[Effects of polypeptides from HCV core region on the function of cytotoxic T cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the pathogenesis of cytotoxic T cell (CTL) dysfunction in patients with HCV infection.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were immunized by subcutaneous injection of polypeptides from HCV core region, and the CTL activity of mouse spleen cells was detected by the LDH release test. Two polypeptides which can enhance CTL function and two polypeptides which can inhibit CTL function were selected and cross-combined. BALB/c mice were immunized using the combined polypeptides and the CTL activities were detected afterwards.


RESULTS
CTL activity was inhibited by CPA9 (39-74 amino acids), CPB7 (67-76 amino acids) and CPB8 (71-80 amino acids), and promoted by CPA10 (5-23 amino acids), CPB6 (63-72 amino acids) and CPB2 (131-140 amino acids). Using single factor analysis of variance, the CTL activity in the mice could be enhanced by polypeptides from the HCV core region, CPB2+CPB8, CPB6+CPB8, respectively. There was no obvious difference between CPB2+CPB7, CPB6+CPB7 and negative control.


CONCLUSIONS
CPA9, CPB7, and CPB8, the 3 polypeptides from HCV core region play an inhibition role and CPA10, CPB6, and CPB2 play an enhancement role in CTL activity in mice. The inhibition and enhancement functions of the polypeptides from HCV core region interact each other.
Ma
Qiaoyu
Q
Department of Infectious Diseases, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Wang
Yuming
Y
Hao
Fei
F
D000818:Animals; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus