Activation and detection of HTLV-I Tax-specific CTLs by Epitope expressing Single-Chain Trimers of MHC Class I in a rat model

作者：Ohashi Takashi^*; Nagai Mika; Okada Hiroyuki; Takayanagi Ryo; Shida Hisatoshi

来源：Retrovirology, 2008, 5: 90.

DOI：10.1186/1742-4690-5-90

Background: Human T cell leukemia virus type I ( HTLV-I) causes adult T-cell leukemia ( ATL) in infected individuals after a long incubation period. Immunological studies have suggested that insufficient host T cell response to HTLV-I is a potential risk factor for ATL. To understand the relationship between host T cell response and HTLV-I pathogenesis in a rat model system, we have developed an activation and detection system of HTLV-I Tax-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes ( CTLs) by Epitope expressing Single-Chain Trimers ( SCTs) of MHC Class I.
Results: We have established expression vectors which encode SCTs of rat MHC-I ( RTI.A(1)) with Tax180-188 peptide. Human cell lines transfected with the established expression vectors were able to induce IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production by a Tax180-188-specific CTL line, 4O1/C8. We have further fused the C-terminus of SCTs to EGFP and established cells expressing SCT-EGFP fusion protein on the surface. By co-cultivating the cells with 4O1/C8, we have confirmed that the epitope-specific CTLs acquired SCT-EGFP fusion proteins and that these EGFP-possessed CTLs were detectable by flow cytometric analysis.
Conclusion: We have generated a SCT of rat MHC-I linked to Tax epitope peptide, which can be applicable for the induction of Tax-specific CTLs in rat model systems of HTLV-I infection. We have also established a detection system of Tax-specific CTLs by using cells expressing SCTs fused with EGFP. These systems will be useful tools in understanding the role of HTLV-I specific CTLs in HTLV-I pathogenesis.

• 出版日期2008-10-8
• 单位河北医科大学