Tetramer技术检测人乳头瘤病毒抗原特异性T细胞条件的优化

人乳头瘤病毒(human papillomavirus,HPV)感染是宫颈癌发生的首要因素。针对病毒早期蛋白E6的特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic Tlymphocyte,CTL)在清除HPV感染细胞和病毒转化形成的肿瘤细胞过程中发挥重要作用,因此检测体内抗原特异性CTL的频数和功能有助于了解病毒感染者或宫颈癌患者体内的特异性细胞免疫反应。利用加载HPV16 E6表位抗原肽(E6 133-142;HNIRGRWTGR)的HLA-A6801四聚体(Tetramer),即HPV16 E6 133-142/HLA-A6801-PE四聚体,通过检测混有HPV特异性CTL的PBMC标本,优化Tetramer染色的实验条件,探讨染色的最佳温度及Tetramer浓度。结果显示,染色温度(4℃、室温及37℃)对Tetramer与CTL的结合无明显影响。Tetramer稀释度为1∶1 600时,HPV特异性CTL荧光强度保持高水平,且非特异性染色少,为最佳染色浓度。研究结果为进一步检测HPV感染者或宫颈癌患者体内抗原特异性的CTL打下基础。     

细胞因子介导的CTL非杀伤性途径

CTL通过穿孔素或FasL-Fas机制杀伤病毒感染的靶细胞,这一途径一直被认为是CTL清除病毒感染的惟一或主要机制.近年转基因小鼠模型及MHC I类分子-肽四聚物方法直接检测局部CTL研究发现在乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)、丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)等感染中,特异性CTL与肝病理损伤无相关性,非特异性淋巴细胞浸润是肝损伤的主要原因.特异性CTL对病毒的有效清除并非通过杀伤靶细胞,而主要通过激活、释放某类细胞因子,以非杀伤性方式清除病毒感染.这一机制的阐明,不仅拓宽了人们对细胞免疫应答抗病毒感染作用及其机制的认识,同时也为某些病毒性疾病的非损伤性免疫治疗提供了可能.     

免疫应答——乙型肝炎病毒治疗中的双刃剑

人体对乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)感染的免疫应答是一个非常复杂的病理过程,一方面免疫反应能有效清除HBV病毒和被病毒感染的肝细胞,对HBV诱发的肝类疾病有较好的治疗作用;另一方面,免疫反应在清除被感染肝细胞的同时,也引起局部炎症反应,从而损伤正常的肝细胞和组织.其中,特异性免疫T细胞及其产生的细胞因子是这一免疫应答过程的重要参与者.侧重总结了在HBV感染治疗中的关键细胞和分子及激活人体免疫应答治疗中的两面性,为调节自身免疫应答治疗HBV,避免应答不当而引发的肝损伤提供理论基础.     

乙型肝炎病毒受体研究进展

乙型肝炎(乙肝)病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)是嗜肝DNA病毒科的原型病毒.目前,对HBV的基因组成、复制过程、抗原结构及生物学特性等已有相当程度的了解[1].但由于缺乏合适的感染系统,对HBV感染的早期过程,如病毒如何结合靶细胞上的受体最终进入细胞等,仍不很清楚.     

IL-12增强HBV融合抗原DNA疫苗在小鼠诱导的细胞免疫应答

乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)极易形成慢性感染,主要机制在于感染者不能产生强有力的细胞免疫应答以清除病毒[1].慢性HBV感染者体内虽然存在HBV抗原特异性T淋巴细胞,但对HBV抗原的反应性较低.研究发现,增强这类T淋巴细胞的反应性,可以促进HBV的清除[2].     

自身肽结合于HLA-A2分子上能够在体外诱导抗原肽特异性的同种T细胞

在同种反应性T细胞(同种T细胞)识别的配体中, 抗原肽的作用是免疫学长期争论的问题, 即同种T细胞识别是否具有抗原肽特异性. 为了证实通过长期混合淋巴细胞培养(LTMLC)方法能够诱生抗原肽/MHC复合物(pMHC)特异性的同种T细胞, 本研究利用仅表达HLA-A2, TAP缺陷的T2细胞, 将酪氨酸激酶来源的自身抗原肽(Tyr_369-377)和EB病毒来源的病毒抗原肽(LMP2A_426-434)分别加载到T2细胞上, 使T2细胞提呈单一的T细胞抗原识别表位, 并且选择4个HLA-A2阳性(HLA-A2+ve)与4个HLA-A2阴性(HLA-A2-ve)个体的PBL样本, 与加载上述抗原肽的T2细胞混合培养. 在此实验系统中, HLA-A2+ve PBL与加载病毒抗原肽的T2细胞(T2/LMP)混合培养代表T细胞对普通抗原的反应, 而HLA-A2-ve PBL与加载自身抗原肽的T2细胞(T2/Tyr)混合培养则为T细胞对同种抗原的反应. 利用特异性pMHC四聚体染色与特异性细胞毒试验检测LTMLC诱生CTL的特异性, 其中利用HIV抗原肽(Gag_77-85)作为对照. 结果显示: (ⅰ) T2/LMP与HLA-A2+ve个体的PBL混合培养产生CTL(CTL-T2/LMP), CTL-T2/LMP对T2/LMP的杀伤显著高于对照T2/HIV的杀伤(26.52%±3.72% vs 7.01%±0.87%, P<0.001); LMP四聚体对CTL-T2/LMP染色的阳性细胞数显著高于对照HIV四聚体 (0.98%±0.33% vs 0.05%±0.01%, P=0.0014); (ⅱ) 加载自身抗原肽的T2细胞(T2/Tyr)可诱导HLA-A2-ve个体的PBL产生CTL(CTL-T2/Tyr), CTL-T2/Tyr对T2/Tyr的杀伤显著高于对T2/HIV的杀伤(28.07%±2.58% vs 6.87±1.01%, P<0.001); Tyr四聚体对CTL-T2/Tyr染色的阳性细胞数显著高于HIV四聚体(0.88%±0.3% vs 0.06±0.03%, P=0.0018). 结果说明: 结合于自身MHC分子上的病毒抗原肽与结合于同种MHC分子上的自身抗原肽都能诱导产生抗原肽特异性的CTL; 在LTMLC诱生的同种CTL中, 有相当数量的CTL具有pMHC特异性, 这些同种CTL的识别机制与普通抗原反应性CTL一样, 识别的对象也是特异性的pMHC. 支持了同种抗原的pMHC种类繁多造成同种T细胞反应强度极高的假说. 利用LTMLC诱生抗原肽特异性同种T细胞方法对于T细胞过继治疗具有潜在的应用价值.     

重访乙型肝炎病毒感染肾脏的意义

乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)嗜肝性主要由病毒与受体作用的特异性、支持共价闭合环状DNA(covalently closed circular DNA,cccDNA)形成的宿主因子和促进病毒RNA转录的核因子3种因素决定。人的肾脏很可能也提供这些要素,且许多研究发现HBV感染标记存在于慢性乙型肝炎患者的肾脏细胞中。本文探讨了HBV感染肾脏的可能性。由于目前血清乙型肝炎表面抗原(hepatitis B surface antigen,HBsAg)消失是功能性治愈慢性乙型肝炎的关键指标,如果肾脏也是HBV感染、表达和复制的另一靶器官,则肾脏在功能性治愈慢性乙型肝炎中的作用不可忽视。     

乙型肝炎病毒急性感染小鼠模型的建立

采用高压水注射方法,通过尾静脉将具有复制能力的HBV质粒导入BABL/cJ小鼠体内,应用real-time PCR、ELISA、RIA、Southern Blot、Northern Blot,以及免疫组化等方法,检测小鼠病毒血症、血清和肝组织中HBV 抗原表达动态变化、肝组织中HBV转录和复制情况,以及小鼠免疫应答状况。结果HBV基因可以在小鼠体内表 达和复制,并诱导小鼠产生特异性免疫应答,其应答模式及HBV清除过程与人类的HBV急性感染类似。实验显 示高压注射具有复制能力的HBV质粒可以在小鼠体内建立HBV急性感染模型,这种模型可以用于HBV病毒 学、免疫学以及抗病毒药物筛选等方向的研究。     

