Identification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) 2a-derived epitope peptides having the capacity to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes in human leukocyte antigen-A24+ and HCV2a-infected patients.
Since virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a critical role in preventing the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV), vaccine-based HCV-specific CTL induction could be a promising strategy to treat HCV-infected patients. In this study, we tried to identify HCV2a-derived epitopes, which can induce human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24-restricted and peptide-specific CTLs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HCV2a-infected patients or healthy donors were stimulated in vitro with HCV2a-derived peptides, which were prepared based on the HLA-A24 binding motif. As a result, three peptides (HCV2a 576-584, HCV2a 627-635, and HCV2a 1085-1094) efficiently induced peptide-specific CTLs from HLA-A24(+) HCV2a-infected patients as well as healthy donors. The cytotoxicity was exhibited by peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells in an HLA-A24-restricted manner. In addition, the HCV2a 627-635 peptide was frequently recognized by immunoglobulin G of HCV2a-infected patients. These results indicate that the identified three HCV2a peptides might be applicable to peptide-based immunotherapy for HLA-A24(+) HCV2a-infected patients.
Wang
Yi
Y
Cancer Vaccine Development Division, Kurume University Research Center for Innovative Cancer Therapy, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Takao
Yukari
Y
Harada
Mamoru
M
Komatsu
Nobukazu
N
Ono
Takeharu
T
Sata
Michio
M
Itoh
Kyogo
K
Yamada
Akira
A
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen; D010446:Peptide Fragments