Induction of CTL responses and identification of a novel epitope of hepatitis B virus surface antigens in C57BL/6 mice immunized with recombinant vaccinia viruses
S. Roh et al., Induction of CTL responses and identification of a novel epitope of hepatitis B virus surface antigens in C57BL/6 mice immunized with recombinant vaccinia viruses, VIRUS RES, 73(1), 2001, pp. 17-26
MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to hepatitis B
virus (HBV) surface antigens (HBsAS) has been suggested to play essential
roles in viral clearance and pathogenesis of HBV-induced hepatitis. In the
present study, we analyzed CTL responses to endogenously synthesized or exo
genously introduced HBsAg in C57BL/6 mice (H-2(b)). We show that the endoge
nously synthesized surface antigens of adr-type HBV encoded by recombinant
vaccinia virus efficiently elicit CTL responses in C57BL/6 mice previously
defined as non-responders to vaccinia-HBV immunization. We also show that t
wo peptides, S179-186 (FVQWFVGL) and S208-216 (ILSPFLPLL), serve as effecti
ve motifs for CTL response in H-2(b) system after in vitro restimulation of
the primed T cells with either of the two synthetic peptides. S208-215 has
recently been identified as a CTL epitope which could be produced by exoge
nous pathway only, in contrast to the current result, while S179-186 appear
ed a novel epitope for CTL response. In addition, we show that soluble HBsA
g also elicits CTL responses in H-2(b) mice upon in vitro restimulation wit
h the two peptides, although less efficiently compared with the recombinant
vaccinia viruses. These findings may provide an efficient experimental sys
tem for studying H-2(b)-restricted immune responses against endogenously sy
nthesized and exogenously introduced HBsAg. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.
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