Analysis of the human cytomegalovirus pp65-directed T-cell response in healthy HLA-A2-positive individuals

2008 ◽  
Vol 389 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Schalich ◽  
Oresta Vytvytska ◽  
Wolfgang Zauner ◽  
Michael B. Fischer ◽  
Michael Buschle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Intracellular Cytokine Staining ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Binding Data

AbstractHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is contained by T-lymphocyte responses focused towards the major tegument protein pp65. To systematically identify T-cell epitopes, we applied the following strategy: 441 overlapping 15mer peptides spanning the entire HCMV pp65 antigen in 1-aa steps were screened in enzyme-linked immunospot (ELIspot) assays for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from nine healthy HCMV-seropositive subjects expressing human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2. This analysis confirmed a number of previously known epitopes and revealed several new ones. A total of 26 epitopes were identified, including 14 HLA-A2, four HLA-B7, -B35, -B12 and -B44 restricted class I epitopes, six class II epitopes, and two epitopes of unknown restriction. Three novel HLA-A2 epitopes were confirmed using T2-cells, and one peptide for which only binding data had been published so far was verified. Two novel class II epitopes were confirmed by intracellular cytokine staining. Responses were usually oligoclonal against up to seven HLA-A2 epitopes, albeit with a few dominating epitopes. Clusters of overlapping epitopes (hot-spots) were identified. These and the newly identified T-cell epitopes may be of great value for epitope-based immunotherapeutic approaches, including peptide vaccines.

Identification of alloreactive T-cell epitopes on the Rhesus D protein

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (13) ◽  
pp. 4011-4019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa-Marie Stott ◽  
Robert N. Barker ◽  
Stanislaw J. Urbaniak
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Considerable Effort ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Alloreactive T Cell

Although considerable effort has been devoted to characterizing alloantibodies specific for the Rhesus D (RhD) blood group antigen, virtually nothing is known about the helper response that drives their production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to map alloreactive T-cell epitopes on the RhD protein. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 22 RhD-negative volunteers in whom anti-D alloantibodies had developed after deliberate immunization or RhD-incompatible pregnancy. The PBMCs were stimulated with a panel of up to 68 overlapping synthetic 15-mer peptides spanning the complete sequence of the RhD protein. One or more peptides elicited proliferative responses by PBMCs from all 22 of the alloimmune volunteers but from only 2 of 8 alloantibody-negative control donors. Proliferation of PBMCs from the alloimmune donors was mediated by major histocompatibility complex class II–restricted T cells expressing the CD45RO marker of previous activation or memory. The number of peptides that induced proliferative responses was unrelated to either the frequency of, or time since, exposure to RhD-positive red blood cells, but it correlated strongly (Rs = 0.75;P < .003) with the level of anti-D antibodies in deliberately immunized donors. The patterns of stimulatory peptides varied among alloimmune volunteers, but particular sequences were commonly recognized, with 4 peptides each eliciting a response in more than 50% of these donors. Identification of such peptides containing dominant alloreactive helper epitopes is the first step in the development of improved or new approaches to preventing hemolytic disease of the newborn that are based on modulating the T-cell response to the RhD protein.

scholarly journals Designing a SARS-CoV-2 T-Cell-Inducing Vaccine for High-Risk Patient Groups

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 428
Author(s):  
Hans-Georg Rammensee ◽  
Cécile Gouttefangeas ◽  
Sonja Heidu ◽  
Reinhild Klein ◽  
Beate Preuß ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Intracellular Cytokine Staining ◽  
High Risk Patient ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Before And After

We describe the results of two vaccinations of a self-experimenting healthy volunteer with SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides performed in March and April 2020, respectively. The first set of peptides contained eight peptides predicted to bind to the individual’s HLA molecules. The second set consisted of ten peptides predicted to bind promiscuously to several HLA-DR allotypes. The vaccine formulation contained the new TLR 1/2 agonist XS15 and was administered as an emulsion in Montanide as a single subcutaneous injection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from blood drawn before and after vaccinations were assessed using Interferon-γ ELISpot assays and intracellular cytokine staining. We detected vaccine-induced CD4 T cell responses against six out of 11 peptides predicted to bind to HLA-DR after 19 days, following vaccination, for one peptide already at day 12. We used these results to support the design of a T-cell-inducing vaccine for application in high-risk patients, with weakened lymphocyte performance. Meanwhile, an according vaccine, incorporating T cell epitopes predominant in convalescents, is undergoing clinical trial testing.

scholarly journals Target Structures of the CD8+-T-Cell Response to Human Cytomegalovirus: the 72-Kilodalton Major Immediate-Early Protein Revisited

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 8179-8184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Kern ◽  
Ingolf Pascal Surel ◽  
Nicole Faulhaber ◽  
Claudia Frömmel ◽  
Jens Schneider-Mergener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Cell Response ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Immediate Early ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Early Protein

ABSTRACT Cell-mediated immunity plays an essential role in the control of infection with the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). However, only a few CD8+-T-cell epitopes are known, with the majority being contained in the pp65 phosphoprotein, which is believed to dominate the CD8+-T-cell response to HCMV. Here, we have readdressed the issue of CD8+ T cells specific for the 72-kDa major immediate-early protein (IE-1), which is nonstructural but is found very early and throughout the replicative cycle. Using a novel flow-cytometric assay, we were able to identify CD8+-T-cell epitopes (by IE-1 peptide-specific induction of cytokine synthesis) and simultaneously measure the frequency of cells directed against them. For this purpose, 81 pentadecamer peptides covering the complete 491-amino-acid sequence of IE-1 were tested on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of anti-HCMV immunoglobulin G-seropositive donors. At least 10 new epitopes were identified, and the fine specificity and presenting HLA molecule of the first of them was determined. The frequencies of CD8+ T cells directed against IE-1 were similar to those directed against pp65 in donors tested with known pp65-derived peptides. Importantly, additional testing of a corresponding set of peptides covering the complete sequence of pp65 on 10 of these donors identified individuals whose CD8+ T cells recognized IE-1 but not pp65 and vice versa, clearly illustrating that either protein may be a major target. In summary, our results suggest that IE-1 is far more important as a CD8+-T-cell target than current opinion suggests.

scholarly journals Broad and Efficient Activation of Memory CD4+ T Cells by Novel HAdV- and HCMV-Derived Peptide Pools

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Höttler ◽  
Léo März ◽  
Maren Lübke ◽  
Hans-Georg Rammensee ◽  
Stefan Stevanović
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Intracellular Cytokine Staining ◽  
Solid Organ Transplantation ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear

Reactivation of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Human Adenovirus (HAdV) in immunocompromised patients following stem cell transplantation (SCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The adoptive transfer of virus-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells has been shown to re-establish the antiviral T-cell response and improve clinical outcome. The viral load in immunocompromised patients can efficiently be reduced solely by the infusion of virus-specific CD4+ T cells. The identification of CD4+ T-cell epitopes has mainly focused on a limited number of viral proteins that were characterized as immunodominant. Here, we used in silico prediction to determine promiscuous CD4+ T-cell epitopes from the entire proteomes of HCMV and HAdV. Immunogenicity testing with enzyme-linked immuno spot (ELISpot) assays and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) revealed numerous novel CD4+ T-cell epitopes derived from a broad spectrum of viral antigens. We identified 17 novel HCMV-derived and seven novel HAdV-derived CD4+ T-cell epitopes that were recognized by &gt; 50% of the assessed peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples. The newly identified epitopes were pooled with previously published, retested epitopes to stimulate virus-specific memory T cells in PBMCs from numerous randomly selected blood donors. Our peptide pools induced strong IFNγ secretion in 46 out of 48 (HCMV) and 31 out of 31 (HAdV) PBMC cultures. In conclusion, we applied an efficient method to screen large viral proteomes for promiscuous CD4+ T-cell epitopes to improve the detection and isolation of virus-specific T cells in a clinical setting.

