Elimination of immunodominant epitopes from multispecific DNA-based vaccines allows induction of CD8 T cells that have a striking antiviral potential

J Immunol. 2009 Jul 1;183(1):370-80. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0900505.

Abstract

Immunodominance limits the TCR diversity of specific antiviral CD8 T cell responses elicited by vaccination or infection. To prime multispecific T cell responses, we constructed DNA vaccines that coexpress chimeric, multidomain Ags (with CD8 T cell-defined epitopes of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface (S), core (C), and polymerase (Pol) proteins and/or the OVA Ag as stress protein-capturing fusion proteins. Priming of mono- or multispecific, HLA-A*0201- or K(b)-restricted CD8 T cell responses by these DNA vaccines differed. K(b)/OVA(257-264)- and K(b)/S(190-197)-specific CD8 T cell responses did not allow priming of a K(b)/C(93-100)-specific CD8 T cell response in mice immunized with multidomain vaccines. Tolerance to the S- Ag in transgenic Alb/HBs mice (that express large amounts of transgene-encoded S- Ag in the liver) facilitated priming of subdominant, K(b)/C(93-100)-specific CD8 T cell immunity by multidomain Ags. The "weak" (i.e., easily suppressed) K(b)/C(93-100)-specific CD8 T cell response was efficiently elicited by a HBV core Ag-encoding vector in 1.4HBV-S(mut) tg mice (that harbor a replicating HBV genome that produces HBV surface, core, and precore Ag in the liver). K(b)/C(93-100)-specific CD8 T cells accumulated in the liver of vaccinated 1.4HBV-S(mut) transgenic mice where they suppressed HBV replication. Subdominant epitopes in vaccines can hence prime specific CD8 T cell immunity in a tolerogenic milieu that delivers specific antiviral effects to HBV-expressing hepatocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / administration & dosage
  • Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / genetics
  • Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / administration & dosage
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Female
  • H-2 Antigens / administration & dosage
  • H-2 Antigens / genetics
  • H-2 Antigens / metabolism
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / administration & dosage
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / immunology
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / genetics
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / metabolism
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / genetics
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / metabolism
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / administration & dosage
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / genetics*
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / metabolism
  • Liver Diseases / immunology
  • Liver Diseases / prevention & control
  • Liver Diseases / virology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Binding / immunology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology*
  • Virus Replication / genetics
  • Virus Replication / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • H-2 Antigens
  • H-2Kb protein, mouse
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens
  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • Vaccines, DNA