Factors affecting the presentation of exogenous hepatitis B virus core antigen.
Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) plays a critical role in terminating acute Hepatitis B virus infection and may be used as a potential vaccine candidate. The cell surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class 1 molecules are thought to be involved in the presentation of HBcAg. Surface MHC class 1 HLA A2 heavy chain (HC) and trimeric molecules were characterized on transfected Hela cells used as antigen presenting cells (APC) for the presentation of HBcAg. The results show that antibodies against HC HLA A2 and trimeric HLA-A2 molecules resulted in increased activation of HBcAg 18-27 minimal peptide specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), while the addition of exogenous beta2-microglobulin decreased the activation of HBcAg specific CTLs. Further, specific CD8+ T cells were activated only when Hela cells as APCs were primed with HBcAg (peptide, soluble or embedded on virosomes) at pH 6.5.
Devasahayam
Mercy
M
INSERM U580, Necker Institute, 161 rue de Sevres, Paris 75015, France. memd241@hotmail.com
D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000276:immunology
D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin