title: Immunological characterization of respiratory syncytial virus N protein epitopes recognized by human cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
abstract: Virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are crucial for the control of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. This study has identified CTL epitopes of the RSV N protein in healthy subjects. We screened the primary structure of the N protein for HLA-A 0201-binding amino acid consensus motifs, identifying three peptides designated as N-RSV1, N-RSV2, and N-RSV3. These peptides were used to generate CTL lines by stimulating human HLA-A 02.01 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. These CTL lines were then characterized by performing CTL chromium release assays and IFN-gamma secretion detection by intracellular cytokine staining. N-RSV1 and N-RSV3 peptides elicited the strongest cytolytic activity against RSV-infected cells and they could be useful epitopes for the analysis of CTL responses to RSV and for understanding immune-induced disease pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Section, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terrosi
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Genova
authors.forename: Gianni Gori
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Savellini
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Correale
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blardi
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cusi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002857:Chromium / Q000378:metabolism; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D002857:Chromium; D007371:Interferon-gamma