HIV-1逃逸HLA限制性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞应答的研究进展

特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(Cytotoxic T lymphocyte,CTL)在控制人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)感染和病毒复制过程中起关键作用。HIV-1通过在CTL表位内部或侧翼发生突变逃逸HLA限制性CTL造成的免疫压力,但是部分逃逸突变是以损失病毒适应性为代价。病毒逃逸会导致相应CTL反应水平减弱,免疫系统会产生针对突变病毒株的CTL反应。HIV-1逃逸突变与宿主的CTL反应在宿主体内相互博弈。本文重点综述CTL免疫压力下HIV-1病毒发生逃逸突变的研究进展。     

乙肝病毒抗原的T细胞及B细胞识别

<正>在没有感染乙肝病毒纯系动物模型的情况下,几个实验室选用研究鼠对HBV编码蛋白质伴为免疫原的免疫反应,而非感染因子本身。在这篇文章中David R. Milich综述了乙肝病毒抗原的免疫原性,HBV抗原T及B细胞识别的高度特异性以及调节这些反应的遗传因素.这有助于我们理解在HBV感染过程中免疫介导的病毒消除机制,也可为第二代及第二代HBV疫苗的设计提供一些借鉴。 HBV感染的临床后果差别极大。因为病毒并不直接损伤肝细胞,非病毒因素、宿主因素可能与肝细胞损伤有关。普遍认为对HBV感染的免疫反应的差异可能,起码部分地解释了与HBV感染相关临床症状的多样性。在急性乙型肝炎感染后,大约90%成人恢复正常,无任何后遗症并且对病毒具有免疫力;然而其临床过程则相互不同。其中0.1～     

Role of immunoproteasome catalytic subunits in the immune response to hepatitis B virus

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and viral clearance from an infected host requires both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Expression of interferon (IFN)-inducible proteasome catalytic and regulatory subunits correlates with the IFN-alpha/beta- and IFN-gamma-mediated noncytopathic inhibition of HBV in transgenic mice and hepatocytes, as well as with clearance of the virus in acutely infected chimpanzees. The immunoproteasome catalytic subunits LMP2 and LMP7 alter proteasome specificity and influence the pool of peptides available for presentation by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. We found that these subunits influenced both the magnitude and specificity of the CD8 T-cell response to the HBV polymerase and envelope proteins in immunized HLA-A2-transgenic mice. We also examined the role of LMP2 and LMP7 in the IFN-alpha/beta- and IFN-gamma-mediated inhibition of virus replication using HBV transgenic mice and found that they do not play a direct role in this process. These results demonstrate the ability of the IFN-induced proteasome catalytic subunits to shape the HBV-specific CD8 T-cell response and thus potentially influence the progression of infection to acute or chronic disease. In addition, these studies identify a potential key role for IFN in regulating the adaptive immune response to HBV through alterations in viral antigen processing.     

Hepatitis B virus-induced lipid alterations contribute to natural killer T cell-dependent protective immunity

In most adult humans, hepatitis B is a self-limiting disease leading to life-long protective immunity, which is the consequence of a robust adaptive immune response occurring weeks after hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Notably, HBV-specific T cells can be detected shortly after infection, but the mechanisms underlying this early immune priming and its consequences for subsequent control of viral replication are poorly understood. Using primary human and mouse hepatocytes and mouse models of transgenic and adenoviral HBV expression, we show that HBV-expressing hepatocytes produce endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated endogenous antigenic lipids including lysophospholipids that are generated by HBV-induced secretory phospholipases and that lead to activation of natural killer T (NKT) cells. The absence of NKT cells or CD1d or a defect in ER-associated transfer of lipids onto CD1d results in diminished HBV-specific T and B cell responses and delayed viral control in mice. NKT cells may therefore contribute to control of HBV infection through sensing of HBV-induced modified self-lipids.     

A new unconventional HLA-A2-restricted epitope from HBV core protein elicits antiviral cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) play a key role in the control of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and viral clearance. However, most of identified CTL epitopes are derived from HBV of genotypes A and D, and few have been defined in virus of genotypes B and C which are more prevalent in Asia. As HBV core protein (HBc) is the most conservative and immunogenic component, in this study we used an overlapping 9-mer peptide pool covering HBc to screen and identify specific CTL epitopes. An unconventional HLA-A2-restricted epitope HBc141–149 was discovered and structurally characterized by crystallization analysis. The immunogenicity and anti-HBV activity were further determined in HBV and HLAA2 transgenic mice. Finally, we show that mutations in HBc141–149 epitope are associated with viral parameters and disease progression in HBV infected patients. Our data therefore provide insights into the structure characteristics of this unconventional epitope binding to MHC-I molecules, as well as epitope specific CTL activity that orchestrate T cell response and immune evasion in HBV infected patients.     

γ/δ T细胞与丙型肝炎病毒、乙型肝炎病毒感染

病毒性肝炎的发病机制迄今尚未完全明确,诸多证据表明,乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)及丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)所致肝炎可能是肝脏细胞免疫防御反应病毒入侵的结果。γ/δT细胞是新近认识的一个T细胞亚群,是机体抵抗外来病原微生物入侵的重要天然免疫细胞之一。近年研究发现,肝内富含γ/δT细胞,而病毒性肝炎肝内γ/δT细胞数量显著增高。目前有关γ/δT细胞与肝炎病毒感染的研究主要集中在HCV感染领域,即γ/δT细胞通过分泌多种细胞因子抑制体内HCV的复制。目前,有关γ/δT细胞与HBV感染的报道甚为少见。慢性HBV感染体内可能导致γ/δT细胞免疫学功能异常,这可能是导致体内病毒性乙型肝炎慢性化的主要原因之一。     

Characterization of the Treg Response in the Hepatitis B Virus Hydrodynamic Injection Mouse Model

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in counter-regulating effector T cell responses in many infectious diseases. However, they can also contribute to the development of T cell dysfunction and pathogen persistence in chronic infections. Tregs have been reported to suppress virus-specific T cell responses in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection of human patients as well as in HBV animal models. However, the phenotype and expansion of Tregs has so far only been investigated in other infections, but not in HBV. We therefore performed hydrodynamic injections of HBV plasmids into mice and analyzed the Treg response in the spleen and liver. Absolute Treg numbers significantly increased in the liver but not the spleen after HBV injection. The cells were natural Tregs that surprisingly did not show any activation or proliferation in response to the infection. However, they were able to suppress effector T cell responses, as selective depletion of Tregs significantly increased HBV-specific CD8+ T cell responses and accelerated viral antigen clearance. The data implies that natural Tregs infiltrate the liver in HBV infection without further activation or expansion but are still able to interfere with T cell mediated viral clearance.     

Oral Administered Particulate Yeast-Derived Glucan Promotes Hepatitis B Virus Clearance in a Hydrodynamic Injection Mouse Model

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistent infection is associated with ineffective immune response for the clearance of virus. Immunomodulators represent an important class of therapeutics, which potentially could be beneficial for the treatment of HBV infection. The particulate yeast-derived glucan (PYDG) has been shown to enhance the innate and adaptive immune responses. We therefore, assessed the efficacy of PYDG in enhancing HBV specific immune responses by employing the hydrodynamic injection-based (HDI) HBV transfection mouse model. Mice were intragatric administered PYDG daily for 9 weeks post pAAV/HBV1.2 hydrodynamic injection. PYDG treatment significantly promoted HBV DNA clearance and production of HBsAb compared to control mice. PYDG treatment resulted in recruitment of macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and effector T cells to the liver microenvironment, accompanied by a significantly augmented DCs maturation and HBV-specific IFN-γ and TNF-α production by T cell. In addition, enhanced production of Th1 cytokines in liver tissue interstitial fluid (TIF) was associated with PYDG administration. Live imaging showed the accumulation of PYDG in the mouse liver. Our results demonstrate that PYDG treatment significantly enhances HBV-specific Th1 immune responses, accompanied by clearance of HBV DNA, and therefore holds promise for further development of therapeutics against chronic hepatitis B.     

Antibody Responses during Hepatitis B Viral Infection

Hepatitis B is a DNA virus that infects liver cells and can cause both acute and chronic disease. It is believed that both viral and host factors are responsible for determining whether the infection is cleared or becomes chronic. Here we investigate the mechanism of protection by developing a mathematical model of the antibody response following hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We fitted the model to data from seven infected adults identified during acute infection and determined the ability of the virus to escape neutralization through overproduction of non-infectious subviral particles, which have HBs proteins on their surface, but do not contain nucleocapsid protein and viral nucleic acids. We showed that viral clearance can be achieved for high anti-HBV antibody levels, as in vaccinated individuals, when: (1) the rate of synthesis of hepatitis B subviral particles is slow; (2) the rate of synthesis of hepatitis B subviral particles is high but either anti-HBV antibody production is fast, the antibody affinity is high, or the levels of pre-existent HBV-specific antibody at the time of infection are high, as could be attained by vaccination. We further showed that viral clearance can be achieved for low equilibrium anti-HBV antibody levels, as in unvaccinated individuals, when a strong cellular immune response controls early infection.     

Differential cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responsiveness to the hepatitis B and C viruses in chronically infected patients.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are thought to control hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, since they are readily detectable in patients who clear the virus whereas they are hard to detect during chronic HBV infection. In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, however, the virus persists in the face of a CTL response. Indeed, most infected patients respond to one or more HCV-1 (genotype 1a)-derived CTL epitopes in the core, NS3, and NS4 proteins, and the CTL response is equally strong in patients infected by different HCV genotypes, suggesting broad cross-reactivity. To examine the effect of the HCV-specific CTL response in patients with chronic hepatitis C on viral load and disease activity, we quantitated the strength of the multispecific CTL response against 10 independent epitopes within the HCV polyprotein. We could not detect a linear correlation between the CTL response and viral load or disease activity in these patients. However, the CTL response was stronger in the subgroup of patients whose HCV RNA was below the detection threshold of the HCV branched- chain DNA assay than in branched-chain-DNA-positive patients. These results suggest that the HCV-specific CTL response may be able to control viral load to some extent in chronically infected patients, and they indicate that prospective studies in acutely infected patients who successfully clear HCV should be performed to more precisely define the relationship between CTL responsiveness, viral clearance, and disease severity in this infection.     

Enhanced host immune responses in presence of HCV facilitate HBV clearance in coinfection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)/Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is frequently observed because of the common infection routine. Despite the reciprocal inhibition exerted by HBV and HCV genomes, the coinfection of HBV and HCV is associated with more severe forms of liver diseases. However, the complexity of viral interference and underlying pathological mechanism is still unclarified. With the demonstration of absence of direct viral interplay, some in vitro studies suggest the indirect effects of viral-host interaction on viral dominance outcome. Here, we comprehensively investigated the viral replication and host immune responses which might mediate the interference between viruses in HBV/HCV coinfected Huh7-NTCP cells and immunocompetent HCV human receptors transgenic ICR mice. We found that presence of HCV significantly inhibited HBV replication in vitro and in vivo irrespective of the coinfection order, while HBV did not affect HCV replication. Pathological alteration was coincidently reproduced in coinfected mice. In addition to the participation of innate immune response, an involvement of HCV in up-regulating HBV-specific immune responses was described to facilitate HBV clearance. Our systems partially recapitulate HBV/HCV coinfection and unveil the uncharacterized adaptive anti-viral immune responses during coinfection, which renews the knowledge on the nature of indirect viral interaction during HBV/HCV coinfection.