title: Major contribution of codominant CD8 and CD4 T cell epitopes to the human cytomegalovirus-specific T cell repertoire.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection or reactivation is a cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. In immunocompetent individuals, in contrast, HCMV is successfully controlled by specific CD8 and CD4 T cells. Knowledge of CD8 and CD4 T cell epitopes from HCMV and their immunodominant features is crucial for the generation of epitope-specific T cells for adoptive immunotherapy and for the development of a peptide-based HCMV vaccine. Therefore, we investigated the natural frequencies of a large number of CD8 and CD4 T cell epitopes, including 10 novel ones. We determined several epitopes as immunodominant. Surprisingly, no clear hierarchies were found for CD8 T cell epitopes, indicating codominance. These results will be valuable for adoptive transfer strategies and support initiatives towards development of a peptide-based HCMV vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: M-D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nastke
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herrgen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wernet
authors.forename: H-G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Rammensee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stevanović
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014765:Viral Vaccines