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Polymorphisms of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and T-helper epitopes within reverse transcriptase (RT) of HIV-1 subtype C from Ethiopia and Botswana following selection of antiretroviral drug resistance.

Drug resistance is the major limiting factor in the effective therapeutic management of HIV infection with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). In developing countries, where access to ARVs may be limited, therapeutic vaccine protocols designed to restrict the advent of drug resistance may be of interest. Whereas the immunodominant regions of HIV-1 clade B RT peptides have been well characterized, little is known about potential divergence among RTs of other HIV-1 subtypes. In this study, RT sequence polymorphisms were ascertained in phylogenetically classified subtype C isolates from treatment-nai;ve Ethiopian (n = 5) and Botswanian persons (n = 9). There were clusters of variability in some RT epitopes associated with cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and helper T cell function within subtype C viruses, although other epitopes remained conserved among subtype C and B viruses. Subtype C mutations associated with drug resistance were identified in vitro, using increasing concentrations of non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs) and nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs). Mutations within immunogenic regions of clade C RT were noted during drug selection of subtype C isolates with nevirapine (S98I, Y181C, V108I and K103N), delavirdine, (A62V, V75E, L100I, K103T, V108I, Y181C), efavirenz (K103E, V106M, V179D, Y188C/H, G190A), lamivudine (M184I, M184V), and zidovudine (K70R), respectively. Further characterization of predicted CTL and T-helper anchor motifs and ARV-induced mutations in HIV-1 non-B subtype RTs is warranted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vitro CTL precursor frequencies do not reflect a beneficial effect of cross-reactive group (CREG) matching.

Adjustment of histocompatibility-based allocation criteria in kidney transplantation from HLA matching to matching on the basis of cross-reactive groups (CREG), was recently suggested to be a good alternative to transplant with more "well-matched" kidneys, without negatively influencing graft survival. Because graft rejection is often mediated by cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), we investigated whether a beneficial effect of CREG matching is reflected in vitro by lower CTL precursor frequencies (CTLpf). Therefore, CTLpf were determined in a group of healthy individuals and analyzed with respect to the number of HLA and CREG mismatches. A clear correlation was found between the number of HLA mismatches and the CTLpf, that is, the lowest mean frequency in case of 0 HLA-A, B mismatches (66 CTL precursors per 10(6) cells) and the highest in combinations with 4 HLA mismatches (mean = 303 CTLp/10(6) cells). The situation was different in the case of CREG mismatches. Although the highest frequency was found in the group of 4 CREG mismatches, no significant differences were observed between 0, 1, and 2 CREG mismatches. High CTLpf, up to 430/10(6), were even seen in the case of 0 CREG mismatches. Also within a well-defined group of single HLA-A or HLA-B mismatches no difference in CTLpf were observed between the subgroups with 0 vs. 1 CREG mismatches. The present study showed that in vitro the CTLpf correlates better with HLA than with CREG matching. These data are consistent with findings reported by several groups that matching for the CREG does not benefit transplant outcome.

Cross Reactions↗

Identification of potential HLA-A *0201 restricted CTL epitopes derived from the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) and the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

The altered expression pattern of the Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (Ep-CAM) and the Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) on tumor cells of epithelial origin as compared to normal epithelia may permit T cells to preferentially recognize and lyse these tumor cells. The binding affinity for human leucocyte antigen A2.1 (HLA-A*0201) and the capacity to form stable peptide-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) interactions with this molecule were tested for 410 Ep-CAM-derived sequences, including an overlapping set of 9 amino-acid-long peptides, and 73 CEA-derived peptides fulfilling the HLA-A*0201 motif. Peptides with a high binding affinity and a low peptide-MHC dissociation rate were subsequently tested for their immunogenicity in HLA-A*0201Kb transgenic mice. One Ep-CAM-derived peptide and 1 CEA-derived peptide were able to reproducibly induce peptide-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) in these mice. This indicates that EpCAM and CEA are potential target antigens for CTL-mediated immunotherapy of epithelial cancers.

Animals↗

In vivo antibody response and in vitro CTL activation induced by selected measles vaccine candidates, prepared with purified Quil A components.

Semipurified Quil A and purified Quil A were used to prepare well-characterized subunit vaccine candidates against measles. Variation in the relative amounts of the measles virus (MV) fusion (F) protein, Quil A-components and lipids did not influence induction of antibody responses in mice, but had a pronounced effect on the capacity to induce cytotoxic T cell (CTL) activity of a CD8(+) MV F-protein specific human T cell clone in vitro. A characteristic MV iscom preparation based on the combined use of HPLC-purified Quil A-components QA-3 and QA-22 (QA-3/22) efficiently induced CTL activity in vitro. Comparable results were obtained by mixing beta-propiolactone inactivated MV with iscom-matrix QA-3/22 or free QA-22. On the basis of the data presented it was concluded that these three preparations are interesting MV vaccine candidates for further evaluation in pre-clinical experiments in a primate model.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Immunization with a LEAPS heteroconjugate containing a CTL epitope and a peptide from beta-2-microglobulin elicits a protective and DTH response to herpes simplex virus type 1.

A ligand epitope antigen presentation system (LEAPS) heteroconjugate vaccine containing a CTL epitope (H1) from the HSV-1 immediate early protein ICP27 (322-332) and a peptide sequence (J) from beta-2-microglobulin (35-50) elicited protection from intraperitoneal viral challenge and promoted DTH responses. The H1 peptide and other H1 containing heteroconjugates did not elicit protection or DTH responses. Antibody to the H1 peptide could not be detected by ELISA following vaccination with peptide, heteroconjugate or natural infection. The LEAPS heteroconjugate appears to prime a Thl-like response which is subsequently boosted by infection. These studies show that attachment of the J peptide can make a CTL epitope into a vaccine which is immunogenic and promotes a protective Th1 type of response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A single immunization with a plasmid encoding hepatitis C virus (HCV) structural proteins under the elongation factor 1-alpha promoter elicits HCV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL).

Recent studies have raised the possibility that DNA-based vaccination may prove useful for generating virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) responses. Recently, a plasmid containing the human elongation factor 1alpha(EF1-alpha) promoter, pEF321, was reported to be a versatile expression vector for gene expression in mammalian cells in vitro. In the present study, we assessed the capability of a novel plasmid, pEFCE1E2, encoding hepatitis C virus (HCV) structural proteins (core, E1 and E2) under the EF1-alpha promoter to generate CTL against HCV in vivo. BALB/c mice were immunized with the pEFCE1E2 but not with a plasmid possessing the same cDNA under the cytomegalovirus developed HCV-specific effector cells by a single immunization. These effector cells elicited by pEFCE1E2 immunization were CD8(+) and major histocompatibility complex class I restricted. These studies provided evidence for the potential utility of the EF1-alpha promoter for development of DNA vaccines against HCV infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effectiveness of intranasal immunization with HIV-gp160 and an HIV-1 env CTL epitope peptide (E7) in combination with the mucosal adjuvant LT(R192G).

LT(R192G) is a novel mucosal adjuvant that induces protective immunity when co-administered with certain whole inactivated bacteria or viruses or with subunits of relevant virulence determinants from these pathogens. LT(R192G) stimulates antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, both systemically and in mucosal compartments, and is safe and nontoxic at adjuvant effective doses. Intranasal (IN) immunization of mice with LT(R192G) in conjunction with oligomeric HIV-1 gp160 elevates antigen-specific systemic and mucosal IgG and IgA production and Th1- and Th2-type cytokine responses. Isotype characterization of induced IgG reveals that gp160 alone fails to stimulate IgG2a responses in the absence of adjuvant. Both IgG1 and IgG2a are induced by immunization in the presence of LT(R192G). Additionally, intranasal immunization with a 15-amino acid peptide corresponding to an HIV-1 Env CTL determinant and LT(R192G) induces systemic, peptide-specific CTL activity and Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses that are absent when the adjuvant is excluded from the immunizations. These studies show that LT(R192G) quantitatively and qualitatively enhances cellular and humoral HIV-specific immune responses and that this adjuvant may offer significant advantages toward vaccine development against HIV.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Evolution and plasticity of CTL responses against HIV.

Exceptionally potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses are generated after HIV invasion and probably control the primary infection as well as the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection. The chronic phase appears as a quasi-equilibrium between waves of new HIV variants and variant-specific CTLs, thus sustaining continuous CTL activation which eventually fails to eradicate HIV disease progression and the reascension of viral replication. Meanwhile, both the host and the virus develop various strategies either to stop or to evade this potentially deleterious permanent CTL activity. The transient effectiveness of CTLs opens perspectives for understanding disease progression generally as well as for immune therapeutic strategies.

Carrier State↗

Tumour-associated antigen (TAA)-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response in vitro and in a mouse model, induced by TAA-plasmids delivered by influenza virosomes.

We investigated influenza virosomes as a TAA-gene delivery system for use in TAA-directed anti-cancer vaccine therapy. An engineered plasmid (GC90) expressing the parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rP), a protein secreted by prostate and lung carcinoma cells, was included in influenza virosomes (GC90V). The ability of GC90V to elicit a PTH-rP-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response was demonstrated in BALB/c mice immunised with intranasal (i.n.) GC90V+/-adjuvant subcutaneous (s.c.) interleukin-2 (IL-2). A PTH-rP-specific CTL response with antitumour activity was also demonstrated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated in vitro with GC90V infected autologous dendritic cells (DC). These results provide a rationale for investigating GC90V in clinical trials of anticancer vaccine therapy.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Crystal structures of two H-2Db/glycopeptide complexes suggest a molecular basis for CTL cross-reactivity.

Two synthetic O-GlcNAc-bearing peptides that elicit H-2Db-restricted glycopeptide-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) have been shown to display nonreciprocal patterns of cross-reactivity. Here, we present the crystal structures of the H-2Db glycopeptide complexes to 2.85 A resolution or better. In both cases, the glycan is solvent exposed and available for direct recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR). We have modeled the complex formed between the MHC-glycopeptide complexes and their respective TCRs, showing that a single saccharide residue can be accommodated in the standard TCR-MHC geometry. The models also reveal a possible molecular basis for the observed cross-reactivity patterns of the CTL clones, which appear to be influenced by the length of the CDR3 loop and the nature of the immunizing ligand.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Liposomal delivery of CTL epitopes to dendritic cells.

The induction of strong and long lasting T-cell response, CD4+ or CD8+, is a major requirement in the development of efficient vaccines. An important aspect involves delivery of antigens to dendritic cells (DCs) as antigen presenting cells (APCs) for the induction of potent antigen-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte (CTLs) responses. Protein or peptide-based vaccines become an attractive alternative to the use of live cell vaccines to stimulate CTL responses for the treatment of viral diseases or malignancies. However, vaccination with proteins or synthetic peptides representing discrete CTL epitopes have failed in most instances due to the inability for exogenous antigens to be properly presented to T cells via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Modern vaccines, based on either synthetic or natural molecules, will be designed in order to target appropriately professional APCs and to co-deliver signals able to facilitate activation of DCs. In this review, we describe the recent findings in the development of lipid-based formulations containing a combination of these attributes able to deliver tumor- or viral-associated antigens to the cytosol of DCs. We present in vitro and pre-clinical studies reporting specific immunity to viral, parasitic infection and tumor growth.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Identification of an HLA-A0201-restricted CTL epitope generated by a tumor-specific frameshift mutation in a coding microsatellite of the OGT gene.

Deficient DNA mismatch repair results in microsatellite instability and might induce shifts of translational reading frames of genes encompassing coding microsatellites. These may be translated in truncated proteins, including neo-peptide tails functioning as tumor rejection antigens, when presented in the context of MHC class I. Recently, others and we identified a frameshift mutation in the coding T(10) microsatellite of the O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase gene (OGT) occuring in up to 41% of microsatellite unstable colorectal cancers. Here we describe a novel HLA-A0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-epitope (28-SLYKFSPFPL; FSP06) derived from this mutant OGT-protein. FSP06-specific CTL-clones killed peptide-sensitized target cells and tumor cell lines expressing both HLA-A0201 and mutant OGT proteins. This demonstrates that FSP06 is endogenously expressed and represents a CD8(+)-T cell epitope. Our data corroborate the concept of frameshift peptides constituting a novel subset of tumor-associated antigens specifically encountered in cancer cells with deficient mismatch repair.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differences in the recognition by CTL of peptides presented by the HLA-B*4402 and the HLA-B*4403 molecules which differ by a single amino acid.

The HLA-B*4402 and B*4403 molecules differ only at residue 156, which borders the peptide binding site. Strong in vivo allogeneic reactions mediated by cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were reported in patients who received a bone marrow graft mismatched for these B44 subtypes, indicating that HLA-B*4402 and B*4403 molecules present distinct antigens. This could be due either to the presentation of different sets of antigenic peptides or to the recognition by CTLs of conformational epitopes formed by the MHC molecules alone or in association with antigenic peptides. To address this question, we compared the two B44 subtypes in their presentation to tumor-specific CTLs of three peptides, encoded by genes MAGE-3, MUM-1 and Tyrosinase. The peptides bound with similar affinities to B*4402 or B*4403 molecules, as assessed by lytic competition assays. One HLA-B*4402-restricted and one HLA-B*4403-restricted CTL clone were derived against each peptide. When tested for lysis of B*4402 and B*4403 cells incubated with the antigenic peptides, most CTLs showed a marked preference for one of the two B44 subtypes. Using variant peptides incorporating single alanine substitutions, we compared a given CTLs' recognition of its antigenic peptide presented by both B44 subtypes. Some substitutions, which had no effect on the binding of the peptide, affected its recognition by the same CTL differently on B*4402 and B*4403 molecules. These results imply that the conformations adopted by the same peptide on the two HLA-B44 subtypes are different. We conclude that the B44 subtype specificity of T cells results mostly from distinct conformations adopted by the same peptides in the two B44 molecules. This does not exclude the possibility that in some cases the B44 subtype specificity results from the selective binding of a peptide to one subtype. We found several peptides, different from the three mentioned above, that contain the canonical HLA-B44 binding motif and bind to B*4403 but not to B*4402 molecules.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

CTL: Caspases Terminate Life, but that's not the whole story.

The induction of cell death by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) or natural killer (NK) cells is one of the main ways by which higher organisms protect themselves from rogue cells, including those infected by a virus, or posing a risk of cancer. Considering the rapidity of viral replication and spread to uninfected cells, CTL and NK are extremely efficient killers. This is at least partly due to the variety of pathways that these cytolytic lymphocytes (CL) can use to ensure the death of a cell. Primarily, CL utilize two independently initiated pathways involving either ligation of death receptors or perforin mediated trafficking of granzyme B to the target cell cytosol to activate a family of death proteases (caspases) in the target cell. The caspases then orchestrate the orderly dismantling of that cell by cleavage of a set of critical substrates. If caspases are inactivated, due either to mutations in proteins that signal their activation or direct inhibition by a viral gene product, CL can utilize a caspase-independent pathway to ensure the death of the target cell. Here we will discuss the mechanisms by which these stellar killers achieve their goal.

Animals↗

Antigenicity and immunogenicity of Melan-A/MART-1 derived peptides as targets for tumor reactive CTL in human melanoma.

Some cancer patients mount spontaneous T- and B-cell responses against their tumor cells. Autologous tumor reactive CD8 cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) and CD4 T-cell clones as well as antibodies from these patients have been used for the identification of genes encoding the target antigens. This knowledge opened the way for new approaches to the immunotherapy of cancer. In this review, we describe the characterization of the structure-function properties of the melanocyte/melanoma tumor antigen Melan-A/MART-1, the assessment of the T-cell repertoire available against this antigen in healthy individuals, and the analysis of naturally acquired and/or vaccine-induced CTL responses to this antigen in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Unsuccessful CTL transfusion in a case of post-BMT Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-LPD).

A patient with AML (FAB M4Eo) developed EBV-LPD 1.5 months after allogeneic BMT from his one locus-mismatched mother, the diagnosis being confirmed on day +82. Attempts to eradicate the monoclonally proliferating LPD using chemotherapy (VP16/dexamethasone) followed by two doses of EBV-specific CTL and one dose of unstimulated donor leukocytes were not successful. We assume delay of infusions (day +100, +107) and insufficient CTL cell doses (total 9.2 x 10(6)) may have been responsible for the poor outcome in this case.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Characterisation of CTL directed towards non-inherited maternal alloantigens in human cord blood.

Allogeneic cord blood transplantation (CBT), especially from unrelated donors, is being increasingly used for treating paediatric patients with both malignant and non-malignant disorders. Recent clinical and experimental evidence suggests that human cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) may acquire in utero a state of tolerance towards non-inherited maternal antigens (NIMA). In order to better define this phenomenon, we measured, by means of a limiting dilution assay (LDA), the frequency of NIMA-specific CTL precursors (CTLp) in cord blood samples obtained from 13 healthy neonates. The immunophenotype of the effector cells recovered from LDA was also analysed. Data concerning both CTLp frequency and phenotype of effector cells were compared with those obtained stimulating CBMC with cells of paternal origin (NIPA) and adult PBMC with allogeneic targets. Results showed that cytotoxic cells directed towards cells of maternal origin could be detected in all cord blood samples tested. Phenotype analysis demonstrated that NIPA elicit the expansion of CD3+/CD8bright T cells, a phenotype associated with alloreactive CTL. By contrast, NIMA preferentially stimulated the expansion of CD3-/CD8dim+ cells, a phenotype associated with NK cells, which are known to be able, in certain clinical conditions, to kill allogeneic haematopoietic cells without causing GVHD. Thus, our results indicate that, when evaluated in a limiting dilution condition, NIMA-reactive cord blood cells are detectable and a preferential expansion of NK cells is observed.

Adult↗

Tissue-restricted T cell alloresponses across HLA barriers: selection and identification of leukemia-restricted CTL in HLA-mismatched stimulator-responder pairs.

Exploiting the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect in mismatched transplants requires its separation from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We generated leukemia-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in three haplotype-mismatched, two class I-mismatched and two single HLA-A locus-matched stimulator-responder pairs. Six patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and one patient with acute myeloid leukemia transformed from MDS were studied. CTL generated after 10 days stimulation with unselected leukemic peripheral blood mononuclear cells inhibited leukemic CFU-GM colony growth (>85% at 10:1 effector:target ratio) with no third-party colony inhibition. In five pairs, responders were cultured separately with leukemia cells, PHA-B or LCL from the stimulator. After 2-4 restimulations, the T cell repertoire was examined by flow analysis using Vbeta-specific antibodies. Test cultures (but not controls) showed preferential expansion of 1-4 Vbeta families either common to two or more stimulators or unique to a particular stimulator. Notably, we elicited leukemia-specific TCR Vbeta expansions on four out of five occasions. In two pairs, responder cells selected for the appropriate leukemia-specific Vbeta family were shown to have leukemia-specific cytotoxicity. These leukemia-restricted T-cells were CD8+ or CD4+ and CD25+ or CD57+. The results support the development of strategies to selectively deplete GVHD and conserve GVL reactivity in mismatched transplants.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