Minimal T-cell-stimulatory sequences and spectrum of HLA restriction of immunodominant CD4+ T-cell epitopes within hepatitis C virus NS3 and NS4 proteins.

ABSTRACT: The hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD4+ T-cell response against nonstructural proteins is strongly associated with successful viral clearance during acute hepatitis C. To further develop these observations into peptide-based vaccines and clinical immunomonitoring tools like HLA class II tetramers, a detailed characterization of immunodominant CD4+ T-cell epitopes is required. We studied peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 patients with acute hepatitis C using 83 overlapping 20-mer peptides covering the NS3 helicase and NS4. Eight peptides were recognized by > or = 40% of patients, and specific CD4+ T-cell clones were obtained for seven of these and three additional, subdominant epitopes. Mapping of minimal stimulatory sequences defined epitopes of 8 to 13 amino acids in length, bu

SUBMITTER: Gerlach JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1211510 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature