scholarly journals Enhancing therapeutic vaccination by blocking PD-1–mediated inhibitory signals during chronic infection

2008 ◽  
Vol 205 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Jun Ha ◽  
Scott N. Mueller ◽  
E. John Wherry ◽  
Daniel L. Barber ◽  
Rachael D. Aubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Therapeutic Vaccination ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Viral Control ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity

Therapeutic vaccination is a potentially promising strategy to enhance T cell immunity and viral control in chronically infected individuals. However, therapeutic vaccination approaches have fallen short of expectations, and effective boosting of antiviral T cell responses has not always been observed. One of the principal reasons for the limited success of therapeutic vaccination is that virus-specific T cells become functionally exhausted during chronic infections. We now provide a novel strategy for enhancing the efficacy of therapeutic vaccines. In this study, we show that blocking programmed death (PD)-1/PD-L1 inhibitory signals on exhausted CD8+ T cells, in combination with therapeutic vaccination, synergistically enhances functional CD8+ T cell responses and improves viral control in mice chronically infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. This combinatorial therapeutic vaccination was effective even in the absence of CD4+ T cell help. Thus, our study defines a potent new approach to augment the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination by blocking negative signals. Such an approach may have broad applications in developing treatment strategies for chronic infections in general, and perhaps also for tumors.

scholarly journals IL-10 blockade facilitates DNA vaccine-induced T cell responses and enhances clearance of persistent virus infection

2008 ◽  
Vol 205 (3) ◽  
pp. 533-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Brooks ◽  
Andrew M. Lee ◽  
Heidi Elsaesser ◽  
Dorian B. McGavern ◽  
Michael B.A. Oldstone
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Dna Vaccine ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
T Cell Immunity ◽  
Therapeutic Vaccination ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity

Therapeutic vaccination is a potentially powerful strategy to establish immune control and eradicate persistent viral infections. Large and multifunctional antiviral T cell responses are associated with control of viral persistence; however, for reasons that were mostly unclear, current therapeutic vaccination approaches to restore T cell immunity and control viral infection have been ineffective. Herein, we confirmed that neutralization of the immunosuppressive factor interleukin (IL)-10 stimulated T cell responses and improved control of established persistent lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection. Importantly, blockade of IL-10 also allowed an otherwise ineffective therapeutic DNA vaccine to further stimulate antiviral immunity, thereby increasing T cell responses and enhancing clearance of persistent LCMV replication. We therefore propose that a reason that current therapeutic vaccination strategies fail to resurrect/sustain T cell responses is because they do not alleviate the immunosuppressive environment. Consequently, blocking key suppressive factors could render ineffective vaccines more efficient at improving T cell immunity, and thereby allow immune-mediated control of persistent viral infection.

scholarly journals Intestinal CD8+ T cell responses are abundantly induced early in human development but show impaired cytotoxic effector capacities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. C. E. Schreurs ◽  
A. F. Sagebiel ◽  
F. L. Steinert ◽  
A. J. Highton ◽  
P. L. Klarenbeek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Viral Control ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Inhibitory Molecule ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

AbstractGastrointestinal viral infections are a major global cause of disease and mortality in infants. Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells are critical to achieve viral control. However, studies investigating the development of CD8+ T cell immunity in human tissues early in life are lacking. Here, we investigated the maturation of the CD8+ T cell compartment in human fetal, infant and adult intestinal tissues. CD8+ T cells exhibiting a memory phenotype were already detected in fetal intestines and increased after birth. Infant intestines preferentially harbored effector CCR7−CD45RA−CD127−KLRG1+/− CD8+ T cells compared to tissue-resident memory CD69+CD103+CD8+ T cells detected in adults. Functional cytotoxic capacity, including cytokine and granzyme B production of infant intestinal effector CD8+ T cells was, however, markedly reduced compared to adult intestinal CD8+ T cells. This was in line with the high expression of the inhibitory molecule PD-1 by infant intestinal effector CD8+ T cells. Taken together, we demonstrate that intestinal CD8+ T cell responses are induced early in human development, however exhibit a reduced functionality. The impaired CD8+ T cell functionality early in life contributes to tolerance during foreign antigen exposure after birth, however functions as an immune correlate for the increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal viral infections in infancy.

