Response of primed human PBMC to synthetic peptides derived from hepatitis B virus envelope proteins: a search for promiscuous epitopes

• Published in: FEMS immunology and medical microbiology Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 77 - 85
• Main Authors: Doh, Hyounmie, Roh, Sujin, Lee, Kyung Wha, Kim, Kilhyoun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier B.V 21.01.2003; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte - immunology; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Histocompatibility Testing; HLA-DQ Antigens - genetics; HLA-DR Antigens - genetics; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Medical sciences; Molecular Sequence Data; Peptides - chemical synthesis; Peptides - chemistry; Peptides - immunology; Peripheral blood mononuclear cell; T helper epitope; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; Vaccines, Synthetic; Viral diseases; Viral Envelope Proteins - chemistry; Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology; Viral hepatitis; T helper epitope; Peripheral blood mononuclear cell; Hepatitis B virus; Human; Immune response; Typing; Antigenic determinant; Peptides; Class II histocompatibility antigen; Orthohepadnavirus; Helper cell; Infection; Virus; Hepatitis; Allele; Mononuclear cell; Hepadnaviridae; Viral disease; T-Lymphocyte; Virus envelope
• ISSN: 0928-8244; 1574-695X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0928-8244(02)00461-3

This investigation was aimed at identifying effective T helper cell epitopes to the hepatitis B virus in humans. A panel of synthetic peptides that represent the hepatitis B virus whole envelope proteins was examined for their capability to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells from human subjects infected with hepatitis B virus naturally. In addition, a large number of subjects were examined and their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II allele types were identified to determine whether the helper T cell epitope is specific for a particular HLA allele or ‘promiscuous’. The peptides of the amino acid residues 52–67, 110–125, 190–205, and 228–243 appeared to be immunogenic, and particularly, the 52–67 residue was the most promiscuous epitope peptide. These results would contribute to the better understanding of the helper T cell responses to the hepatitis B virus and provide a useful way in designing epitope-based vaccines and future therapeutic strategies.