The BZLF1 homolog of an Epstein-Barr-related γ-herpesvirus is a frequent target of the CTL response in persistently infected rhesus macaques
The BZLF1 homolog of an Epstein-Barr-related γ-herpesvirus is a frequent target of the CTL response in persistently infected rhesus macaques
复制标题
DOI：
10.4049/jimmunol.176.6.3391
复制
发表时间：
2006-03-15
影响因子：
4.4
通讯作者：
Kaur, Amitinder
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Fogg, Mark H.;Garry, Deirdre;Kaur, Amitinder
Although CD8(+) T lymphocytes targeting lytic infection proteins dominate the immune response to acute and persistent EBV infection, their role in immune control of EBV replication is not known. Rhesus lymphocryptovirus (rhLCV) is a gamma-herpesvirus closely related to EBV, which establishes persistent infection in rhesus macaques. In this study, we investigated cellular immune responses to the rhLCV BZLF1 (rhBZLF1) homolog in a cohort of rhLCV-seropositive rhesus macaques. rhBZLF1-specific IFN-gamma ELISPOT responses ranging between 56 and 3070 spot-forming celIS/10(6) PBMC were detected in 36 of 57 (63%) rhesus macaques and were largely mediated by CD8(+) T lymphocytes. The prevalence and magnitude of ELISPOT responses were greater in adult (5-15 years of age) rather than juvenile macaques (< 5 years of age), suggesting that rhBZLF1-specific CTL increase over time following early primary infection. A highly immunogenic region in the carboxyl terminus of the rhBZLF1 protein containing overlapping CTL epitopes restricted by Mamu-A*01 and other as yet unidentified MHC class I alleles was identified. The presence of a robust CD8(+) T lymphocyte response targeting this lytic infection protein in both rhesus macaques and humans suggests that these CTL may be important for immune control of EBV-related gamma-herpesvirus infection. These data underscore the utility of the rhLCV-macaque model for studies of EBV pathogenesis.
