Factors influencing immunodominance hierarchies in TCD8+ -mediated antiviral responses.
CD8(+) T-lymphocytes (T(CD8+)) perform a critical role in immunity against tumors and virus infections. A central feature of T(CD8+) immune responses is immunodominance: the observation that T(CD8+) responses consist of a limited collection of specificities with a structured hierarchy. These immunodominance hierarchies result from a complex combination of factors. Major roles are played by peptide binding affinity, T-cell repertoire, and antigen processing and presentation. While the bulk of our information comes from mouse model systems, an increasing number of human studies suggest that immunodominance will be even more complicated. This review outlines current knowledge of T(CD8+ )immunodominance to viral antigens and discusses the relevance and importance of a thorough understanding for the rational design of vaccines that elicit effective T(CD8+) responses.
Irvine
Kari
K
National Institute for Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Cell Biology Section/Viral Immunology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Room 209, Building 44 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-0440, USA. kirvine@niaid.nih.gov
Bennink
Jack
J