M. Nakagawa et al., CD4-positive and CD8-positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes contribute to human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 responses, CL DIAG LAB, 6(4), 1999, pp. 494-498
Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to E6 and E7 were previously shown t
o be more commonly detectable in human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16)-posi
tive women without squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIL) than in HPV-16-
positive women with SIL (M, Nakagawa, D, P, Stites, S, Farhat, J, R, Sisler
, B, Moss, F, Kong, A. B, Moscicki, and J, M, Palefsky, J, Infect. Dis, 175
:927-931, 1997), The objective of this study was to characterize the phenot
ype(s) of the effector cell population responsible for IIPV-16 E6- and E7-s
pecific cytotoxic responses. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimul
ated with HPV-16 E6 or E7 fusion protein. Cells from an autologous B-lympho
blastoid cell line, infected with vaccinia virus expressing EG or E7, serve
d as target cells. The effector cells were characterized by using natural-k
iller-cell removal, antibody blocking, and T-cell subset separation. Our re
sults suggest that both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes contribute to HPV-16 E6-
and E7-specific CTL responses although their relative contributions vary fr
om individual to individual. On the other hand, natural killer cells in the
effector cell population contribute to background activities but not to HP
V-specific responses in this assay system.