Definition of an epitope on Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope protein recognized by JEV-specific murine CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
We defined an epitope on the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope (E) protein recognized by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). CTLs induced in JEV-infected BALB/c (H-2d) mice recognized E and/or premembrane (PrM) proteins, while CTLs in C57BL/6J (H-2b) and C3H/HeJ (H-2k) mice did not. JEV-specific CTLs had a phenotype of CD3+ CD4- CD8+. Twenty-four 9-amino acid (a.a.) peptides, which had binding motifs for H-2Kd, H-2Ld or H-2Dd, were synthesized according to the amino acid sequences of PrM and E proteins. CTLs induced by JEV infection recognized only the peptide K-3. Immunization of BALB/c mice with only a group of peptides including K-3 induced CTLs which recognized the homologous K-3 peptide, while immunization with other peptides did not. The peptide K-3 had a binding motif for H-2Kd. This is consistent with the finding that JEV-specific CTLs in BALB/c mice was H-2Kd-restricted. These results indicate that the epitope recognized by CTLs in BALB/c mice is located between a.a. 60 and 68 on the E protein, corresponding to an a.a. sequence of CYHASVTDI.
Takada
K
K
Department of Neurology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osakasayama, Japan.
Masaki
H
H
Konishi
E
E
Takahashi
M
M
Kurane
I
I
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D006183:H-2 Antigens; C024755:H-2K(K) antigen; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C080628:glycoprotein E, Japanese encephalitis virus; C074932:prM protein, Flavivirus