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Conserved HIV-1 epitopes continuously elicit subdominant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses.

ABSTRACT: The epitope specificities and antiviral activities of class I HLA-restricted CD8(+) T cells, especially those induced during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) primary infection, are important considerations in designing HIV-1 vaccines. Conserved epitopes may be more commonly and persistently recognized than variable epitopes, as they may be more likely to be present in infecting viruses. However, some studies have shown preferential or similar targeting of variable versus conserved epitopes during primary infection.We analyzed cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses toward predefined conserved and variable epitopes in 45 subjects during primary (n = 34) and/or chronic infection (n = 16).Conserved and variable CTL epitopes were recognized with similar probabilities, whereas conserved epitopes generally elicited subdominant responses during both primary and chronic infection. During primary infection, CTL responses against Gag versus responses against Env and variable epitopes tended to be associated with lower and higher viral loads, respectively. During chronic infection, Env-specific responses tended to be associated with lower CD4(+) cell counts.Subdominant CTL recognition of conserved HIV-1 epitopes commonly occurs from the primary through chronic stages of HIV-1 infection. These findings underscore the challenge in designing T cell-based vaccines that can induce immunodominant CTL responses to conserved HIV-1 regions.

SUBMITTER: Liu Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2783836 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Conserved HIV-1 epitopes continuously elicit subdominant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses.

Liu Yi Y McNevin John J Rolland Morgane M Zhao Hong H Deng Wenjie W Maenza Janine J Stevens Claire E CE Collier Ann C AC McElrath M Juliana MJ Mullins James I JI

The Journal of infectious diseases 20091201 12

<h4>Background</h4>The epitope specificities and antiviral activities of class I HLA-restricted CD8(+) T cells, especially those induced during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) primary infection, are important considerations in designing HIV-1 vaccines. Conserved epitopes may be more commonly and persistently recognized than variable epitopes, as they may be more likely to be present in infecting viruses. However, some studies have shown preferential or similar targeting of variable v ...[more]

PMID: 19909083

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Project description:ObjectiveThe specificity of CD8(+) T cells is critical for early control of founder/transmitted and reactivated HIV-1. To tackle HIV-1 variability and escape, we designed vaccine immunogen HIVconsv assembled from 14 highly conserved regions of mainly Gag and Pol proteins. When administered to HIV-1-negative human volunteers in trial HIV-CORE 002, HIVconsv vaccines elicited CD8(+) effector T cells which inhibited replication of up to 8 HIV-1 isolates in autologous CD4(+) cells. This inhibition correlated with interferon-γ production in response to Gag and Pol peptide pools, but direct evidence of the inhibitory specificity was missing. Here, we aimed to define through recognition of which epitopes these effectors inhibit HIV-1 replication.DesignCD8(+) T-cells from the 3 broadest HIV-1 inhibitors out of 23 vaccine recipients were expanded in culture by Gag or Pol peptide restimulation and tested in viral inhibition assay (VIA) using HIV-1 clade B and A isolates.MethodsFrozen PBMCs were expanded first using peptide pools from Gag or Pol conserved regions and tested on HIV-1-infected cells in VIA or by individual peptides for their effector functions. Single peptide specificities responsible for inhibition of HIV-1 replication were then confirmed by single-peptide expanded effectors tested on HIV-1-infected cells.ResultsWe formally demonstrated that the vaccine-elicited inhibitory human CD8(+) T cells recognized conserved epitopes of both Pol and Gag proteins. We defined 7 minimum epitopes, of which 3 were novel, presumably naturally subdominant. The effectors were oligofunctional producing several cytokines and chemokines and killing peptide-pulsed target cells.ConclusionsThese results implicate the use of functionally conserved regions of Pol in addition to the widely used Gag for T-cell vaccine design. Proportion of volunteers developing these effectors and their frequency in circulating PBMC are separate issues, which can be addressed, if needed, by more efficient vector and regimen delivery of conserved immunogens.

Project description:UnlabelledIdentification and characterization of CD8(+) T cells effectively controlling HIV-1 variants are necessary for the development of AIDS vaccines and for studies of AIDS pathogenesis, although such CD8(+) T cells have been only partially identified. In this study, we sought to identify CD8(+) T cells controlling HIV-1 variants in 401 Japanese individuals chronically infected with HIV-1 subtype B, in which protective alleles HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*27 are very rare, by using comprehensive and exhaustive methods. We identified 13 epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells controlling HIV-1 in Japanese individuals, though 9 of these epitopes were not previously reported. The breadths of the T cell responses to the 13 epitopes were inversely associated with plasma viral load (P = 2.2 × 10(-11)) and positively associated with CD4 count (P = 1.2 × 10(-11)), indicating strong synergistic effects of these T cells on HIV-1 control in vivo. Nine of these epitopes were conserved among HIV-1 subtype B-infected individuals, whereas three out of four nonconserved epitopes were cross-recognized by the specific T cells. These findings indicate that these 12 epitopes are strong candidates for antigens for an AIDS vaccine. The present study highlighted a strategy to identify CD8(+) T cells controlling HIV-1 and demonstrated effective control of HIV-1 by those specific for 12 conserved or cross-reactive epitopes.ImportanceHLA-B*27-restricted and HLA-B*57-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a key role in controlling HIV-1 in Caucasians and Africans, whereas it is unclear which CTLs control HIV-1 in Asian countries, where HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*27 are very rare. A recent study showed that HLA-B*67:01 and HLA-B*52:01-C*12:02 haplotypes were protective alleles in Japanese individuals, but it is unknown whether CTLs restricted by these alleles control HIV-1. In this study, we identified 13 CTLs controlling HIV-1 in Japan by using comprehensive and exhaustive methods. They included 5 HLA-B*52:01-restricted and 3 HLA-B*67:01-restricted CTLs, suggesting that these CTLs play a predominant role in HIV-1 control. The 13 CTLs showed synergistic effects on HIV-1 control. Twelve out of these 13 epitopes were recognized as conserved or cross-recognized ones. These findings strongly suggest that these 12 epitopes are candidates for antigens for AIDS vaccines.

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Conserved HIV-1 epitopes continuously elicit subdominant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses.

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Conserved HIV-1 epitopes continuously elicit subdominant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses.

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