Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
9
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-10-23
pubmed:abstractText
RNA viruses undergo rapid sequence variation as the result of error-prone RNA replication mechanisms. When viable mutations arise in RNA regions encoding B or T cell epitopes, mutant viruses that can evade immune detection may be selected. In the carefully studied CTL response to the Gag p11C(C-M) epitope in SIVmac-infected Mamu-A*01(+) rhesus monkeys, it has been shown that CTL recognition of that epitope can occur even in the face of accruing mutations. To explore the underlying mechanism for this breadth of recognition, we have constructed Mamu-A*01 tetramers which discriminate T cells specific for epitope variants. Using these reagents we have defined discrete subsets of p11C(C-M)-specific T cells that cross-react with cells presenting variant peptides. We have found that individual Mamu-A*01(+) monkeys differ functionally in their ability to recognize epitope variants despite consistently strong recognition of the p11C(C-M) epitope. This functional difference is accounted for by the relative number of variant-specific T cells and by differences in the functionally relevant TCR repertoire of the infected monkeys. We have also found that monkeys immunized with DNA vaccine constructs encoding only the wild-type epitope sequence develop p11C(C-M)-specific CTL cross-reactive with variant peptides. Thus, cross-reactive CTL do not merely arise secondary to the emergence and immune presentation of viral CTL escape mutants but rather arise de novo following priming with a dominant epitope peptide sequence. Taken together, our results support the concept that the CTL response to a dominant viral epitope, although highly focused, can be clonally diverse and recognize potential epitope variants.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0022-1767
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
167
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
4996-5003
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Clonally diverse CTL response to a dominant viral epitope recognizes potential epitope variants.
pubmed:affiliation
Division of. Viral Pathogenesis, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA. wcharini@caregroup.harvard.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.