title: An immunodominant HLA-A*1101-restricted CD8+ T-cell response targeting hepatitis B surface antigen in chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide public health problem. HBV-specific CD8(+) CTLs are vital for viral clearance. Identification of immunodominant CTL epitopes from HBV-associated antigens is necessary for therapeutic vaccine development. We showed that the HLA-A*1101 allele is one of the most common alleles in both healthy individuals and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in the Chongqing area, China. However, less than 10% of epitopes of HBV-associated antigens have been identified in an HLA-A*1101 context. Here, we describe an immunodominant CD8(+) T-cell response targeting a hepatitis B surface antigen determinant (HBs(295-304)) restricted by HLA-A*1101 in both healthy individuals and CHB patients. Moreover, HBs(295-304) is more immunogenic for CTL induction than a known naturally HLA-A*1101-processed epitope from hepatitis B core antigen (HBc(88-96)). Therefore, the newly identified epitope, HBs(295-304), will benefit the development of immunotherapeutic approaches for HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University & Institute of Immunology, PLA, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University & Institute of Immunology, PLA, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University & Institute of Immunology, PLA, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Shufeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Laboratory Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Mengjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University & Institute of Immunology, PLA, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University & Institute of Immunology, PLA, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuzhang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Third Military Medical University & Institute of Immunology, PLA, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002681:China; D059870:HLA-A11 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C515740:HLA-A*11:01 antigen; D059870:HLA-A11 Antigen; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes