New epitope peptides derived from hepatitis C virus (HCV) 2a which have the capacity to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes in HLA-A2+ HCV-infected patients

作者：Wang, Yi; Takao, Yukari; Harada, Mamoru; Yutani, Shigeru; Ide, Tatsuya; Sata, Michio; Itoh, Kyogo; Yamada, Akira^*

来源：Microbiology and Immunology, 2006, 50(11): 857-865.

DOI：10.1111/j.1348-0421.2006.tb03861.x

• HCV
• peptide
• CTL
• vaccine

Because cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play an important role in the specific immunotherapy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a series of CTL epitopes has been defined from HCV genotype la or 1b protein. Here, we attempted to identify HCV2a-derived epitopes that are capable of inducing HLA-A2-restricted and peptide-specific CTLs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HLA-A2(+) HCV2a-infected patients or healthy donors were stimulated in vitro with each of the HCV2a-derived peptides, which were prepared based on the HLA-A2-binding motif, and their peptide-specific and HLA-A2-restricted cytotoxicities were examined. The HCV2a 432-441, HCV2a 716-724, and HCV2a 2251-2260 peptides were found to efficiently induce peptide-specific CTLs from the PBMCs of HLA-A2(+) HCV2a-infected patients. Cytotoxicity was mainly mediated by CD8(+) T cells in a HLA class I-restricted manner. These results indicate that the HCV2a 432-441, HCV2a 716-724, and HCV2a 2251-2260 peptides might be applicable for peptide-based immunotherapy of HLA-A2(+) HCV2a-infected patients.

• 出版日期2006
• 单位吉林大学