A novel T-cell epitope in the transmembrane region of the hepatitis B virus envelope protein responds upon dendritic cell expansion.

ABSTRACT: Restoring antiviral immunity is a promising immunotherapeutic approach to the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Dendritic cells play a crucial role in triggering antiviral immunity. In this study, we identified immunodominant epitopes prevalent in CD8⁺ T cell responses. We characterized the hierarchy of HBV epitopes targeted by CD8⁺ T cells following autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cell (moDC) expansion in HBV-infected subjects with distinct disease stages: treatment-naïve (TN group, n = 168), treatment with complete virological response (TR group, n = 72), and resolved HBV infection (RS group, n = 28). T cell responses against 32 HBV epitopes were measured upon moDC expansion. Several subdominant epitopes that triggered HBV-specific CD8

SUBMITTER: Chen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6373280 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature