Human MHC class I transgenic mice deficient for H2 class I expression facilitate identification and characterization of new HLA class I-restricted viral T cell epitopes.
Although mice transgenic (Tg) for human MHC (HLA) class I alleles could provide an important model for characterizing HLA-restricted viral and tumor Ag CTL epitopes, the extent to which Tg mouse T cells become HLA restricted in the presence of endogenous H2 class I and recognize the same peptides as in HLA allele-matched humans is not clear. We previously described Tg mice carrying the HLA-B27, HLA-B7, or HLA-A2 alleles expressed as fully native (HLA(nat)) (with human beta(2)-microglobulin) and as hybrid human/mouse (HLA(hyb)) molecules on the H2(b) background. To eliminate the influence of H2(b) class I, each HLA Tg strain was bred with a H2-K(b)/H2-D(b)-double knockout (DKO) strain to generate mice in which the only classical class I expression was the human molecule. Expression of each HLA(hyb) molecule and HLA-B27(nat)/human beta(2)-microglobulin led to peripheral CD8(+) T cell levels comparable with that for mice expressing a single H2-K(b) or H2-D(b) gene. Influenza A infection of Tg HLA-B27(hyb)/DKO generated a strong CD8(+) T cell response directed at the same peptide (flu nucleoprotein NP383-391) recognized by CTLs from flu-infected B27(+) humans. As HLA-B7/flu epitopes were not known from human studies, we used flu-infected Tg HLA-B7(hyb)/DKO mice to examine the CTL response to candidate peptides identified based on the B7 binding motif. We have identified flu NP418-426 as a major HLA-B7-restricted flu CTL epitope. In summary, the HLA class I Tg/H2-K/H2-D DKO mouse model described in this study provides a sensitive and specific approach for identifying and characterizing HLA-restricted CTL epitopes for a variety of human disease-associated Ags.
Cheuk
Eve
E
Research Institute, Program in Infection, Immunity, Injury and Repair, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X8.
D'Souza
Celine
C
Hu
Ningjie
N
Liu
Youan
Y
Lang
Haili
H
Chamberlain
John W
JW
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006183:H-2 Antigens; C024755:H-2K(K) antigen; C032876:H-2Kb protein, mouse; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; C048842:NP protein, Influenza A virus; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins