title: Response of primed human PBMC to synthetic peptides derived from hepatitis B virus envelope proteins: a search for promiscuous epitopes.
abstract: This investigation was aimed at identifying effective T helper cell epitopes to the hepatitis B virus in humans. A panel of synthetic peptides that represent the hepatitis B virus whole envelope proteins was examined for their capability to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells from human subjects infected with hepatitis B virus naturally. In addition, a large number of subjects were examined and their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II allele types were identified to determine whether the helper T cell epitope is specific for a particular HLA allele or 'promiscuous'. The peptides of the amino acid residues 52-67, 110-125, 190-205, and 228-243 appeared to be immunogenic, and particularly, the 52-67 residue was the most promiscuous epitope peptide. These results would contribute to the better understanding of the helper T cell responses to the hepatitis B virus and provide a useful way in designing epitope-based vaccines and future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Life Sciences and College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, 11 Daehyun-Dong, Seoul 120-750, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyounmie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Doh
authors.forename: Sujin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Kyung Wha
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kilhyoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; C096362:L protein, hepatitis B virus; D010455:Peptides; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins