1
|
Weidt G, Utermöhlen O, Heukeshoven J, Lehmann-Grube F, Deppert W. Relationship Among Immunodominance of Single CD8+ T Cell Epitopes, Virus Load, and Kinetics of Primary Antiviral CTL Response. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 1998. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.160.6.2923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The primary CTL response of BALB/c mice infected with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus strain WE is directed exclusively against one major epitope, n118, whereas a viral variant, ESC, that does not express n118 induces CTL against minor epitopes. We identified one minor epitope, g283, that induces primary lytic activity in ESC-infected mice. Infections of mice with WE and ESC were used to study the hierarchical control of a T cell response. Presentation of minor epitopes is not reduced in WE-infected cells. Generation of CTL against n118 does not suppress the generation of minor epitope-specific CTL systemically, as mice coinfected with WE and ESC developed CTL against n118 and g283. However, elimination of ESC and development of minor epitope-specific CTL in ESC infection were slower than elimination of WE and development of CTL against n118. CD8+ T cells against the minor epitope were activated in ESC and WE infection, but did not expand in the latter to show lytic activity in a primary response. We explain the absence of minor epitope-specific lytic activity in WE infection by the fast reduction of virus load due to the early developing n118-specific CTL. Immunodominance of CTL epitopes in primary virus infections thus can be explained as a kinetic phenomenon composed of 1) expansion of CD8+ T cells specific for individual epitopes, 2) stimulatory effect of virus load, and 3) negative feedback control on virus load by the fastest CTL population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Weidt
- Heinrich Pette Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie an der Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Olaf Utermöhlen
- Heinrich Pette Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie an der Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Heukeshoven
- Heinrich Pette Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie an der Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fritz Lehmann-Grube
- Heinrich Pette Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie an der Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Deppert
- Heinrich Pette Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie an der Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|