538 Harnessing cross-dressing dendritic cells to strengthen anti-tumor immunity

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A574-A574
Author(s):  
Ellen Duong ◽  
Timothy Fessenden ◽  
Arjun Bhutkar ◽  
Stefani Spranger
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Tumor Immunity ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
T Cell Immunity ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Cross Dressing

BackgroundCytotoxic (CD8+) T-cells are required for tumor eradication and durable anti-tumor immunity.1 The induction of tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cells is predominately attributed to a subset of dendritic cells (DC) called Batf3-driven DC1, given their robust ability to cross-present antigens for T-cell priming and their role in effector T-cell recruitment.2–4 Presence of the DC1 signature in tumors correlates with improved survival and response to immunotherapies.5–7 Yet, most tumors with a DC1 infiltrate still progress, suggesting that while DC1 can initiate tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cell responses, they are unable to sustain them. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify and engage additional stimulatory DC subsets to strengthen anti-tumor immunity and boost immunotherapy responses.MethodsTo identify DC subsets that drive poly-functional CD8+ T-cell responses, we compared the DC infiltrate of a spontaneously regressing tumor with a progressing tumor. Multicolor flow immunophenotyping and single-cell RNA-sequencing were used to profile the DC compartment of both tumors. IFNγ-ELISpot was performed on splenocytes to assess for systemic tumor-reactive T-cell responses. Sorted DC subsets from tumors were co-cultured with TCR-transgenic T-cells ex vivo to evaluate their stimulatory capacity. Cross-dressing (in vivo/ex vivo) was assayed by staining for transfer of tumor-derived H-2b MHC complexes to Balb/c DC, which express the H-2d haplotype. Protective systemic immunity was assayed via contralateral flank tumor outgrowth experiments.ResultsRegressor tumors were infiltrated with more cross-presenting DC1 than progressor tumors. However, tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cell responses and tumor control were preserved in Batf3-/- mice lacking DC1, indicating that anti-tumor immune responses could be induced independent of DC1. Through functional assays, we established that anti-tumor immunity against regressor tumors required CD11c+ DC and cGAS/STING-independent type-I-interferon-sensing. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of the immune infiltrate of regressor tumors revealed a novel CD11b+ DC subset expressing an interferon-stimulated gene signature (ISG+ DC). Flow studies demonstrated that ISG+ DC were more enriched in regressor tumors than progressor tumors. We showed that ISG+ DC could activate CD8+ T-cells by cross-dressing with tumor-derived peptide-MHC complexes, thereby bypassing the requirement for cross-presentation to initiate CD8+ T-cell-driven immunity. ISG+ DC highly expressed cytosolic dsRNA sensors (RIG-I/MDA5) and could be therapeutically harnessed by exogenous addition of a dsRNA analog to drive protective CD8+ T-cell responses in DC1-deficient mice.ConclusionsThe DC infiltrate in tumors can dictate the strength of anti-tumor immunity. Harnessing multiple stimulatory DC subsets, such as cross-presenting DC1 and cross-dressing ISG+ DC, provides a therapeutic opportunity to enhance anti-tumor immunity and increase immunotherapy responses.ReferencesFridman WH, et al. The immune contexture in human tumours: impact on clinical outcome. Nature Reviews Cancer 2012;12(4): p. 298–306.Hildner K, et al. Batf3 deficiency reveals a critical role for CD8alpha+ dendritic cells in cytotoxic T cell immunity. Science 2008;322(5904):p. 1097–100.Spranger S, et al. Tumor-Residing Batf3 dendritic cells are required for effector T cell trafficking and adoptive T cell therapy. Cancer Cell 2017;31(5):p. 711–723.e4.Roberts, EW, et al., Critical role for CD103(+)/CD141(+) dendritic cells bearing CCR7 for tumor antigen trafficking and priming of T cell immunity in melanoma. Cancer Cell 2016;30(2): p. 324–336.Broz ML, et al. Dissecting the tumor myeloid compartment reveals rare activating antigen-presenting cells critical for T cell immunity. Cancer Cell 2014;26(5): p. 638–52.Salmon H., et al., Expansion and activation of CD103(+) dendritic cell progenitors at the tumor site enhances tumor responses to therapeutic PD-L1 and BRAF inhibition. Immunity, 2016. 44(4): p. 924–38.Sánchez-Paulete AR, et al., Cancer immunotherapy with immunomodulatory anti-CD137 and Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies requires BATF3-dependent dendritic cells. Cancer Discov, 2016;6(1):p. 71–9.

scholarly journals Recruitment of highly functional SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell receptors mediating cytotoxicity of virus-infected target cells in non-severe COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolin I. Wagner ◽  
Laura M. Mateyka ◽  
Sebastian Jarosch ◽  
Vincent Grass ◽  
Simone Weber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Hla Class I ◽  
Cd8 T Cell ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Engineered T Cells

T cell immunity is crucial for the control of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and has been widely characterized on a quantitative level. In contrast, the quality of such T cell responses has been poorly investigated, in particular in the case of CD8+ T cells. Here, we explored the quality of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses in individuals who recovered from mild symptomatic infections, through which protective immunity should develop, by functional characterization of their T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. CD8+ T cell responses specific for SARS-CoV-2-derived epitopes were low in frequency but could be detected robustly early as well as late - up to twelve months - after infection. A pool of immunodominant epitopes, which accurately identified previous SARSCoV- 2 infections, was used to isolate TCRs specific for epitopes restricted by common HLA class I molecules. TCR-engineered T cells showed heterogeneous functional avidity and cytotoxicity towards virus-infected target cells. High TCR functionality correlated with gene signatures of T cell function and activation that, remarkably, could be retrieved for each epitope:HLA combination and patient analyzed. Overall, our data demonstrate that highly functional HLA class I TCRs are recruited and maintained upon mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Such validated epitopes and TCRs could become valuable tools for the development of diagnostic tests determining the quality of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell immunity, and thereby investigating correlates of protection, as well as to restore functional immunity through therapeutic transfer of TCR-engineered T cells.

scholarly journals Pre-existing T cell memory against Zika virus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake Schouest ◽  
Alba Grifoni ◽  
John Pham ◽  
Jose Mateus ◽  
John Sydney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Natural Immunity ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Endemic Areas

The mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) spread rapidly into regions where dengue virus (DENV) is endemic, and flavivirus cross-reactive T cell responses have been observed repeatedly in animal models and in humans. Pre-existing cellular immunity to DENV is thought to contribute to protection in subsequent ZIKV infection, but the epitope targets of cross-reactive T cell responses have not been comprehensively identified. Using human blood samples from the DENV-endemic regions of Nicaragua and Sri Lanka that were collected before the global spread of ZIKV in 2016, we employed an in vitro expansion strategy to map ZIKV T cell epitopes in ZIKV-unexposed, DENV-seropositive donors. We identified 93 epitopes across the ZIKV proteome, and we observed patterns of immunodominance that were dependent on antigen size and sequence identity to DENV. We confirmed the immunogenicity of these epitopes through a computational HLA binding analysis, and we showed that cross-reactive T cells specifically recognize ZIKV peptides homologous to DENV sequences. We also found that these CD4 responses were derived from the memory T cell compartment. These data have implications for understanding the dynamics of flavivirus-specific T cell immunity in endemic areas. Importance Multiple flaviviruses, including Zika (ZIKV) and the four serotypes of dengue (DENV) viruses, are prevalent in the same large tropical and equatorial areas inhabited by hundreds of millions of people. The interplay of DENV and ZIKV infection is especially relevant, as these two viruses are endemic in largely overlapping regions, have significant sequence similarity, and share the same arthropod vector. Here, we define the targets of pre-existing immunity to ZIKV in unexposed subjects collected in dengue-endemic areas. We demonstrate that pre-existing immunity to DENV could shape ZIKV-specific responses, and DENV-ZIKV cross-reactive T cells can be expanded by stimulation with ZIKV peptides. The issue of potential ZIKV and DENV cross-reactivity is of relevance for understanding patterns of natural immunity, as well as for the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines.

scholarly journals Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection Yields Overlapping CD4+ and CD8+ T-Cell Responses

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (23) ◽  
pp. 11734-11741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Dow ◽  
Carla Oseroff ◽  
Bjoern Peters ◽  
Courtney Nance-Sotelo ◽  
John Sidney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Intracellular Cytokine Staining ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Activation of CD4+ T cells helps establish and sustain other immune responses. We have previously shown that responses against a broad set of nine CD4+ T-cell epitopes were present in the setting of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) Armstrong infection in the context of H-2d. This is quite disparate to the H-2b setting, where only two epitopes have been identified. We were interested in determining whether a broad set of responses was unique to H-2d or whether additional CD4+ T-cell epitopes could be identified in the setting of the H-2b background. To pursue this question, we infected C57BL/6 mice with LCMV Armstrong and determined the repertoire of CD4+ T-cell responses using overlapping 15-mer peptides corresponding to the LCMV Armstrong sequence. We confirmed positive responses by intracellular cytokine staining and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide binding assays. A broad repertoire of responses was identified, consisting of six epitopes. These epitopes originate from the nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein (GP). Out of the six newly identified CD4+ epitopes, four of them also stimulate CD8+ T cells in a statistically significant manner. Furthermore, we assessed these CD4+ T-cell responses during the memory phase of LCMV Armstrong infection and after infection with a chronic strain of LCMV and determined that a subset of the responses could be detected under these different conditions. This is the first example of a broad repertoire of shared epitopes between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the context of viral infection. These findings demonstrate that immunodominance is a complex phenomenon in the context of helper responses.

scholarly journals HCoV- and SARS-CoV-2 Cross-Reactive T Cells in CVID Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Steiner ◽  
Franziska Sotzny ◽  
Sandra Bauer ◽  
Il-Kang Na ◽  
Michael Schmueck-Henneresse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
T Cell Immunity ◽  
Cell Reactivity ◽  
Cd8 Cells ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity

The inability of patients with CVID to mount specific antibody responses to pathogens has raised concerns on the risk and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there might be a role for protective T cells in these patients. SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells have been reported for SARS-CoV-2 unexposed healthy individuals. Until now, there is no data on T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection in CVID. This study aimed to evaluate reactive T cells to human endemic corona viruses (HCoV) and to study pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells in unexposed CVID patients. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-229E and –OC43 reactive T cells in response to seven peptide pools, including spike and nucleocapsid (NCAP) proteins, in 11 unexposed CVID, 12 unexposed and 11 post COVID-19 healthy controls (HC). We further characterized reactive T cells by IFNγ, TNFα and IL-2 profiles. SARS-CoV-2 spike-reactive CD4+ T cells were detected in 7 of 11 unexposed CVID patients, albeit with fewer multifunctional (IFNγ/TNFα/IL-2) cells than unexposed HC. CVID patients had no SARS-CoV-2 NCAP reactive CD4+ T cells and less reactive CD8+ cells compared to unexposed HC. We observed a correlation between T cell reactivity against spike of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoVs in unexposed, but not post COVID-19 HC, suggesting cross-reactivity. T cell responses in post COVID-19 HC could be distinguished from unexposed HC by higher frequencies of triple-positive NCAP reactive CD4+ T cells. Taken together, SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells are detectable in unexposed CVID patients albeit with lower recognition frequencies and polyfunctional potential. Frequencies of triple-functional reactive CD4+ cells might provide a marker to distinguish HCoV cross-reactive from SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses. Our data provides evidence, that anti-viral T cell immunity is not relevantly impaired in most CVID patients.

Imiquimod: A TLR-7 agonist as adjuvant for a recombinant protein cancer vaccine

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8545-8545
Author(s):  
S. Adams ◽  
D. O'Neill ◽  
D. Nonaka ◽  
O. Manches ◽  
L. Chiriboga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Intracellular Cytokine Staining ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Protein Vaccine ◽  
Imiquimod Cream ◽  
Antigen Uptake ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity

8545 Purpose: This clinical trial evaluates the safety and adjuvant activity of imiquimod, a toll-like receptor (TLR)-7 agonist, when given with a NY-ESO-1 protein vaccine. Imiquimod, by locally activating and recruiting dendritic cells (DCs) into the skin, is expected to stimulate antigen uptake by DCs, induce maturation and migration to draining lymph nodes, and to induce antigen-specific T and B cell immunity. Methods: Pilot study; 9 patients with resected stage 2B-3C malignant melanoma. Four 21 day cycles consisted of topical imiquimod cream (250 mg) on days 1–5 and id. injected NY-ESO-1 protein (100 mcg) into the site on day 3. Blood was drawn at several time points for immune monitoring; skin punch biopsies were obtained from control, imiquimod and vaccination sites 48 hours after the last vaccination. Results: The regimen was tolerated well, all patients completed four vaccinations. AEs were mild and transient and included injection site reactions (8/9 patients), fatigue (4/9 patients) and fever (2/9 patients). Significant levels of antigen-specific CD4+ or CD8+ T cell responses were not detected in ex-vivo ELISPOT assays. However, intracellular cytokine staining assays after in vitro pre-stimulation indicated that 6 of 8 subjects developed NY-ESO-1 CD4+ T cell responses. Humoral immunity was manifest by the induction of anti-NY-ESO-1 antibodies in 7/9 patients post-vaccination. Histochemistry of skin sections showed significant dermal mononuclear cell infiltrates in Imiquimod treated skin, whereas none were seen in untreated skin (p<0.01). IHC revealed markedly increased numbers of CD3+ (T-cells), CD68+ (macrophages/monocytes), CD123+ (plasmacytoid DCs) and DC-LAMP+ (mature myeloid DCs) immune cells in Imiquimod treated skin when compared with control skin of the same patients (p<0.05). Conclusion: Imiquimod, a topical immune response modifier, generated clear inflammatory infiltrates in the dermis, with significant increases in antigen-presenting cells and T cells. Imiquimod was well tolerated when used as an adjuvant to an NY-ESO-1 protein vaccine. Systemic immunity of both humoral and cellular types was induced in the majority of patients; however, responses were weak and the vaccine combination needs to be optimized in future studies. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Long-Term Control of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) in Cynomolgus Macaques Not Associated with Efficient SIV-Specific CD8+T-Cell Responses