T-cell recognition of discrete regions of the thrombolytic drug streptokinase

2000 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-246
Author(s):  
Wendy J. LAWLEY ◽  
Sue FLETCHER ◽  
Iain B. SQUIRE ◽  
Kent L. WOODS ◽  
Colin R. A. HEWITT
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Cell Response ◽  
Proliferative Response ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Blood Mononuclear Cells ◽  
T Cell Lines

Streptokinase (SK) is a bacterial protein used clinically as a thrombolytic agent in humans. Administration of SK causes a rapid increase in the frequency of anti-SK T cells and the titre of specific anti-SK antibodies that, on subsequent administration of SK, may neutralize the activity of the drug or elicit allergic-type reactions. By locating and modifying the immunogenic T-cell epitopes within the SK protein, it is possible that an agent with reduced immunogenicity but equal efficacy may be produced. We have investigated the T-cell epitopes within SK using nine non-overlapping, recombinant peptide fragments of SK. We investigated the proliferative T-cell response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients before and 6 days after administration of SK for myocardial infarction. We also examined the response of cultured anti-SK T-cell lines derived from patients 6 days after treatment with SK. Before administration of SK, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from six of nine patients showed a proliferative response to SK. The response was significantly higher 6 days after administration of SK (P = 0.0004). Cultured T-cell lines showed similar proliferative responses to clinical-grade SK and recombinant SK. Marked differences in T-cell responses were apparent in response to each recombinant SK fragment (P = 0.04). The mean proliferative response exceeded background to only two peptides, peptide 2 (P = 0.04) and peptide 3 (P = 0.009). Peptide 3, representing amino acids 100–150 of mature SK, was recognized preferentially in the majority of assays. Marked variation in the T-cell response to SK following treatment with this agent was observed between subjects. Despite these differences, peptides 2 and 3 induced T-cell proliferation at a level significantly above background in the majority of subjects. These epitopes may represent a region of enhanced immunogenicity within SK.

Identification of alloreactive T-cell epitopes on the Rhesus D protein

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (13) ◽  
pp. 4011-4019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa-Marie Stott ◽  
Robert N. Barker ◽  
Stanislaw J. Urbaniak
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Considerable Effort ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Alloreactive T Cell

Abstract Although considerable effort has been devoted to characterizing alloantibodies specific for the Rhesus D (RhD) blood group antigen, virtually nothing is known about the helper response that drives their production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to map alloreactive T-cell epitopes on the RhD protein. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 22 RhD-negative volunteers in whom anti-D alloantibodies had developed after deliberate immunization or RhD-incompatible pregnancy. The PBMCs were stimulated with a panel of up to 68 overlapping synthetic 15-mer peptides spanning the complete sequence of the RhD protein. One or more peptides elicited proliferative responses by PBMCs from all 22 of the alloimmune volunteers but from only 2 of 8 alloantibody-negative control donors. Proliferation of PBMCs from the alloimmune donors was mediated by major histocompatibility complex class II–restricted T cells expressing the CD45RO marker of previous activation or memory. The number of peptides that induced proliferative responses was unrelated to either the frequency of, or time since, exposure to RhD-positive red blood cells, but it correlated strongly (Rs = 0.75;P &lt; .003) with the level of anti-D antibodies in deliberately immunized donors. The patterns of stimulatory peptides varied among alloimmune volunteers, but particular sequences were commonly recognized, with 4 peptides each eliciting a response in more than 50% of these donors. Identification of such peptides containing dominant alloreactive helper epitopes is the first step in the development of improved or new approaches to preventing hemolytic disease of the newborn that are based on modulating the T-cell response to the RhD protein.

scholarly journals Identification of Promiscuous African Swine Fever Virus T-Cell Determinants Using a Multiple Technical Approach

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Laia Bosch-Camós ◽  
Elisabet López ◽  
María Jesús Navas ◽  
Sonia Pina-Pedrero ◽  
Francesc Accensi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
African Swine Fever Virus ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Cd8 T Cell ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Full Length ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear

The development of subunit vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) is mainly hindered by the lack of knowledge regarding the specific ASF virus (ASFV) antigens involved in protection. As a good example, the identity of ASFV-specific CD8+ T-cell determinants remains largely unknown, despite their protective role being established a long time ago. Aiming to identify them, we implemented the IFNγ ELISpot as readout assay, using as effector cells peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from pigs surviving experimental challenge with Georgia2007/1. As stimuli for the ELISpot, ASFV-specific peptides or full-length proteins identified by three complementary strategies were used. In silico prediction of specific CD8+ T-cell epitopes allowed identifying a 19-mer peptide from MGF100-1L, as frequently recognized by surviving pigs. Complementarily, the repertoire of SLA I-bound peptides identified in ASFV-infected porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), allowed the characterization of five additional SLA I-restricted ASFV-specific epitopes. Finally, in vitro stimulation studies using fibroblasts transfected with plasmids encoding full-length ASFV proteins, led to the identification of MGF505-7R, A238L and MGF100-1L as promiscuously recognized antigens. Interestingly, each one of these proteins contain individual peptides recognized by surviving pigs. Identification of the same ASFV determinants by means of such different approaches reinforce the results presented here.

scholarly journals DNAM1 and TIGIT balance the T cell response, with low T cell TIGIT expression corresponding to inflammation in psoriatic disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M E Jacobs ◽  
J N Pouw ◽  
M A Olde Nordkamp ◽  
T R D J Radstake ◽  
E F A Leijten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Cytokine Production ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Psoriatic Disease

Abstract Background Signals at the contact site of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T cells help orchestrate the adaptive immune response. CD155 on APCs can interact with the stimulatory receptor DNAM1 or inhibitory receptor TIGIT on T cells. The CD155/DNAM1/TIGIT axis is under extensive investigation as immunotherapy target in inflammatory diseases including cancer, chronic infection and autoimmune diseases. We investigated a possible role for CD155/DNAM1/TIGIT signaling in psoriatic disease. Methods By flow cytometry we analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with psoriasis (n=20) or psoriatic arthritis (n=21), and healthy individuals (n=7). We measured CD155, TIGIT and DNAM1 expression on leukocyte subsets and compared activation-induced cytokine production between CD155-positive and -negative APCs. We assessed the effects of TIGIT and DNAM1 blockade on T cell activation, and related the expression of CD155/DNAM1/TIGIT axis molecules to measures of disease activity. Results High CD155 expression associates with TNF production in myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DC). In CD1c+ myeloid DC, activation-induced CD155 expression associates with increased HLA-DR expression. CD8 T cells - but not CD4 T cells - express high levels of TIGIT. DNAM1 blockade decreases T cell pro-inflammatory cytokine production, while TIGIT blockade increased T cell proliferation. Finally, T cell TIGIT expression shows an inverse correlation with inflammation biomarkers in psoriatic disease. Conclusion CD155 is increased on pro-inflammatory APCs, while the receptors DNAM1 and TIGIT expressed on T cells balance the inflammatory response by T cells. In psoriatic disease, low TIGIT expression on T cells is associated with systemic inflammation.

scholarly journals PPE Protein (Rv3873) from DNA Segment RD1 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Strong Recognition of Both Specific T-Cell Epitopes and Epitopes Conserved within the PPE Family

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 6116-6123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Limei Meng Okkels ◽  
Inger Brock ◽  
Frank Follmann ◽  
Else Marie Agger ◽  
Sandra M. Arend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Putative Open Reading Frame ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
T Cell Antigens

ABSTRACT Proteins encoded by DNA segment RD1 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have recently been demonstrated to play important roles in bacterial virulence, vaccine development, and diagnostic reagent design. Previously, we characterized two immunodominant T-cell antigens, the early secreted antigen target (ESAT-6) and the 10-kDa culture filtrate protein (CFP10), which are encoded by the esx-lhp operon in this region. In the present study we characterized a third putative open reading frame in this region, rv3873, which encodes a PPE protein. We found that the rv3873 gene is expressed in M. tuberculosis H37Rv and that the native protein, Rv3873, is predominantly associated with the mycobacterial cell or wall. When tested as a His-tagged recombinant protein, Rv3873 stimulated high levels of gamma interferon secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from tuberculosis (TB) patients, as well as from healthy tuberculin purified protein derivative-positive donors. In contrast to other RD1-encoded antigens, Rv3873 was also found to be recognized by a significant proportion of Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated donors. Epitope mapping performed with overlapping peptides revealed a broad pattern of T-cell recognition comprising both TB-specific epitopes and epitopes also recognized by BCG-vaccinated donors. The immunodominant epitope (residues 118 to 135) for both TB patients and BCG-vaccinated individuals was found to be highly conserved among a large number of PPE family members.

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