Brief Report
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2001. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2001; 7(4): 583-586
Published online Aug 15, 2001. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i4.583
Identification of the epitopes on HCV core protein recognized by HLA-A2 restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes
Hong-Chao Zhou, De-Zhong Xu, Xue-Ping Wang, Jing-Xia Zhang, Ying-Huang, Yong-Ping Yan, Yong Zhu, Bo-Quan Jin
Hong-Chao Zhou, De-Zhong Xu, Xue-Ping Wang, Jing-Xia Zhang, Ying-Huang, Yong-Ping Yan, Department of Epidemiology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710033, Shaanxi Province, China
Yong Zhu, Bo-Quan Jin, Department of Immunology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710033, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, No. 39800121
Correspondence to: Dr. Yong Zhu, Department of Immunology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710033, China. juliu@fmmu.edu.cn, Shaanxi, http: //www.fmmu.edu.cn
Telephone: 0086-29-3374871 Ext.17 Fax: 0086-29-3374868
Received: February 13, 2001
Revised: March 5, 2001
Accepted: March 12, 2001
Published online: August 15, 2001
Abstract

AIM: To identify hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein epitopes recognized by HLA-A2 restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL).

METHODS: Utilizing the method of computer prediction followed by a 4 h 51Cr release assay confirmation.

RESULTS: The results showed that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from two HLA-A2 positive donors who were infected with HCV could lyse autologous target cells labeled with peptide “ALAHGVRAL (core 150-158)”. The rates of specific lysis of the cells from the two donors were 37.5% and 15.8%, respectively. Blocking of the CTL response with anti-CD4 mAb caused no significant decrease of the specific lysis. But blocking of CTL response with anti-CD8 mAb could abolish the lysis.

CONCLUSION: The peptide (core 150-158) is the candidate epitope recognized by HLA-A2 restricted CTL.

Keywords: hepatitis C virus, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, HLA-A2, epitope