title: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-derived DRB1*0101-restricted CD4 T-cell epitopes help in the development of HBV-specific CD8+ T cells in vivo.
abstract: We previously identified two HLA-DRB1*0101-restricted epitopes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) and in HBV envelope proteins (preS2). To evaluated their help in the development of CD8+ T-cell responses, mice transgenic for human class I and class II HLA molecules were immunized with HBV-T helper constructs. The preS2 epitope favored a well-balanced response with CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IFN-gamma, IL-2 and TNF-alpha. The response was focused on CD8+ T cells with the HBx epitope. Fine characterization of helper activities may meet clinical needs in terms of enhancing the potency of preventive or therapeutic polyepitope vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire Pathogenèse des virus de l'hépatite B, departement de Virologie, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bayard
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malmassari
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lone
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C487961:HLA-DRB1*01:01 antigen; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma