Identification and immunogenicity of two new HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T-cell epitopes on dengue NS1 protein

Int Immunol. 2012 Apr;24(4):207-18. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxr115. Epub 2012 Jan 31.

Abstract

Immunopathogenesis of dengue virus (DEN) infection remains poorly studied. Identification and characterization of human CD8(+) T-cell epitopes on DEN are necessary for a better understanding of the immunopathogenesis of dengue infection and would facilitate the development of immunotherapy and vaccines to protect from dengue infection. Here, we identified two new HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8(+) T-cell epitopes, DEN-4 NS1(990)(-998) and DEN-4 NS1(997)(-1005) that are conserved in three or four major DEN serotypes, respectively. Unexpectedly, we found that immunization of HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice with DEN-4 NS1(990)(-998) or DEN-4 NS1(997)(-1005) epitope peptide induced de novo synthesis of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IFN-γ, two important pro-inflammatory molecules that are hard to be detected directly without in vitro antigenic re-stimulation. Importantly, we demonstrated that CD8(+) T cells specifically activated by DEN-4 NS1(990)(-998) or DEN-4 NS1(997)(-1005) epitope peptide induced de novo synthesis of perforin. Furthermore, we observed that DEN-4 NS1(990)(-998) or DEN-4 NS1(997)(-1005)-specific CD8(+) T cells capable of producing large amounts of perforin, TNF-α and IFN-γ preferentially displayed CD27(+)CD45RA(-), but not CD27(-)CD45RA(+), phenotypes. This study, therefore, suggested the importance of synergistic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic molecules which were produced by dengue-specific CD8(+) T cells in immunopathogenesis or anti-dengue immunity during dengue infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / analysis
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Dengue / immunology
  • Dengue Virus / immunology*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Lectins, C-Type / analysis
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Perforin / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / analysis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Antigens, Viral
  • CD69 antigen
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-A*02:01 antigen
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Perforin
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens