scholarly journals Frequency, Private Specificity, and Cross-Reactivity of Preexisting Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Specific CD8+T Cells in HCV-Seronegative Individuals: Implications for Vaccine Responses

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (16) ◽  
pp. 8304-8317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shihong Zhang ◽  
Rakesh K. Bakshi ◽  
Pothakamuri Venkata Suneetha ◽  
Paraskevi Fytili ◽  
Dinler A. Antunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Memory Cells ◽  
Cell Responses

ABSTRACTT cell responses play a critical role in controlling or clearing viruses. Therefore, strategies to prevent or treat infections include boosting T cell responses. T cells specific for various pathogens have been reported in unexposed individuals and an influence of such cells on the response toward vaccines is conceivable. However, little is known about their frequency, repertoire, and impact on vaccination. We performed a detailed characterization of CD8+T cells specific to a hepatitis C virus (HCV) epitope (NS3-1073) in 121 HCV-seronegative individuals. We show thatin vitroHCV NS3-1073-specific CD8+T cell responses were rather abundantly detectable in one-third of HCV-seronegative individuals irrespective of risk factors for HCV exposure.Ex vivo, these NS3-1073-specific CD8+T cells were found to be both naive and memory cells. Importantly, recognition of various peptides derived from unrelated viruses by NS3-1073-specific CD8+T cells showed a considerable degree of T cell cross-reactivity, suggesting that they might in part originate from previous heterologous infections. Finally, we further provide evidence that preexisting NS3-1073-specific CD8+T cells can impact the T cell response toward peptide vaccination. Healthy, vaccinated individuals who showed anin vitroresponse toward NS3-1073 already before vaccination displayed a more vigorous and earlier response toward the vaccine.IMPORTANCEPreventive and therapeutic vaccines are being developed for many viral infections and often aim on inducing T cell responses. Despite effective antiviral drugs against HCV, there is still a need for a preventive vaccine. However, the responses to vaccines can be highly variable among different individuals. Preexisting T cells in unexposed individuals could be one reason that helps to explain the variable T cell responses to vaccines. Based on our findings, we suggest that HCV CD8+T cells are abundant in HCV-seronegative individuals but that their repertoire is highly diverse due to the involvement of both naive precursors and cross-reactive memory cells of different specificities, which can influence the response to vaccines. The data may emphasize the need to personalize immune-based therapies based on the individual's T cell repertoire that is present before the immune intervention.

scholarly journals Broadening CD4+ and CD8+ T Cell Responses against Hepatitis C Virus by Vaccination with NS3 Overlapping Peptide Panels in Cross-Priming Liposomes

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Filskov ◽  
Marianne Mikkelsen ◽  
Paul R. Hansen ◽  
Jan P. Christensen ◽  
Allan R. Thomsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Recombinant Protein ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Vaccine Approach

ABSTRACT Despite the introduction of effective drugs to treat patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a vaccine would be the only means to substantially reduce the worldwide disease burden. An incomplete understanding of how HCV interacts with its human host and evades immune surveillance has hampered vaccine development. It is generally accepted that in infected individuals, a narrow repertoire of exhausted T cells is a hallmark of persistent infection, whereas broad, vigorous CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses are associated with control of acute hepatitis C. We employed a vaccine approach based on a mixture of peptides (pepmix) spanning the entire sequence of HCV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) in cross-priming cationic liposomes (CAF09) to facilitate a versatile presentation of all possible T cell epitopes, regardless of the HLA background of the vaccine recipient. Here, we demonstrate that vaccination of mice with NS3 pepmix broadens the repertoire of epitope-specific T cells compared to the corresponding recombinant protein (rNS3). Moreover, vaccination with rNS3 induced only CD4+ T cells, whereas the NS3 pepmix induced a far more vigorous CD4+ T cell response and was as potent a CD8+ T cell inducer as an adenovirus-vectored vaccine expressing NS3. Importantly, the cellular responses are dominated by multifunctional T cells, such as gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ+) tumor necrosis factor alpha-positive (TNF-α+) coproducers, and displayed cytotoxic capacity in mice. In conclusion, we present a novel vaccine approach against HCV, inducing a broadened T cell response targeting both immunodominant and potential subdominant epitopes, which may be key elements to counter T cell exhaustion and prevent chronicity. IMPORTANCE With at least 700,000 annual deaths, development of a vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has high priority, but the tremendous ability of the virus to dodge the human immune system poses great challenges. Furthermore, many chronic infections, including HCV infection, have a remarkable ability to drive initially strong CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses against dominant epitopes toward an exhausted, dysfunctional state. Thus, new and innovative vaccine approaches to control HCV should be evaluated. Here, we report on a novel peptide-based nanoparticle vaccine strategy (NS3 pepmix) aimed at generating T cell immunity against potential subdominant T cell epitopes that are not efficiently targeted by vaccination with full-length recombinant protein (rNS3) or infection with HCV. As proof of concept, we found that NS3 pepmix excels in broadening the repertoire of epitope-specific, multifunctional, and cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells compared to vaccination with rNS3, which generated only CD4+ T cell responses.

scholarly journals Strain-Specific T-Cell Suppression and Protective Immunity in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 6976-6983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazushi Sugimoto ◽  
David E. Kaplan ◽  
Fusao Ikeda ◽  
Jin Ding ◽  
Jonathan Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Genotype 2

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) frequently persists with an apparently ineffective antiviral T-cell response. We hypothesized that some patients may be exposed to multiple HCV subtypes and that strain-specific T cells could contribute to the viral dynamics in this setting. To test this hypothesis, CD4 T-cell responses to three genotype 1a-derived HCV antigens and HCV antibody serotype were examined in chronically HCV infected (genotypes 1a, 1b, 2, 3, and 4) and spontaneously HCV recovered subjects. Consistent with multiple HCV exposure, 63% of patients infected with genotypes 2 to 4 (genotypes 2-4) and 36% of those infected with genotype 1b displayed CD4 T-cell responses to 1a-derived HCV antigens, while 29% of genotype 2-4-infected patients showed serotype responses to genotype 1. Detection of 1a-specific T cells in patients without active 1a infection suggested prior self-limited 1a infection with T-cell-mediated protection from 1a but not from non-1a viruses. Remarkably, CD4 T-cell responses to 1a-derived HCV antigens were weakest in patients with homologous 1a infection and greater in non-1a-infected patients: proportions of patients responding were 19% (1a), 36% (1b), and 63% (2-4) (P = 0.0006). Increased 1a-specific CD4 T-cell responsiveness in non-1a-infected patients was not due to increased immunogenicity or cross-reactivity of non-1a viruses but directly related to sequence divergence. We conclude that the T-cell response to the circulating virus is either suppressed or not induced in a strain-specific manner in chronically HCV infected patients and that, despite their ability to clear one HCV strain, patients may be reinfected with a heterologous strain that can then persist. These findings provide new insights into host-virus interactions in HCV infection that have implications for vaccine development.

scholarly journals Optimising T cell (re)boosting strategies for adenoviral and modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine regimens in humans

npj Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Capone ◽  
Anthony Brown ◽  
Felicity Hartnell ◽  
Mariarosaria Del Sorbo ◽  
Cinzia Traboni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Standard Dose ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Effector Memory ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Simian adenoviral and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) viral vectors used in heterologous prime-boost strategies are potent inducers of T cells against encoded antigens and are in advanced testing as vaccine carriers for a wide range of infectious agents and cancers. It is unclear if these responses can be further enhanced or sustained with reboosting strategies. Furthermore, despite the challenges involved in MVA manufacture dose de-escalation has not been performed in humans. In this study, healthy volunteers received chimpanzee-derived adenovirus-3 and MVA vaccines encoding the non-structural region of hepatitis C virus (ChAd3-NSmut/MVA-NSmut) 8 weeks apart. Volunteers were then reboosted with a second round of ChAd3-NSmut/MVA-NSmut or MVA-NSmut vaccines 8 weeks or 1-year later. We also determined the capacity of reduced doses of MVA-NSmut to boost ChAd3-NSmut primed T cells. Reboosting was safe, with no enhanced reactogenicity. Reboosting after an 8-week interval led to minimal re-expansion of transgene-specific T cells. However, after a longer interval, T cell responses expanded efficiently and memory responses were enhanced. The 8-week interval regimen induced a higher percentage of terminally differentiated and effector memory T cells. Reboosting with MVA-NSmut alone was as effective as with ChAd3-NSmut/MVA-NSmut. A ten-fold lower dose of MVA (2 × 107pfu) induced high-magnitude, sustained, broad, and functional Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cell responses, equivalent to standard doses (2 × 108 pfu). Overall, we show that following Ad/MVA prime-boost vaccination reboosting is most effective after a prolonged interval and is productive with MVA alone. Importantly, we also show that a ten-fold lower dose of MVA is as potent in humans as the standard dose.

scholarly journals Differences in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Specific CD8 T-Cell Phenotype during Pegylated Alpha Interferon and Ribavirin Treatment Are Related to Response to Antiviral Therapy in Patients Chronically Infected with HCV

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (15) ◽  
pp. 7567-7577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Caetano ◽  
António Martinho ◽  
Artur Paiva ◽  
Beatriz Pais ◽  
Cristina Valente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Cd8 T Cell ◽  
Alpha Interferon ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Cell Responses

ABSTRACT CD8 T cells play a major role in antiviral immune responses. Their importance for progression to chronic hepatitis C and response to treatment are still unclear. To address these issues, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8 T-cell responses were monitored, at the single-cell level, using HLA class I pentamers specific for HCV core and HCV NS3 epitopes, in 23 chronically infected patients during treatment with pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin. Patients who presented a sustained-response to therapy had stronger HCV-specific CD8 T-cell responses at all time points studied. Moreover, there were clear differences in the phenotypes of these cells during therapy: in responder patients, terminally differentiated effector cells increased more rapidly, and their frequency was always higher than in nonresponder patients. Sustained-responder patients also showed a higher frequency of HCV-specific CD8 T cells producing cytotoxic factors. Overall, a late and inefficient differentiation process of HCV-specific CD8 T cells might be associated with lack of response to treatment. A better knowledge of the mechanisms underlying this impairment may be important for the development of new therapeutic strategies to maintain, restore, or increase CD8 T-cell effectiveness in chronic HCV infection.

scholarly journals Selection of Conserved Epitopes from Hepatitis C Virus for Pan-Populational Stimulation of T-Cell Responses

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Molero-Abraham ◽  
Esther M. Lafuente ◽  
Darren R. Flower ◽  
Pedro A. Reche
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Cd8 T Cell ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Selection Of

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is able to persist as a chronic infection, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. There is evidence that clearance of HCV is linked to strong responses by CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), suggesting that eliciting CTL responses against HCV through an epitope-based vaccine could prove an effective means of immunization. However, HCV genomic plasticity as well as the polymorphisms of HLA I molecules restricting CD8 T-cell responses challenges the selection of epitopes for a widely protective vaccine. Here, we devised an approach to overcome these limitations. From available databases, we first collected a set of 245 HCV-specific CD8 T-cell epitopes, all known to be targeted in the course of a natural infection in humans. After a sequence variability analysis, we next identified 17 highly invariant epitopes. Subsequently, we predicted the epitope HLA I binding profiles that determine their potential presentation and recognition. Finally, using the relevant HLA I-genetic frequencies, we identified various epitope subsets encompassing 6 conserved HCV-specific CTL epitopes each predicted to elicit an effective T-cell response in any individual regardless of their HLA I background. We implemented this epitope selection approach for free public use at the EPISOPT web server.

scholarly journals Major T Cell Response to a Mycolyl Glycolipid Is Mediated by CD1c Molecules in Rhesus Macaques

2012 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 311-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Morita ◽  
Yuki Hattori ◽  
Takashi Nakamura ◽  
Tatsuhiko Igarashi ◽  
Hideyoshi Harashima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Mycolic Acids ◽  
Cell Responses

Human CD1b molecules contain a maze of hydrophobic pockets and a tunnel capable of accommodating the unusually long, branched acyl chain of mycolic acids, an essential fatty acid component of the cell wall of mycobacteria. It has been accepted that CD1b-bound mycolic acids constitute a scaffold for mycolate-containing (glyco)lipids stimulating CD1b-restricted T cells. Remarkable homology in amino acid sequence is observed between human and monkey CD1b molecules, and indeed, monkey CD1b molecules are able to bind glucose monomycolate (GMM), a glucosylated species of mycolic acids, and present it to specific human T cellsin vitro. Nevertheless, we found, unexpectedly, thatMycobacterium bovisbacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-vaccinated monkeys exhibited GMM-specific T cell responses that were restricted by CD1c rather than CD1b molecules. GMM-specific, CD1c-restricted T cells were detected in the circulation of all 4 rhesus macaque monkeys tested after but not before vaccination with BCG. The circulating GMM-specific T cells were detected broadly in both CD4+and CD8+cell populations, and upon antigenic stimulation, a majority of the GMM-specific T cells produced both gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), two major host protective cytokines functioning against infection with mycobacteria. Furthermore, the GMM-specific T cells were able to extravasate and approach the site of infection where CD1c+cells accumulated. These observations indicate a previously inconceivable role for primate CD1c molecules in eliciting T cell responses to mycolate-containing antigens.

Transfection of Dendritic Cells with In Vitro Transcribed RNA Induces Polyclonal CMV-Specific CD8+ and CD4+ Mediated T Cell Responses.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1354-1354
Author(s):  
Annkristin Heine ◽  
Tobias Holderried ◽  
Frank Grünebach ◽  
Silke Appel ◽  
Markus M. Weck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Response ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cells ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Rna Transfection

Abstract Transfection of dendritic cells (DC) with in vitro transcribed RNA was shown to be a highly efficient method to generate antigen specific T cells, probably due to the induction of a polyclonal T cell response directed against multiple antigens presented on different HLA allels. However, the experimental evidence of this assumption remains to be demonstrated. To accomplish this, we used monocyte derived DC that were electroporated with RNA coding for the CMV pp65 antigen. The induction and expansion of antigen specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells was assessed using a pannel of peptides derived from this antigen and presented on HLA-A2, -A1, -A11, -A24, -B35 and -B7 in IFN-g ELISPOT, 51Cr-release and proliferation assays. Autologous DC generated from CMV positive healthy donors were pulsed with peptides or transfected with pp65 RNA and utilized as stimulators. Autologous purified CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes were used as effector cells. By applying this approach we found that transfection of DC with pp65 RNA induces an expansion of polyclonal CD8+ mediated T cell responses that recognized peptide antigens presented on different HLA molecules. These in vitro generated cytotoxic T cells were able to efficiently lyse DC pulsed with pp65 derived peptides or transfected with the cognate RNA in an antigen specific manner after several in vitro restimulations. Furthermore, this experimental approach allowed the identification of the immunodominace of T cell epitopes presented upon RNA transfection. The HLA-2 directed responses were more pronounced as compared to the HLA-A1, -A11, -A24 or -B35 allels. In contrast, in 7 out of 7 HLA-A2 and HLA-B7 positive donors B7-peptides elicited a stronger T cell response than the A2-peptide, indicating the immunodominance of HLA-B7 epitopes. Interestingly, transfection of DC with pp65 RNA resulted in the induction of CD4+ antigen specific T cells that produced IFN-g and proliferated upon stimulation with transfected DC. In the next set of experiments we analyzed the possible induction of CMV specific T cells that recognize epitopes deduced from different antigens. Co-transfection of DC with a mixture of RNAs coding for the CMV pp65 and IE1 antigens elicited polyclonal T lymphocytes specific for peptides derived from both antigens. More importantly, polyclonal cytotoxic T cells could be elicited in peripheral blood of 2 out of 3 CMV negative donors demonstrating the efficiency of this approach. Our results demonstrate that DC transfected with RNA can elicit polyclonal T cell responses and have implications for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies to target viral or tumor associated antigens.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C Virus Induces Regulatory T Cells by Naturally Occurring Viral Variants to Suppress T Cell Responses

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew F. Cusick ◽  
Jennifer J. Schiller ◽  
Joan C. Gill ◽  
David D. Eckels
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Regulatory T Cell ◽  
Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Specific Manner

Regulatory T cell markers are increased in chronically infected individuals with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), but to date, the induction and maintenance of Tregs in HCV infection has not been clearly defined. In this paper, we demonstrate that naturally occurring viral variants suppress T cell responses to cognate NS3358-375in an antigen-specific manner. Of four archetypal variants, S370P induced regulatory T cell markers in comparison to NS3358-375-stimulated CD4 T cells. Further, the addition of variant-specific CD4 T cells back into a polyclonal culture in a dose-dependent manner inhibited the T cell response. These results suggest that HCV is able to induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells to suppress the antiviral T cell response in an antigen-specific manner, thus contributing to a niche within the host that could be conducive to HCV persistence.

scholarly journals Virus-Specific CD4+ and CD8+ Cytotoxic T-Cell Responses and Long-Term T-Cell Memory in Individuals Vaccinated against Polio

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 5988-5995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahnuma Wahid ◽  
Martin J. Cannon ◽  
Marie Chow
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cell ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cell Responses

ABSTRACT The presence of poliovirus (PV)-specific CD4+ T cells in individuals vaccinated against polio has been shown, but CD8+ T-cell responses have not been described. Here, we functionally characterize the CD4+ T-cell response and show for the first time that dendritic cells and macrophages can stimulate PV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in vitro from vaccinees. Both CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells secrete gamma interferon in response to PV antigens and are cytotoxic via the perforin/granzyme B-mediated pathway. Furthermore, the T cells also recognize and kill Sabin 1 vaccine-infected targets. The macrophage-stimulated CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells most likely represent memory T cells that persist for long periods in vaccinated individuals. Thus, immunity to PV vaccination involves not only an effective neutralizing antibody titer but also long-term CD4+ and CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell responses.

scholarly journals Prior Dengue Virus Exposure Shapes T Cell Immunity to Zika Virus in Humans

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Grifoni ◽  
John Pham ◽  
John Sidney ◽  
Patrick H. O'Rourke ◽  
Sinu Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Immunity ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cell Immunity

ABSTRACT While progress has been made in characterizing humoral immunity to Zika virus (ZIKV) in humans, little is known regarding the corresponding T cell responses to ZIKV. Here, we investigate the kinetics and viral epitopes targeted by T cells responding to ZIKV and address the critical question of whether preexisting dengue virus (DENV) T cell immunity modulates these responses. We find that memory T cell responses elicited by prior infection with DENV or vaccination with tetravalent dengue attenuated vaccines (TDLAV) recognize ZIKV-derived peptides. This cross-reactivity is explained by the sequence similarity of the two viruses, as the ZIKV peptides recognized by DENV-elicited memory T cells are identical or highly conserved in DENV and ZIKV. DENV exposure prior to ZIKV infection also influences the timing and magnitude of the T cell response. ZIKV-reactive T cells in the acute phase of infection are detected earlier and in greater magnitude in DENV-immune patients. Conversely, the frequency of ZIKV-reactive T cells continues to rise in the convalescent phase in DENV-naive donors but declines in DENV-preexposed donors, compatible with more efficient control of ZIKV replication and/or clearance of ZIKV antigen. The quality of responses is also influenced by previous DENV exposure, and ZIKV-specific CD8 T cells from DENV-preexposed donors selectively upregulated granzyme B and PD1, unlike DENV-naive donors. Finally, we discovered that ZIKV structural proteins (E, prM, and C) are major targets of both the CD4 and CD8 T cell responses, whereas DENV T cell epitopes are found primarily in nonstructural proteins. IMPORTANCE The issue of potential ZIKV and DENV cross-reactivity and how preexisting DENV T cell immunity modulates Zika T cell responses is of great relevance, as the two viruses often cocirculate and Zika virus has been spreading in geographical regions where DENV is endemic or hyperendemic. Our data show that memory T cell responses elicited by prior infection with DENV recognize ZIKV-derived peptides and that DENV exposure prior to ZIKV infection influences the timing, magnitude, and quality of the T cell response. Additionally, we show that ZIKV-specific responses target different proteins than DENV-specific responses, pointing toward important implications for vaccine design against this global threat.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document