from immunized animals. Further characterization of the immune responses stimulated by these DNA constructs studied helped to define some of the most immunogenic regions of the chimeric proteins that they encode.