title: The JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus induces a spike protein-specific Db-restricted cytotoxic T cell response.
abstract: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity specific for mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) JHM strain (JHMV or MHV-4) was examined using in vitro stimulated spleen cells derived from immunized C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice. Target cells infected with JHMV were specifically recognized; however, analysis of target cells expressing the virus structural proteins via recombinant vaccinia viruses showed no recognition of the viral nucleocapsid (N), membrane (M), small membrane (sM) or haemagglutinin-esterase (HE) proteins. Only target cells expressing the virus spike (S) protein were recognized. Furthermore, the majority of CTL activity was restricted to target cells expressing the MHC class I Db molecules. Analysis of truncations and deletions of the S protein expressed by recombinant vaccinia viruses and peptide coated targets identified a single antigenic epitope, aa 510-518, conforming to the Db binding motif. These amino acids are contained within a domain deleted from a number of strains of mouse hepatitis virus, suggesting a role for immune pressure. To determine the potential for CTL specific for an epitope(s) within a non-structural protein, 24 CTL lines were established and characterized. No evidence for the induction of non-specific CTL activity or virus-specific CTL restricted to an epitope in a non-structural protein was obtained. These data indicate that the predominant CTL activity in JHMV-infected C57BL/6 mice is Db restricted and specific for a single epitope contained within aa 510-518 of the S protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA. cbergman@hsc.usc.edu
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stohlman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006183:H-2 Antigens; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C578557:spike glycoprotein, SARS-CoV; C578553:spike protein, mouse hepatitis virus