CD4-directed peptide vaccination augments an antitumor response, but efficacy is limited by the number of CD8+ T cell precursors

Peptide vaccination is an immunotherapeutic strategy being pursued as a method of enhancing Ag-specific antitumor responses. To date, most studies have focused on the use of MHC class I-restricted peptides, and have not shown a correlation between Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell expansion and the generation of protective immune responses. We investigated the effects of CD4-directed peptide vaccination on the ability of CD8(+) T cells to mount protective antitumor responses in the DUC18/CMS5 tumor model system. To accomplish this, we extended the amino acid sequence of the known MHC class I-restricted DUC18 rejection epitope from CMS5 to allow binding to MHC class II molecules. Immunization with this peptide (tumor-derived extracellular signal-regulated kinase-II (tERK-II)) induced Ag-specific CD4(+) T cell effector function, but did not directly prime CD8(+) T cells. Approximately 31% of BALB/c mice immunized with tERK-II were protected from subsequent tumor challenge in a CD40-dependent manner. Priming of endogenous CD8(+) T cells in immunized mice was detected only after CMS5 challenge. Heightened CD4(+) Th cell function in response to tERK II vaccination allowed a 12-fold reduction in the number of adoptively transferred CD8(+) DUC18 T cells needed to protect recipients against tumor challenge as compared with previous studies using unimmunized mice. Furthermore, tERK-II immunization led to a more rapid and transient expansion of transferred DUC18 T cells than was seen in unimmunized mice. These findings illustrate that CD4-directed peptide vaccination augments antitumor immunity, but that the number of tumor-specific precursor CD8(+) T cells will ultimately dictate the success of immunotherapy.     

CpG-DNA activates in vivo T cell epitope presenting dendritic cells to trigger protective antiviral cytotoxic T cell responses

MHC class I-restricted T cell epitopes lack immunogenicity unless aided by IFA or CFA. In an attempt to circumvent the known inflammatory side effects of IFA and CFA, we analyzed the ability of immunostimulatory CpG-DNA to act as an adjuvant for MHC class I-restricted peptide epitopes. Using the immunodominant CD8 T cell epitopes, SIINFEKL from OVA or KAVYNFATM (gp33) from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein, we observed that CpG-DNA conveyed immunogenicity to these epitopes leading to primary induction of peptide-specific CTL. Furthermore, vaccination with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus gp33 peptide triggered not only CTL but also protective antiviral defense. We also showed that MHC class I-restricted peptides are constitutively presented by immature dendritic cells (DC) within the draining lymph nodes but failed to induce CTL responses. The use of CpG-DNA as an adjuvant, however, initiated peptide presenting immature DC progression to professional licensed APC. Activated DC induced cytolytic CD8 T cells in wild-type mice and also mice deficient of Th cells or CD40 ligand. CpG-DNA thus incites CTL responses toward MHC class I-restricted T cell epitopes in a Th cell-independent manner. Overall, these results provide new insights into CpG-DNA-mediated adjuvanticity and may influence future vaccination strategies for infectious and perhaps tumor diseases.     

Cutting edge: CD4+ T cell control of CD8+ T cell reactivity to a model tumor antigen

Neoantigens resulting from the inherent genomic instability of tumor cells generally do not trigger immune recognition. Similarly, transfection of tumors with model Ags often fails to elicit CD8+ T cell responses or alter a tumor's growth rate or lethality. We report here that the adoptive transfer of activated Th1-type CD4+ T cells specific for a model tumor Ag results in the de novo generation of CD8+ T cells with specificity to that Ag and concomitant tumor destruction. The anti-tumor effects of the CD4+ T cells required the presence of both MHC class I and class II on host cells, as evidenced by experiments in knockout mice, suggesting that CD4+ T cells enhanced the ability of host APC to activate endogenous CD8+ T cells. These results indicate that the apparent inability of tumor cells expressing highly immunogenic epitopes to activate tumor-specific CD8+ T cells can be altered by activated CD4+ T cells.     

CD4+CD25- T cells transduced to express MHC class I-restricted epitope-specific TCR synthesize Th1 cytokines and exhibit MHC class I-restricted cytolytic effector function in a human melanoma model

Cytolytic T cell-centric active specific and adoptive immunotherapeutic approaches might benefit from the simultaneous engagement of CD4(+) T cells. Considering the difficulties in simultaneously engaging CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in tumor immunotherapy, especially in an Ag-specific manner, redirecting CD4(+) T cells to MHC class I-restricted epitopes through engineered expression of MHC class I-restricted epitope-specific TCRs in CD4(+) T cells has emerged as a strategic consideration. Such TCR-engineered CD4(+) T cells have been shown to be capable of synthesizing cytokines as well as lysing target cells. We have conducted a critical examination of functional characteristics of CD4(+) T cells engineered to express the alpha- and beta-chains of a high functional avidity TCR specific for the melanoma epitope, MART-1(27-35), as a prototypic human tumor Ag system. We found that unpolarized CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells engineered to express the MART-1(27-35) TCR selectively synthesize Th1 cytokines and exhibit a potent Ag-specific lytic granule exocytosis-mediated cytolytic effector function of comparable efficacy to that of CD8(+) CTL. Such TCR engineered CD4(+) T cells, therefore, might be useful in clinical immunotherapy.     

Retrovirally transduced mouse dendritic cells require CD4+ T cell help to elicit antitumor immunity: implications for the clinical use of dendritic cells

Presentation of MHC class I-restricted peptides by dendritic cells (DCs) can elicit vigorous antigen-specific CTL responses in vivo. It is well established, however, that T cell help can augment CTL function, raising the question of how best to present tumor-associated MHC class I epitopes to induce effective tumor immunity. To this end, we have examined the role of MHC class II peptide-complexes present on the immunizing DCs in a murine melanoma model. To present MHC class I- and II-restricted Ags reliably on the same cell, we retrovirally transduced bone marrow-derived DCs with the model Ag OVA encoding well-defined class I- and II-restricted epitopes. The importance of CD4+ T cells activated by the immunizing DCs in this model is demonstrated by the following findings: 1) transduced DCs presenting class I and class II epitopes are more efficient than class I peptide-pulsed DCs; 2) MHC class II-deficient DCs fail to induce tumor protection; 3) CD4+ T cell depletion abolishes induction of tumor protection; and 4) DCs presenting bovine serum Ags are more effective in establishing tumor immunity than DCs cultured in syngeneic serum. When MHC class II-deficient DCs were directly activated via their CD40 receptor, we indeed observed a moderate elevation of OVA-specific CTL activity. However, this increase in CTL activity was not sufficient to induce in vivo tumor rejection. Thus, our results demonstrate the potency of genetically modified DCs that express both MHC class I and II epitopes, but caution against the use of DCs presenting only the former.     

Antigenic epitopes fused to cationic peptide bound to oligonucleotides facilitate Toll-like receptor 9-dependent, but CD4+ T cell help-independent, priming of CD8+ T cells

A priority in current vaccine research is the development of adjuvants that support the efficient priming of long-lasting, CD4(+) T cell help-independent CD8(+) T cell immunity. Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) with immune-stimulating sequences (ISS) containing CpG motifs facilitate the priming of MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) T cell responses to proteins or peptides. We show that the adjuvant effect of ISS(+) ODN on CD8(+) T cell priming to large, recombinant Ag is enhanced by binding them to short, cationic (arginine-rich) peptides that themselves have no adjuvant activity in CD8(+) T cell priming. Fusing antigenic epitopes to cationic (8- to 10-mer) peptides bound to immune-stimulating ISS(+) ODN or nonstimulating NSS(+) ODN (without CpG-containing sequences) generated immunogens that efficiently primed long-lasting, specific CD8(+) T cell immunity of high magnitude. Different MHC class I-binding epitopes fused to short cationic peptides of different origins showed this adjuvant activity. Quantitative ODN binding to cationic peptides strikingly reduced the toxicity of the latter, suggesting that it improves the safety profile of the adjuvant. CD8(+) T cell priming supported by this adjuvant was Toll-like receptor 9 dependent, but required no CD4(+) T cell help. ODN (with or without CpG-containing sequences) are thus potent Th1-promoting adjuvants when bound to cationic peptides covalently linked to antigenic epitopes, a mode of Ag delivery prevailing in many viral nucleocapsids.     

Redundancy of direct priming and cross-priming in tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses

Against a subset of human cancers, vigorous tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses can develop either spontaneously or upon allogeneic transplantation. However, the parameters that determine the induction of such pronounced anti-tumor immunity remain ill defined. To dissect the conditions required for the induction of high magnitude T cell responses, we have developed a murine model system in which tumor-specific T cell responses can be monitored directly ex vivo by MHC tetramer technology. In this model, tumor challenge of naive mice with Ag-bearing tumor cells results in a massive Ag-specific T cell response, followed by CD8+ T cell-dependent tumor rejection. We have subsequently used this model to assess the contribution of direct priming and cross-priming in the induction of tumor immunity in a well-defined system. Our results indicate that direct priming of T cells and Ag cross-priming are redundant mechanisms for the induction of tumor-specific T cell immunity. Moreover, T cell responses that arise as a consequence of Ag cross-presentation can occur in the absence of CD4+ T cell help and are remarkably robust.     

Glycoprotein 96 can chaperone both MHC class I- and class II-restricted epitopes for in vivo presentation, but selectively primes CD8+ T cell effector function

The ability of mature T lymphocytes to develop effector capacity after encounter with cognate Ag is generally dependent upon inflammatory signals associated with infection that induce dendritic cell activation/maturation. These inflammatory signals can derive directly from pathogens or can be expressed by host cells in response to infection. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a class of host-derived inflammatory mediators that perform the dual function of both chaperoning MHC class I-restricted epitopes into the cross-presentation pathway of DCs and inducing the activation/maturation of these DCs to allow priming of cognate CD8(+) T cell effector responses. Although the ability of HSPs to elicit effector CD8 cell responses has been well established, their potential to prime CD4 cell effector responses has been relatively unexplored. In the current study we compared the ability of the endoplasmic reticulum-resident HSP gp96 to prime CD4 vs CD8 cells using TCR transgenic adoptive transfer systems and soluble gp96-peptide complexes. As expected, gp96 facilitated the cross-presentation of a class I-restricted peptide and priming of effector function in cognate CD8 cells. Interestingly, gp96 also facilitated the in vivo presentation of a class II-restricted peptide; however, the resulting CD4 cell response did not involve the development of effector function. Taken together, these data suggest that gp96 is an inflammatory mediator that selectively primes CD8 cell effector function.     

A CD8+ T cell heptaepitope minigene vaccine induces protective immunity against Chlamydia pneumoniae

An intact T cell compartment and IFN-gamma signaling are required for protective immunity against Chlamydia. In the mouse model of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection, this immunity is critically dependent on CD8(+) T cells. Recently we reported that Cpn-infected mice generate an MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) Tc1 response against various Cpn Ags, and that CD8(+) CTL to multiple epitopes inhibit Cpn growth in vitro. Here, we engineered a DNA minigene encoding seven H-2(b)-restricted Cpn CTL epitopes, the universal pan-DR epitope Th epitope, and an endoplasmic reticulum-translocating signal sequence. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with this construct primed IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) CTL against all seven CTL epitopes. CD8(+) T cell lines generated to minigene-encoded CTL epitopes secreted IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and exhibited CTL activity upon recognition of Cpn-infected macrophages. Following intranasal challenge with Cpn, a 3.6 log reduction in mean lung bacterial numbers compared with control animals was obtained. Using a 20-fold increase in the Cpn challenging dose, minigene-vaccinated mice had a 60-fold reduction in lung bacterial loads, compared with controls. Immunization and challenge studies with beta(2)-microglobulin(-/-) mice indicated that the reduction of lung Cpn burdens was mediated by the MHC class I-dependent CD8(+) T cells to minigene-included Cpn CTL epitopes, rather than by pan-DR epitope-specific CD4(+) T cells. This constitutes the first demonstration of significant protection achieved by immunization with a CD8(+) T cell epitope-based DNA construct in a bacterial system and provides the basis for the optimal design of multicomponent anti-Cpn vaccines for humans.     

Th1 T cell responses to HIV-1 Gag protein delivered by a Listeria monocytogenes vaccine are similar to those induced by endogenous listerial antigens.

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular bacterium that lives and grows in the cytoplasm of the host cell. The hallmark of a listerial infection is a cell-mediated immune response to its own secreted virulence factors. Thus, L. monocytogenes vaccines engineered to secrete HIV proteins may be ideal vectors for boosting cellular immune responses against HIV. Using strains of L. monocytogenes that stably express and secrete HIV Gag (Lm-Gag) to deliver this Ag to the immune system, we have previously shown strong MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic T cell responses to this protein. In this study, we examine MHC class II-restricted T cell responses to HIV-Gag delivered by Lm-Gag. We demonstrate the induction of CD4+ T cells that are HIV-Gag specific and identify three epitopes in two strains of mice, BALB/c (H-2d) and C57BL/6 (H-2b), two of which are both H-2d and H-2b restricted, but are not immunodominant for both haplotypes. In addition, we show that the CD4+ T cells induced are of the Th1 phenotype that produce IFN-gamma at levels similar to CD4+ T cells induced to endogenous listerial Ags. These studies suggest that chromosomally modified strains of L. monocytogenes may be useful as vaccine vectors for the induction of Th1 T cell responses against HIV.     

Different dynamics of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses during and after acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection

We fit a mathematical model to data characterizing the primary cellular immune response to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. The data enumerate the specific CD8(+) T cell response to six MHC class I-restricted epitopes and the specific CD4(+) T cell responses to two MHC class II-restricted epitopes. The peak of the response occurs around day 8 for CD8(+) T cells and around day 9 for CD4(+) T cells. By fitting a model to the data, we characterize the kinetic differences between CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses and among the immunodominant and subdominant responses to the various epitopes. CD8(+) T cell responses have faster kinetics in almost every aspect of the response. For CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells, the doubling time during the initial expansion phase is 8 and 11 h, respectively. The half-life during the contraction phase following the peak of the response is 41 h and 3 days, respectively. CD4(+) responses are even slower because their contraction phase appears to be biphasic, approaching a 35-day half-life 8 days after the peak of the response. The half-life during the memory phase is 500 days for the CD4(+) T cell responses and appears to be lifelong for the six CD8(+) T cell responses. Comparing the responses between the various epitopes, we find that immunodominant responses have an earlier and/or larger recruitment of precursors cells before the expansion phase and/or have a faster proliferation rate during the expansion phase.     

Identification of major epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis AG85B that are recognized by HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T cells in HLA-transgenic mice and humans

CD8(+) T cells are thought to play an important role in protective immunity to tuberculosis. Although several nonprotein ligands have been identified for CD1-restricted CD8(+) CTLs, epitopes for classical MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells, which most likely represent a majority among CD8(+) T cells, have remained ill defined. HLA-A*0201 is one of the most prevalent class I alleles, with a frequency of over 30% in most populations. HLA-A2/K(b) transgenic mice were shown to provide a powerful model for studying induction of HLA-A*0201-restricted immune responses in vivo. The Ag85 complex, a major component of secreted Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins, induces strong CD4(+) T cell responses in M. tuberculosis-infected individuals, and protection against tuberculosis in Ag85-DNA-immunized animals. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of HLA class I-restricted, CD8(+) T cells against Ag85B of M. tuberculosis in HLA-A2/K(b) transgenic mice and HLA-A*0201(+) humans. Moreover, two immunodominant Ag85 peptide epitopes for HLA-A*0201-restricted, M. tuberculosis-reactive CD8(+) CTLs were identified. These CD8(+) T cells produced IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and recognized Ag-pulsed or bacillus Calmette-Guérin-infected, HLA-A*0201-positive, but not HLA-A*0201-negative or uninfected human macrophages. This CTL-mediated killing was blocked by anti-CD8 or anti-HLA class I mAb. Using fluorescent peptide/HLA-A*0201 tetramers, Ag85-specific CD8(+) T cells could be visualized in bacillus Calmette-Guérin-responsive, HLA-A*0201(+) individuals. Collectively, our results demonstrate the presence of HLA class I-restricted CD8(+) CTL against a major Ag of M. tuberculosis and identify Ag85B epitopes that are strongly recognized by HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8(+) T cells in humans and mice. These epitopes thus represent potential subunit components for the design of vaccines against tuberculosis.     

Factors affecting the efficiency of CD8+ T cell cross-priming with exogenous antigens

Processing of exogenous protein Ags by APC leads predominantly to presentation of peptides on class II MHC and, thus, stimulation of CD4+ T cell responses. However, "cross-priming" can also occur, whereby peptides derived from exogenous Ags become displayed on class I MHC molecules and stimulate CD8+ T cell responses. We compared the efficiency of cross-priming with exogenous proteins to use of peptide Ags in human whole blood using a flow cytometry assay to detect T cell intracellular cytokine production. CD8+ T cell responses to whole CMV proteins were poorly detected (compared with peptide responses) in most CMV-seropositive donors. Such responses could be increased by using higher doses of Ag than were required to achieve maximal CD4+ T cell responses. A minority of donors displayed significantly more efficient CD8+ T cell responses to whole protein, even at low Ag doses. These responses were MHC class I-restricted and dependent upon proteosomal processing, indicating that they were indeed due to cross-priming. The ability to efficiently cross-prime was not a function of the number of dendritic cells in the donor's blood. Neither supplementation of freshly isolated dendritic cells nor use of cultured, Ag-pulsed dendritic cells could significantly boost CD8 responses to whole-protein Ags in poorly cross-priming donors. Interestingly, freshly isolated monocytes performed almost as well as dendritic cells in inducing CD8 responses via cross-priming. In conclusion, the efficiency of cross-priming appears to be poor in most donors and is dependent upon properties of the individual's APC and/or T cell repertoire. It remains unknown whether cross-priming ability translates into any clinical advantage in ability to induce CD8+ T cell responses to foreign Ags.     

Effective DNA vaccination against listeriosis by prime/boost inoculation with the gene gun.

Protective immunity against Listeria monocytogenes strongly depends on CD8+ T lymphocytes, and both IFN-gamma secretion and target cell killing are considered relevant to protection. We analyzed whether we could induce a protective type 1 immune response by DNA vaccination with the gene gun using plasmids encoding for two immunodominant listerial Ags, listeriolysin and p60. To induce a Th1 response, we 1) coprecipitated a plasmid encoding for GM-CSF, 2) employed a prime/boost vaccination schedule with a 45-day interval, and 3) coinjected oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing immunostimulatory CpG motifs. DNA immunization of BALB/c mice with plasmids encoding for listeriolysin (pChly) and p60 (pCiap) efficiently induced MHC class I-restricted, Ag-specific CD8+ T cells that produced IFN-gamma. Coinjection of CpG-ODN significantly increased the frequency of specific IFN-gamma-secreting T cells. Although pChly induced specific CD8+ T cells expressing CTL activity, it failed to stimulate CD4+ T cells. Only pCiap induced significant CD4+ T cell and humoral responses, which were predominantly of Th2 type. Vaccination with either plasmid induced protective immunity against listerial challenge, and coinjection of CpG ODN improved vaccine efficacy in some situations. This study demonstrates the feasibility of gene gun administration of plasmid DNA for inducing immunity against an intracellular pathogen for which protection primarily depends on type 1 CD8+ T cells.     

Comprehensive assessment of determinant specificity, frequency, and cytokine signature of the primed CD8 cell repertoire induced by a minor transplantation antigen

T cell immunity is often focused on one peptide segment of a complex protein Ag, with other epitopes inducing weaker, low frequency responses or no responses at all. Such determinant hierarchy has been well characterized for MHC class II-restricted CD4 cell immunity, but is less well understood for class I-restricted CD8 cell responses. We studied class I determinant recognition in a skin transplant model with beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) as a minor transplantation Ag. CD8 T cells from C57BL/6 mice that rejected congenic C57BL/6 beta-gal transgenic skin were tested in enzyme-linked immunospot assays for recall responses to single-step, overlapping, 9-mer peptides that spanned a 94-aa region of the beta-gal sequence. This approach provided every possible class I-restricted peptide for CD8 cell recognition, allowing us to define the in vivo frequency of CD8 cells specific for each of the 86 individual peptides. While four peptides were predicted to bind to the Kb or Db molecules, only one (beta-gal96-103) actually induced an immune response. No peptides outside of the motifs were recognized. Tolerization to beta-gal96-103 significantly prolonged beta-gal transgenic skin graft survival, confirming its immune dominance. Therefore, single-determinant dominance characterized this CD8 cell response. The data demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale, comprehensive, class I determinant mapping, an approach that should be indispensable in measuring CD8 cell immunity in humans.     

Induction of tumor immunity by removing CD25+CD4+ T cells: a common basis between tumor immunity and autoimmunity.

This study shows that removal of a T cell subpopulation can evoke effective tumor immunity in otherwise nonresponding animals. Elimination of CD25-expressing T cells, which constitute 5-10% of peripheral CD4+ T cells in normal naive mice, elicited potent immune responses to syngeneic tumors in vivo and eradicated them. The responses were mediated by tumor-specific CD8+ CTLs and tumor-nonspecific CD4-8- cytotoxic cells akin to NK cells. Furthermore, in vitro culture of CD25+4+ T cell-depleted splenic cell suspensions prepared from tumor-unsensitized normal mice led to spontaneous generation of similar CD4-8- cytotoxic cells capable of killing a broad spectrum of tumors; reconstitution of CD25+4+ T cells inhibited the generation. In this culture, self-reactive CD25-4+ T cells responding to self peptides/class II MHC complexes on APCs spontaneously proliferated upon removal of CD25+4+ T cells, secreting large amounts of IL-2. The IL-2 thus produced appeared to be responsible for the generation of CD4-8- NK cells as lymphokine-activated killer cells, because direct addition of an equivalent amount of IL-2 to the culture of CD4-8- cells generated similar lymphokine-activated killer/NK cells, whereas coculture of normal CD4-8- cells with CD25-4+ T cells from IL-2-deficient mice did not. Thus, removal of immunoregulatory CD25+4+ T cells can abrogate immunological unresponsiveness to syngeneic tumors in vivo and in vitro, leading to spontaneous development of tumor-specific effector cells as well as tumor-nonspecific ones. This novel way of evoking tumor immunity would help to devise effective immunotherapy for cancer in humans.     

Functional analysis of tumor-specific Th cell responses detected in melanoma patients after dendritic cell-based immunotherapy

Recently, we have demonstrated that tumor-specific CD4+ Th cell responses can be rapidly induced in advanced melanoma patients by vaccination with peptide-loaded monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Most patients showed a T cell reactivity against a melanoma Ag 3 (MAGE-3) peptide (MAGE-3(243-258)), which has been previously found to be presented by HLA-DP4 molecules. To analyze the functional and specificity profile of this in vivo T cell response in detail, peptide-specific CD4+ T cell clones were established from postvaccination blood samples of two HLA-DP4 patients. These T cell clones recognized not only peptide-loaded stimulator cells but also dendritic cells loaded with a recombinant MAGE-3 protein, demonstrating that these T cells were directed against a naturally processed MAGE-3 epitope. The isolated CD4+ Th cells showed a typical Th1 cytokine profile upon stimulation. From the first patient several CD4+ T cell clones recognizing the antigenic peptide used for vaccination in the context of HLA-DP4 were obtained, whereas we have isolated from the second patient CD4+ T cell clones which were restricted by HLA-DQB1*0604. Analyzing a panel of truncated peptides revealed that the CD4+ T cell clones recognized different core epitopes within the original peptide used for vaccination. Importantly, a DP4-restricted T cell clone was stimulated by dendritic cells loaded with apoptotic or necrotic tumor cells and even directly recognized HLA class II- and MAGE-3-expressing tumor cells. Moreover, these T cells exhibited cytolytic activity involving Fas-Fas ligand interactions. These findings support that vaccination-induced CD4+ Th cells might play an important functional role in antitumor immunity.     

Identification of seventeen new simian immunodeficiency virus-derived CD8+ T cell epitopes restricted by the high frequency molecule, Mamu-A*02, and potential escape from CTL recognition

MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells play an important role in controlling HIV and SIV replication. In SIV-infected Indian rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), comprehensive CD8+ T cell epitope identification has only been undertaken for two alleles, Mamu-A*01 and Mamu-B*17. As a result, these two molecules account for virtually all known MHC class I-restricted SIV-derived CD8+ T cell epitopes. SIV pathogenesis research and vaccine testing have intensified the demand for epitopes restricted by additional MHC class I alleles due to the shortage of Mamu-A*01+ animals. Mamu-A*02 is a high frequency allele present in over 20% of macaques. In this study, we characterized the peptide binding of Mamu-A*02 using a panel of single amino acid substitution analogues and a library of 497 unrelated peptides. Of 230 SIVmac239 peptides that fit the Mamu-A*02 peptide-binding motif, 75 peptides bound Mamu-A*02 with IC50 values of < or = 500 nM. We assessed the antigenicity of these 75 peptides using an IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay with freshly isolated PBMC from eight Mamu-A*02+ SIV-infected macaques and identified 17 new epitopes for Mamu-A*02. The synthesis of five Mamu-A*02 tetramers demonstrated the discrepancy between tetramer binding and IFN-gamma secretion by SIV-specific CD8+ T cells during chronic SIV infection. Bulk sequencing determined that 2 of the 17 epitopes accumulated amino acid replacements in SIV-infected macaques by the chronic phase of infection, suggestive of CD8+ T cell escape in vivo. This work enhances the use of the SIV-infected macaque model for HIV and increases our understanding of the breadth of CD8+ T cell responses in SIV infection.     

Examination of HY response: T cell expansion, immunodominance, and cross-priming revealed by HY tetramer analysis

We have applied MHC class I tetramers representing the two H2(b) MHC class I-restricted epitopes of the mouse male-specific minor transplantation Ag, HY, to directly determine the extent of expansion and immunodominance within the CD8+ T cell compartment following exposure to male tissue. Immunization with male bone marrow (BM), spleen, dendritic cells (DCs) and by skin graft led to rapid expansion of both specificities occupying up to >20% of the CD8+ T cell pool. At a high dose, whole BM or spleen were found to be more effective at stimulating the response than BM-derived DCs. In vivo, immunodominance within the responding cell population was only observed following chronic Ag stimulation, whereas epitope immunodominance was established rapidly following in vitro restimulation. Peptide affinity for the restricting MHC molecule was greater for the immunodominant epitope, suggesting that this might be a factor in the emergence of immunodominance. Using tetramers, we were able to directly visualize the cross-primed CD8+ HY response, but we did not find it to be the principal route for MHC class I presentation. Immunization with female spleen or DCs coated with the full complement of defined HY peptides, including the A(b)-restricted CD4+ Th cell determinant, failed to induce tetramer-reactive cells.