Identification of seventeen new simian immunodeficiency virus-derived CD8+ T cell epitopes restricted by the high frequency molecule, Mamu-A*02, and potential escape from CTL recognition.
MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells play an important role in controlling HIV and SIV replication. In SIV-infected Indian rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), comprehensive CD8+ T cell epitope identification has only been undertaken for two alleles, Mamu-A*01 and Mamu-B*17. As a result, these two molecules account for virtually all known MHC class I-restricted SIV-derived CD8+ T cell epitopes. SIV pathogenesis research and vaccine testing have intensified the demand for epitopes restricted by additional MHC class I alleles due to the shortage of Mamu-A*01+ animals. Mamu-A*02 is a high frequency allele present in over 20% of macaques. In this study, we characterized the peptide binding of Mamu-A*02 using a panel of single amino acid substitution analogues and a library of 497 unrelated peptides. Of 230 SIVmac239 peptides that fit the Mamu-A*02 peptide-binding motif, 75 peptides bound Mamu-A*02 with IC50 values of < or = 500 nM. We assessed the antigenicity of these 75 peptides using an IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay with freshly isolated PBMC from eight Mamu-A*02+ SIV-infected macaques and identified 17 new epitopes for Mamu-A*02. The synthesis of five Mamu-A*02 tetramers demonstrated the discrepancy between tetramer binding and IFN-gamma secretion by SIV-specific CD8+ T cells during chronic SIV infection. Bulk sequencing determined that 2 of the 17 epitopes accumulated amino acid replacements in SIV-infected macaques by the chronic phase of infection, suggestive of CD8+ T cell escape in vivo. This work enhances the use of the SIV-infected macaque model for HIV and increases our understanding of the breadth of CD8+ T cell responses in SIV infection.
National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin (WPRC), Madison 53715, USA.
John T
JT
Loffredo
John
J
Sidney
Christina
C
Wojewoda
Elizabeth
E
Dodds
Matthew R
MR
Reynolds
Gnankang
G
Napoé
Bianca R
BR
Mothé
David H
DH
O'Connor
Nancy A
NA
Wilson
David I
DI
Watkins
Alessandro
A
Sette
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000502:physiology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C089390:Mamu-A 02 antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma