TY - JOUR
T1 - Cross-recognition of two middle T protein epitopes by immunodominant polyoma virus-specific CTL
AU - Wilson, Christopher S.
AU - Moser, Janice M.
AU - Altman, John D.
AU - Jensen, Peter E.
AU - Lukacher, Aron E.
PY - 1999/4/1
Y1 - 1999/4/1
N2 - We recently identified the immunodominant epitope for polyoma virus- specific CTL as the Dκ-associated peptide MT389-397 derived from the middle T (MT) viral oncoprotein. Another Dκ-restricted peptide corresponding to residues 236-244 of MT was recognized by nearly all MT389-397- reactive CTL clones, but required concentrations at least 2 logs higher to sensitize syngeneic target cells for lysis. Except for identity at the three putative Dκ-peptide anchor residues, MT236-244 shares no homology with MT389-397. Using a novel curopium-based class I MHC-peptide binding immunoassay, we determined that MT236-244 bound Dκ 2-3 logs less well than MT389-397. Infection with a mutant polyoma virus whose MT is truncated just before the MT389-397 epitope or immunization with MT389-397 or MT236-244 peptides elicited CTL that recognized both MT389-397 and MT236-244. Importantly, infection with a polyoma virus lacking MT389-397 and mutated in an MT236-244 Dκ anchor position induced polyoma virus-specific CTL recognizing neither MT389-397 nor MT236-244 epitopes. Despite predominant usage of the Vβ6 gene segment, MT389-397/MT236-244 cross-reactive CTL clones possess diverse complementarity-determining region 3β domains; this is functionally reflected in their heterogeneous recognition patterns of alanine-monosubstituted MT389-397 peptides. Using Dκ/MT389- 397 tetramers, we directly visualized MT236-244 peptide-induced TCR down-modulation of virtually all MT389-397-specific CD8+ T cells freshly explanted from polyoma-infected mice, suggesting that a single TcR recognizes both Dκ-restricted epitopes. The availability of immunodominant epitope-specific CTL capable of recognizing a second epitope in MT, a viral protein essential for tumorigenesis, may serve to amplify the CTL response to the immunodominant epitope and prevent the emergence of immunodominant epitope-loss viruses and virus-induced tumors.
AB - We recently identified the immunodominant epitope for polyoma virus- specific CTL as the Dκ-associated peptide MT389-397 derived from the middle T (MT) viral oncoprotein. Another Dκ-restricted peptide corresponding to residues 236-244 of MT was recognized by nearly all MT389-397- reactive CTL clones, but required concentrations at least 2 logs higher to sensitize syngeneic target cells for lysis. Except for identity at the three putative Dκ-peptide anchor residues, MT236-244 shares no homology with MT389-397. Using a novel curopium-based class I MHC-peptide binding immunoassay, we determined that MT236-244 bound Dκ 2-3 logs less well than MT389-397. Infection with a mutant polyoma virus whose MT is truncated just before the MT389-397 epitope or immunization with MT389-397 or MT236-244 peptides elicited CTL that recognized both MT389-397 and MT236-244. Importantly, infection with a polyoma virus lacking MT389-397 and mutated in an MT236-244 Dκ anchor position induced polyoma virus-specific CTL recognizing neither MT389-397 nor MT236-244 epitopes. Despite predominant usage of the Vβ6 gene segment, MT389-397/MT236-244 cross-reactive CTL clones possess diverse complementarity-determining region 3β domains; this is functionally reflected in their heterogeneous recognition patterns of alanine-monosubstituted MT389-397 peptides. Using Dκ/MT389- 397 tetramers, we directly visualized MT236-244 peptide-induced TCR down-modulation of virtually all MT389-397-specific CD8+ T cells freshly explanted from polyoma-infected mice, suggesting that a single TcR recognizes both Dκ-restricted epitopes. The availability of immunodominant epitope-specific CTL capable of recognizing a second epitope in MT, a viral protein essential for tumorigenesis, may serve to amplify the CTL response to the immunodominant epitope and prevent the emergence of immunodominant epitope-loss viruses and virus-induced tumors.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 10201912
AN - SCOPUS:0033120063
VL - 162
SP - 3933
EP - 3941
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
SN - 0022-1767
IS - 7
ER -