Elastin receptor (S-gal) occupancy by elastin peptides modulates T-cell response during murine emphysema

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema are associated with increased elastin peptides (EP) production because of excessive breakdown of lung connective tissue. We recently reported that exposure of mice to EP elicited hallmark features of emphysema. EP effects are largely mediated through a receptor complex that includes the elastin-binding protein spliced-galactosidase (S-gal). In previous studies, we established a correlation between cytokine production and S-gal protein expression in EP-treated immune cells. In this study, we investigated the S-gal-dependent EP effects on T-helper (Th) and T-cytotoxic (Tc) responses during murine EP-triggered pulmonary inflammation. C57BL/6J mice were endotracheally instilled with the valine-glycine-valine-alanine-proline-glycine (VGVAPG) elastin peptide, and, 21 days after treatment, local and systemic T-lymphocyte phenotypes were analyzed at cytokine and transcription factor expression levels by multicolor flow cytometry. Exposure of mice to the VGVAPG peptide resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing the cytokines IFN-γ or IL-17a and the transcription factors T-box expressed in T cells or retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) without effects on IL-4 and Gata-binding protein 3 to DNA sequence [A/T]GATA[A/G] expression. These effects were maximized when each T-cell subpopulation was challenged ex vivo with EP, and they were inhibited in vivo when an analogous peptide antagonizing the EP/S-gal interactions was instilled together with the VGVAPG peptide. This study demonstrates that, during murine emphysema, EP-S-gal interactions contribute to a Th-1 and Th-17 proinflammatory T-cell response combined with a Tc-1 response. Our study also highlights the S-gal receptor as a putative pharmacological target to modulate such an immune response.

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Loss of EBV-Specific CD4+T Cells during Progression to EBV-Related AIDS Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Restoration by Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v104.11.3110.3110 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 104 (11) ◽

pp. 3110-3110

Author(s):

Erwan R. Piriou ◽

Christine Jansen ◽

Karel van Dort ◽

Iris De Cuyper ◽

Nening M. Nanlohy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Response ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Antigen Processing ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Cell Numbers

Abstract Objective: EBV-specific CD8+ T cells have been extensively studied in various settings, and appear to play a major role in the control of EBV-related malignancies. In contrast, it is still unclear whether EBV-specific CD4+ T cells play a role in vivo. To study this question, an assay was developed to measure the CD4+ T-cell response towards two EBV antigens, in both healthy (n=14) and HIV-infected subjects (n=23). In addition, both HAART-treated (n=12) and untreated HIV+ individuals (n=14) - including progressors to EBV-related lymphoma - were studied longitudinally. Methods: EBV-specific CD4+ T cells were stimulated with peptide pools from latent protein EBNA1 and lytic protein BZLF1, and detected by measurement of IFNg-production. Results: After direct ex vivo stimulation, EBNA1 or BZLF1-specific IFNg- (and/or IL2) producing CD4+ T cell numbers were low, and measurable in less than half of the subjects studied (either HIV- and HIV+). Therefore, PBMC were cultured for 12 days in the presence of peptides and IL2 (from day 3), and then restimulated with peptides, allowing specific and reproducible expansion of EBV-specific CD4+ T cells, independent of HLA type and ex vivo antigen processing. Interestingly, numbers of EBV-specific CD4+ T cells inversely correlated with EBV viral load, implying an important role for EBV-specific CD4+ T cells in the control of EBV in vivo. Untreated HIV-infected individuals had a lower CD4+ T cell response to EBNA1 and BZLF1 as compared to healthy EBV carriers and HAART-treated HIV+ subjects. In longitudinal samples, EBNA1-specific, but not BZLF1-specific T-cell numbers increased after HAART, while EBV load was not affected by treatment. In all the progressors to EBV-related lymphoma, EBV-specific CD4+ T cells were lost at least 24 months before lymphoma diagnosis. Conclusions: Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data suggest an important role for EBV-specific CD4+ T cells in the control of EBV-related malignancies. Furthermore, it seems that HAART treatment leads to recovery of EBNA1-specific, but not BZLF1-specific CD4+ T-cell responses, implying changes in the latency pattern of EBV, despite an unaltered cell-associated EBV DNA load. Thus, early HAART treatment might prevent loss of specific CD4+ T-cell help and progression to NHL.

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Role of viral infectivity in the induction of influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T cells.

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.147.4.1236 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 147 (4) ◽

pp. 1236-1252 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

T J Braciale ◽

K L Yap

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Response ◽

Infectious Virus ◽

Cytotoxic T Cells ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cytotoxic T Cell

This report examines the requirement for infectious virus in the induction of influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T cells. Infectious influenza virus was found to be highly efficient at generating both primary and secondary cytotoxic T-cell response in vivo. Inactivated influenza virus however, failed to stimulate a detectable cytotoxic T-cell response in vivo even at immunizing doses 10(5)-10(6)-fold higher than the minimum stimulatory dose of infectious virus. Likewise inactivated virus failed to sensitize target cells for T cell-mediated lysis in vitro but could stimulate a specific cytotoxic response from primed cells in vitro. Possible requirements for the induction of virus-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses are discussed in light of these observations and those of other investigators.

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Deciphering the Plasmodium falciparum malaria-specific CD4+ T cell response: ex vivo detection of high frequencies of PD-1+TIGIT+ EXP1-specific CD4+ T cells using a novel HLA-DR11-restricted MHC class II tetramer

Clinical & Experimental Immunology ◽

10.1093/cei/uxab027 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sophia Schulte ◽

Janna Heide ◽

Christin Ackermann ◽

Sven Peine ◽

Michael Ramharter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Mhc Class Ii ◽

Cell Response ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Class Ii ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Inhibitory Receptors

Abstract Relatively little is known about the ex vivo frequency and phenotype of the P. falciparum-specific CD4+ T cell response in humans. The exported protein 1 (EXP1) is expressed by plasmodia at both, the liver stage and blood stage, of infection making it a potential target for CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cells. Here, a fluorochrome-labelled HLA-DRB1*11:01-restriced MHC class II tetramer derived from the P. falciparum EXP1 (aa62-74) was established for ex vivo tetramer analysis and magnetic bead enrichment in ten patients with acute malaria. EXP1-specific CD4+ T cells were detectable in nine out of ten (90%) malaria patients expressing the HLA-DRB1*11 molecule with an average ex vivo frequency of 0.11% (0-0.22%) of total CD4+ T cells. The phenotype of EXP1-specific CD4+ T cells was further assessed using co-staining with activation (CD38, HLA-DR, CD26), differentiation (CD45RO, CCR7, KLRG1, CD127), senescence (CD57) and co-inhibitory (PD-1, TIGIT, LAG-3, TIM-3) markers as well as the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73. EXP1-specific tetramer+ CD4+ T cells had a distinct phenotype compared to bulk CD4+ T cells and displayed a highly activated effector memory phenotype with elevated levels of co-inhibitory receptors and activation markers: EXP1-specific CD4+ T cells universally expressed the co-inhibitory receptors PD-1 and TIGIT as well as the activation marker CD38 and showed elevated frequencies of CD39. These results demonstrate that MHC class II tetramer enrichment is a sensitive approach to investigate ex vivo antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in malaria patients that will aid further analysis of the role of CD4+ T cells during malaria.

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132. IMMUNE-DEVIATING CYTOKINES DETERMINE THE MATERNAL T CELL RESPONSE DURING PREGNANCY AND TOLERANCE OR REJECTION OF THE CONCEPTUS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/srb09abs132 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

L. M. Moldenhauer ◽

J. D. Hayball ◽

S. A. Robertson

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Immune Tolerance ◽

Cell Response ◽

Fetal Loss ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cell Phenotype ◽

Fetal Survival

In healthy pregnancies the maternal immune system establishes paternal antigen-specific tolerance allowing survival of the semi-allogeneic conceptus. The cytokine environment is a key factor in determining the phenotype of antigen-specific lymphocytes, influencing the development of either cytotoxic or tolerogenic cells. We hypothesized that the cytokine environment at the time of priming to paternal antigens influences the phenotype of the maternal T cell response and pregnancy outcome. Transgenic Act-mOVA male mice expressing chicken ovalbumin (OVA) ubiquitously provided OVA as a model paternal antigen. OVA is present within the semen of Act-mOVA mice and is inherited and expressed by the conceptus tissue. OVA-reactive CD8+ OT-I T cells were activated with OVA in the presence of various immune-deviating cytokines in vitro, before transfer at 3.5 dpc to C57Bl/6 (B6) females gestating OVA-expressing fetuses. Pregnant mice received either naïve OT-I T cells, cytotoxic OT-I T cells stimulated in vitro in the presence of IL-2 or OT-I T cells stimulated in vitro in the presence of TGFβ1 and IL-10, two factors present in the uterus and associated with immune tolerance. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to demonstrate that OT-I T cells infiltrate into the implantation site. Cytotoxic OT-I T cells caused fetal loss, while OT-I T cells activated in vivo or in vitro with TGFβ1 and IL-10 did not cause fetal loss. Additionally, cytotoxic OT-I T cells did not affect B6 x B6 matings, demonstrating the antigen-specific nature of the T cell-mediated fetal loss. Collectively these experiments show that maternal antigen-reactive T cells activated in vivo in the cytokine environment of the mated uterus are tolerogenic, not cytotoxic, and implicate TGFβ1 and IL-10 as key elements of that environment. We conclude that the cytokine environment at the time of priming to paternal antigens influences the T cell phenotype and impacts upon maternal immune tolerance and fetal survival.

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Profiling Human CMV-specific T cell responses reveals novel immunogenic ORFs

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00940-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rekha Dhanwani ◽

Sandeep Kumar Dhanda ◽

John Pham ◽

Gregory P. Williams ◽

John Sidney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Cell Response ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

T Cell Response ◽

T Cell Epitopes ◽

Entire Genome ◽

Systematic Analysis ◽

Human T Cell ◽

Cell Immunity

Despite the prevalence and medical significance of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections, a systematic analysis of the targets of T cell recognition in humans that spans the entire genome and includes recently described potential novel ORFs is not available. Here, we screened a library of epitopes predicted to bind HLA class II that spans over 350 different HCMV ORFs and includes ∼150 previously described and ∼200 recently described potential novel ORFs using an ex vivo IFNγ fluorospot assay. We identified 235 unique HCMV specific epitopes derived from 100 ORFs, some previously described as immunodominant and others that were not previously described to be immunogenic. Of those, 41 belong to the set of recently reported novel ORFs, thus providing evidence that at least some of these are actually expressed in vivo in humans. These data reveal that the breadth of the human T cell response to HCMV is much greater than previously thought. The ORFs and epitopes identified will help elucidate how T cell immunity relates to HCMV pathogenesis and instruct ongoing HCMV vaccine research. Importance To understand the crucial role of adaptive immunity in controlling cytomegalovirus infection and disease, we systematically analyzed the CMV 'ORFeome’ to identify new CMV epitopes targeted primarily by CD4 T cells in humans. Our study identified >200 new T cell epitopes derived from both canonical and novel ORFs, highlighting the substantial breadth of anti-CMV T cell response and providing new targets for vaccine design.

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Impact of Regulatory T Cells on Antigen Specific T Cell Response Using Recombinant Chimeric T Cell Receptors In Vivo.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v108.11.5475.5475 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 108 (11) ◽

pp. 5475-5475

Author(s):

David M. Kofler ◽

Markus Chmielewski ◽

Heike Koehler ◽

Tobias Riet ◽

Patrick Schmidt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Regulatory T Cells ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

T Cell Receptors ◽

Cell Response ◽

Effector T Cells ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cell Receptors

Abstract Recombinant T cell receptors with defined specificity against tumor cells are a promising experimental approach in the elimination of residual leukemia and lymphoma cells. It is so far unresolved whether regulatory T cells with suppressor activities impair the efficiency of cytolytic T cells grafted with a recombinant immunoreceptor. The frequency of regulatory T cells is highly increased in tumor patients and their suppressive function seems to play a role in the fail of an autologous T cell response against the malignant cells. In this study we analyzed the antigen-triggered, specific activation of receptor grafted T cells in the presence or absence of regulatory CD4+CD25high T cells. CD3+ T cells were grafted with CEA-specific immunoreceptors containing the CD3-zeta signaling domain for T cell activation. Co-cultivation of receptor grafted effector T cells together with regulatory T cells repressed proliferation of the effector cells and decreased IL-2 secretion. Secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-10 was not impaired. Interestingly, the cytotoxicity of grafted effector T cells towards CEA-expressing tumor cells was not impaired by regulatory T cells in vitro. To evaluate the relevance in vivo, we used a Crl:CD1 Nu/Nu mouse model to assess growth of CEA+ tumor cells in the presence of receptor grafted effector T cells and of regulatory T cells. Mice inoculated with tumor cells together with CD3+ effector T cells without immunoreceptor and regulatory T cells developed earlier tumors with faster growth kinetics compared to mice that were inoculated with tumor cells, CD3+ T cells and CD4+CD25- control T cells. Using effector T cells that were equipped with a recombinant CEA-specific CD3-zeta immunoreceptor, 2 of 5 mice developed a tumor in the presence of regulatory T cells while none of the mice developed a tumor in the absence of regulatory T cells. Taken together, regulatory T cells obviously impair an antigen-specific, anti-tumor T cell attack in vivo. This seems to be due to repression of proliferation of the effector T cells and not to diminished cytotoxicity. These findings have major impact on the design of clinical studies involving adoptively transferred effector T cells.

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NME-2 Protein Functions as a Tumour Associated Antigen in HLA-A2+ Cells and Is Over Expressed in CML Via a Bcr/Abl Dependent Post Transcriptional Mechanism.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.3266.3266 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. 3266-3266

Author(s):

Sabine Tschiedel ◽

Melanie Adler ◽

Karoline Schubert ◽

Annette Jilo ◽

Enrica Mueller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Cell Response ◽

Research Funding ◽

Kinase Activity ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Advisory Committees

Abstract Abstract 3266 Poster Board III-1 Introduction: NmE2 (Nm23-H2, NDP kinase B) is one of a family of proteins that catalyze the transfer of gamma-phosphate between nucleoside-triphosphates and diphosphates. The two major family members, NmE1 and NmE2 are strongly implicated in the control of differentiation, proliferation, migration and apoptosis via interactions which are often independent of their kinase activity, NmE2 being a transcriptional activator of the c-myc gene. We recently identified NmE2 as a tumour associated, HLA-A32+ restricted, antigen in a patient with CML and found the protein (but not the mRNA) to be generally over expressed in CML but not in other haematological malignancies. We also detected a specific T-cell response in peripheral blood cells of a patient 5 years after transplantation. This identifies NmE2 as a potential target for both molecular and immunotherapy of CML. However, the development of immunotherapeutic approaches will depend on the ability of NmE2 to function as a tumour antigen in common HLA backgrounds. The aims of this study were firstly to investigate the antigenicity of NmE2 in the HLA-A2 background (which accounts for more than 50% of the Caucasian population), and secondly to characterise the regulatory relationship between Bcr/Abl and NmE2 using a cell line model of CML. Materials and Methods: 5 nonameric NmE2 peptides with predicted anchor amino acids for HLA-A2 were loaded at concentrations of 10μM separately onto HLA-A2 expressing antigen presenting cells. Elispot Assays were carried out with CD8+ MLLCs (for the identification of antigenic peptides) or CD8+ cells isolated directly from a CML patient at different time points after HCT. Ba/F3 cells stably expressing wild type and mutant forms of Bcr/Abl were treated with imatinib and nilotinib (0 – 10 μM) for 48h. Bcr/Abl activity was assessed by FACS using antibodies specific for the phosphorylated forms of CrkL and Stat5. NmE2 and c-Myc protein were detected by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting with specific antibodies [Santa Cruz, clones L-16 and 9E10 respectively]. Levels of nme2 and c-myc mRNA were determined by quantitative real time PCR. Results: Full length NmE2 protein and 2 of 5 HLA-A2 anchor-containing peptides tested (NmE2132–140 and NmE2112–120) were specifically recognized by the HLA-A2+ CD8+ MLLC, demonstrating the antigenicity of NmE2 in the HLA-A2 background in vitro. Furthermore, while CD8+ T-cells from a transplanted HLA-A2+ CML patient showed little or no specific reactivity in the first 10 months after HCT, a distinct reactivity (up to 0.6 % NmE2 reactive CD8+ T cells) became apparent at later stages, consistent with the development of an immune response against NmE2-expressing cells in vivo. The patient remained negative for bcr/abl transcripts throughout this period. BA/F3 Bcr/Abl cells expressed increased levels of NmE2 protein (but not mRNA) compared to the parent BA/F3 line. Interestingly, treatment with imatinib or nilotinib reduced NmE2 protein expression in BA/F3 Bcr/Abl, but not in cells expressing Bcr/Abl mutants resistant to the respective inhibitors. Treatment of BA/F3 Bcr/Abl cells with the PI3K inhibitor Ly294002 resulted in reduced Bcr/Abl activity and a corresponding reduction in both c-Myc and NmE2 protein levels, without affecting mRNA levels. Conclusion: The over expression of NmE2 is closely linked to Bcr/Abl kinase activity, the predominant level of regulation being post-transcriptional and dependent on PI-3K activity. The NmE2 protein is restricted by HLA-A2 as well as by HLA-A32. The development of an NmE2-specific T-cell response in a CML patient after stem cell transplantation suggests that NmE2 functions as a tumour antigen in HLA-A2+ patients in vivo and may be relevant to the long term immune control of CML. NmE2 is therefore a promising candidate for the development of new immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of CML. Disclosures: Lange: BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Niederwieser:BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

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Suppression by Thimerosal of Ex-Vivo CD4+ T Cell Response to Influenza Vaccine and Induction of Apoptosis in Primary Memory T Cells

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0092705 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. e92705 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Emily Loison ◽

Béatrice Poirier-Beaudouin ◽

Valérie Seffer ◽

Audrey Paoletti ◽

Vered Abitbol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Cell Response ◽

Memory T Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Primary Memory ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Induction Of Apoptosis

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A new concept on anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: strong CD8+ T-cell immune response in both spleen and lung induced in mice by endogenously engineered extracellular vesicles

10.1101/2020.12.18.423420 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Flavia Ferrantelli ◽

Chiara Chiozzini ◽

Francesco Manfredi ◽

Patrizia Leone ◽

Maurizio Federico

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cell Immune Response ◽

Cell Immunity ◽

Dna Vectors

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 is spreading rapidly in the absence of validated tools to control the growing epidemic besides social distancing and masks. Many efforts are ongoing for the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 since there is an imminent need to develop effective interventions for controlling and preventing SARS-CoV-2 spread. Essentially all vaccines in most advanced phases are based on the induction of antibody response against either whole or part of spike (S) protein. Differently, we developed an original strategy to induce CD8+ T cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) immunity based on in vivo engineering of extracellular vesicles (EVs). We exploited this technology with the aim to identify a clinical candidate defined as DNA vectors expressing SARS-CoV-2 antigens inducing a robust CD8+ T-cell response. This is a new vaccination approach employing a DNA expression vector encoding a biologically inactive HIV-1 Nef protein (Nefmut) showing an unusually high efficiency of incorporation into EVs even when foreign polypeptides are fused to its C-terminus. Nanovesicles containing Nefmut-fused antigens released by muscle cells are internalized by antigen-presenting cells leading to cross-presentation of the associated antigens thereby priming of antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells. To apply this technology to a design of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, we recovered DNA vectors expressing the products of fusion between Nefmut and four viral antigens, namely N- and C-terminal moieties of S (referred to as S1 and S2), M, and N. All fusion products are efficiently uploaded in EVs. When the respective DNA vectors were injected in mice, a strong antigen-specific CD8+ T cell immunity was generated. Most important, high levels of virus-specific CD8+ T cells were found in bronchoalveolar lavages of immunized mice. Co-injection of DNA vectors expressing the diverse SARS-CoV-2 antigens resulted in additive immune responses in both spleen and lung. EVs engineered with SARS-CoV-2 antigens proved immunogenic also in the human system through cross-priming assays carried out with ex vivo human cells. Hence, DNA vectors expressing Nefmut-based fusion proteins can be proposed as anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates.

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Antigen-specific T-cell receptor signatures of cytomegalovirus infection

10.1101/450882 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Alina Huth ◽

Xiaoling Liang ◽

Stefan Krebs ◽

Helmut Blum ◽

Andreas Moosmann

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

T Cell Receptor ◽

Cell Response ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Cell Receptor ◽

T Cell Response ◽

The Body ◽

T Cell Epitopes ◽

Virus Reactivation

AbstractCytomegalovirus (CMV) is a prevalent human pathogen. The virus cannot be eliminated from the body, but is kept in check by CMV-specific T cells. Patients with an insufficient T-cell response, such as transplant recipients, are at high risk of developing CMV disease. However, the CMV-specific T-cell repertoire is complex, and is not yet clear which T cells protect best against virus reactivation and disease. Here we present a highly resolved characterization of CMV-specific CD8+ T cells based on enrichment by specific peptide stimulation and mRNA sequencing of their T-cell receptor β chains (TCRβ). Our analysis included recently identified T-cell epitopes restricted through HLA-C, whose presentation is resistant to viral immunomodulation, and well-studied HLA-B-restricted epitopes. In 8 healthy virus carriers, we identified a total of 1052 CMV-specific TCRβ chains. HLA-C-restricted, CMV-specific TCRβ clonotypes theex vivoT-cell response, and contributed the highest-frequency clonotype of the entire repertoire in 2 of 8 donors. We analyzed sharing and similarity of CMV-specific TCRβ sequences and identified 63 public or related sequences belonging to 17 public TCRβ families. In our cohort and in an independent cohort of 352 donors, the cumulative frequency of these public TCRβ family members was a highly discriminatory indicator of carrying both CMV infection and the relevant HLA type. Based on these findings, we propose CMV-specific TCRβ signatures as a biomarker for an antiviral T-cell response to identify patients in need of treatment and to guide future development of immunotherapy.

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