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 3542-3556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothée Bruel ◽  
Chiraz Hamimi ◽  
Nathalie Dereuddre-Bosquet ◽  
Antonio Cosma ◽  
So Youn Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
Viral Control ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cynomolgus Macaques ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACTThe spontaneous control of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV/SIV) is typically associated with specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles and efficient CD8+T-cell responses, but many controllers maintain viral control despite a nonprotective MHC background and weak CD8+T-cell responses. Therefore, the contribution of this response to maintaining long-term viral control remains unclear. To address this question, we transiently depleted CD8+T cells from five SIV-infected cynomolgus macaques with long-term viral control and weak CD8+T-cell responses. Among them, only one carried the protective MHC allele H6. After depletion, four of five controllers experienced a transient rebound of viremia. The return to undetectable viremia was accompanied by only modest expansion of SIV-specific CD8+T cells that lacked efficient SIV suppression capacityex vivo. In contrast, the depletion was associated with homeostatic activation/expansion of CD4+T cells that correlated with viral rebound. In one macaque, viremia remained undetectable despite efficient CD8+cell depletion and inducible SIV replication from its CD4+T cellsin vitro. Altogether, our results suggest that CD8+T cells are not unique contributors to the long-term maintenance of low viremia in this SIV controller model and that other mechanisms, such as weak viral reservoirs or control of activation, may be important players in control.IMPORTANCESpontaneous control of HIV-1 to undetectable levels is associated with efficient anti-HIV CD8+T-cell responses. However, in some cases, this response fades over time, although viral control is maintained, and many HIV controllers (weak responders) have very low frequencies of HIV-specific CD8+T cells. In these cases, the importance of CD8 T cells in the maintenance of HIV-1 control is questionable. We developed a nonhuman primate model of durable SIV control with an immune profile resembling that of weak responders. Transient depletion of CD8+cells induced a rise in the viral load. However, viremia was correlated with CD4+T-cell activation subsequent to CD8+cell depletion. Regain of viral control to predepletion levels was not associated with restoration of the anti-SIV capacities of CD8+T cells. Our results suggest that CD8+T cells may not be involved in maintenance of viral control in weak responders and highlight the fact that additional mechanisms should not be underestimated.

scholarly journals MHC Class I Presented T Cell Epitopes as Potential Antigens for Therapeutic Vaccine against HBV Chronic Infection

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph D. Comber ◽  
Aykan Karabudak ◽  
Vivekananda Shetty ◽  
James S. Testa ◽  
Xiaofang Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Therapeutic Vaccine ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Mhc I ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity

Approximately 370 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite the success of the prophylactic HBV vaccine, no therapeutic vaccine or other immunotherapy modality is available for treatment of chronically infected individuals. Clearance of HBV depends on robust, sustained CD8+ T activity; however, the limited numbers of therapeutic vaccines tested have not induced such a response. Most of these vaccines have relied on peptide prediction algorithms to identify MHC-I epitopes or characterization of T cell responses during acute infection. Here, we took an immunoproteomic approach to characterize MHC-I restricted epitopes from cells chronically infected with HBV and therefore more likely to represent the true targets of CD8+ T cells during chronic infection. In this study, we identified eight novel MHC-I restricted epitopes derived from a broad range of HBV proteins that were capable of activating CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, five of the eight epitopes were able to bind HLA-A2 and A24 alleles and activated HBV specific T cell responses. These epitopes also have potential as new tools to characterize T cell immunity in chronic HBV infection and may serve as candidate antigens for a therapeutic vaccine against HBV infection.

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