Human CD8+ T cells recognize epitopes of the 28-kDa hemolysin and the 38-kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

J Leukoc Biol. 2003 Dec;74(6):1008-14. doi: 10.1189/jlb.0403138. Epub 2003 Sep 12.

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens that are recognized by human CD8+ T cells are potentially important vaccine target molecules. We used a motif-based strategy to screen selected proteins of M. tuberculosis for peptides predicted to bind to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201. We identified two 10 amino acid peptides that elicited cytolytic T lymphocyte activity and interferon-gamma production by CD8+ T cells from HLA-A*0201+ healthy tuberculin reactors. These peptides were derived from the 38-kDa antigen and the 28-kDa hemolysin, the latter being a novel target for CD8+ T cells. We speculate that hemolysins may alter the phagosomal membrane surrounding intracellular M. tuberculosis, allowing themselves and other antigens to gain access to the major histocompatibility complex class I processing pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • HLA-A Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Hemolysin Proteins / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-A*02:01 antigen
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens