title: Mechanisms of T cell epitope immunodominance analyzed in murine listeriosis.
abstract: We demonstrate conclusively that the bacterial exotoxin listeriolysin O (LLO) is a target Ag for eliciting CD4+ T cell responses following infection with Listeria monocytogenes. The minimal I-Ek-restricted immunodominant CD4+ T cell epitope was identified as peptide 215-226 (p215-226). Most LLO-specific T cell hybridomas recognized p203-226, p208-226, p215-226, and p215-234, although each exhibited a characteristic pattern of preferential reactivity. One hybridoma (IIIC5) reacted to p203-226 but not to p208-226 or any other LLO peptide tested. With APCs from B10 congenic mice and cells transfected with either I-Ak or I-Ek, IIIC5 recognized p203-216 with I-Ak, while a different hybridoma (IB5) recognized p215-226 with I-Ek. Competitive binding studies demonstrated that of 15 LLO peptides tested, only p203-226, p215-226, and p215-234 had high affinity for I-Ek, while p203-226 could also bind to isolated I-Ak. Of nine LLO peptides tested, only p215-234 bound multiple class II MHC alleles. These findings suggest that the immunodominance of p203-226 may be due in part to the presence of multiple T cell epitopes with I-Ek- and I-Ak-binding capability. Many of the rules of immunodominance observed with model Ags are also operative in our murine model of bacterial infectious disease. Furthermore, a novel mechanism of immunodominance based on newly defined structural features of MHC molecules is implicated. This information is crucial for rational vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Safley
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Reay
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000939:Epitopes; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; C038705:hlyA protein, Listeria monocytogenes