Scripps VIVO scripps research logo

  • Index
  • Log in
  • Home
  • People
  • Organizations
  • Research
  • Events
Search form

DNA vaccination with plasmids encoding the intracellular (HBcAg) or secreted (HBeAg) form of the core protein of hepatitis B virus primes T cell responses to two overlapping Kb- and Kd-restricted epitopes

Academic Article
uri icon
  • Overview
  • Research
  • Identity
  • Additional Document Info
  • View All
scroll to property group menus

Overview

authors

  • Kuhrober, A.
  • Wild, J.
  • Pudollek, H. P.
  • Chisari, Francis
  • Reimann, J.

publication date

  • August 1997

journal

  • International Immunology  Journal

abstract

  • Plasmid DNA encoding either the intracellular form HBcAg or the secreted form HBeAg of the core protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was injected into the muscle of H-2b, H-2d or F1b x d mice. Serum antibody responses and class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to HBcAg/ HBeAg were detected in all mice tested. Stable murine H-2b and H-2d transfectants that express either intracellular HBcAg were secreted HBeAg were constructed. With these cell lines we restimulated in vitro T cells primed in vivo and detected their specific cytolytic reactivity against naturally processed peptides. CD8+ CTL responses elicited by DNA vaccination with plasmids encoding HBcAg or HBeAg were specific for the (previously described) Kd-binding HBcAg93-100 peptide MGLKFRQL in H-2b mice or the (newly defined) Kd-binding HBcAg87-96 peptide SYVNTNMGL in H-2d mice. The overlapping epitopes span residues 87-100 of HBcAg, and are present on HBcAg and HBeAg. CTL responses were equally well elicited in vivo by injecting HBcAg- or HBeAg-expressing plasmid DNA, and CTL efficiently recognize in vitro HBcAg- and HBeAg-expressing transfectants. DNA vaccination of F1b x d mice with HBcAg- or HBeAg-expressing plasmid DNA primed CTL populations that recognized the Kb- or the Kd-restricted epitope. Both Kb- and Kd-binding peptides are thus generated from cytoplasmic/nuclear HBcAg and secreted HBeAg. These data make it unlikely that the appearance of HBeAg-negative variants during chronic HBV infection results from CTL-driven selection. DNA vaccination is an efficient technique to prime CTL responses against overlapping epitopes present on intracellular or secreted viral protein antigens.

subject areas

  • Animals
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens
  • Hepatitis B virus
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Peptides
  • Plasmids
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
  • Transfection
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Viral Core Proteins
scroll to property group menus

Research

keywords

  • MHC class I
  • cytotoxic T lymphocyte
  • hepatitis B core antigen
  • mouse
scroll to property group menus

Identity

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0953-8178

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/intimm/9.8.1203

PubMed ID

  • 9263018
scroll to property group menus

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 1203

end page

  • 1212

volume

  • 9

issue

  • 8

©2021 The Scripps Research Institute | Terms of Use | Powered by VIVO

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Support