Cross-allele cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus among HLA-A24 and HLA-A3 supertype-positive individuals

J Virol. 2012 Dec;86(24):13281-94. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01841-12. Epub 2012 Sep 26.

Abstract

Lack of a universal vaccine against all serotypes of influenza A viruses and recent progress on T cell-related vaccines against influenza A virus illuminate the important role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in anti-influenza virus immunity. However, the diverse HLA alleles among humans complicate virus-specific cellular immunity research, and elucidation of cross-HLA allele T cell responses to influenza virus specificity requires further detailed work. An ideal CTL epitope-based vaccine would cover a broad spectrum of epitope antigens presented by most, if not all, of the HLAs. Here, we evaluated the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus-specific T cell responses among the HLA-A24(+) population using a rationally designed peptide pool during the 2009 pandemic. Unexpectedly, cross-HLA allele T cell responses against the influenza A virus peptides were detected among both HLA-A11(+) and HLA-A24(+) donors. Furthermore, we found cross-responses in the entire HLA-A3 supertype population (including HLA-A11, -A31, -A33, and -A30). The cross-allele antigenic peptides within the peptide pool were identified and characterized, and the crystal structures of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide complexes were determined. The subsequent HLA-A24-defined cross-allele peptides recognized by the HLA-A11(+) population were shown to mildly bind to the HLA-A*1101 molecule. Together with the structural models, these results partially explain the cross-allele responses. Our findings elucidate the promiscuity of the cross-allele T cell responses against influenza A viruses and are beneficial for the development of a T cell epitope-based vaccine applied in a broader population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alleles*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cohort Studies
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • HLA-A24 Antigen / chemistry
  • HLA-A24 Antigen / immunology*
  • HLA-A3 Antigen / chemistry
  • HLA-A3 Antigen / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Molecular
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*

Substances

  • HLA-A24 Antigen
  • HLA-A3 Antigen