The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated killing of virus-infected cells requires previous recognition of short viral antigenic peptides bound to human leukocyte antigen class I molecules that are exposed on the surface of infected cells. The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response is critical for the clearance of human respiratory syncytial virus infection. In this study, naturally processed viral human leukocyte antigen class I ligands were identified with mass spectrometry analysis of complex human leukocyte antigen-bound peptide pools isolated from large amounts of human respiratory syncytial virus-infected cells. Acute antiviral T-cell response characterization showed that viral transcription determines both the immunoprevalence and immunodominance of the human leukocyte antigen class I response to human respiratory syncytial virus.

Newly synthesized HLA class II molecules from antigenpresenting cells associate with the class II invariant chain (Ii). These complexes are eventually transported to specialized endosomal compartments where the Ii is progressively proteolyzed until only a fragment known as the class-II-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP) 1 remains bound in the HLA class II peptide-binding groove to prevent it from binding to cellular peptides or pathogen peptides from the endogenous pathways. Interaction of HLA class II/CLIP complexes with the accessory molecule HLA-DM induces conformational changes in HLA class II molecules. Additionally, the release of CLIP results in peptide-receptive HLA class II molecules. This compartment fuses with a late endosome that contains exogenous proteins and/or viral particles that were previously endocytosed. Thus, the binding of antigen-processed peptides of different lengths, but with specific major anchor residues that can be deeply accommodated into specific pockets of the antigen recognition site of the HLA class II molecule, produces the stabilization of the nascent HLA class II/peptide complexes and allows for their subsequent transport to the cell membrane where they are exposed for T cell recognition (1).Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) (2), which is included in the Paramyxoviridae family of the Mononegavirales order, presents a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA genome that codes for 11 proteins. This enveloped pneumovirus causes repeat infections throughout life, and although in healthy adults mild infections are generally reported, the health risk in infected pediatric, immunocompromised, and elderly populations is much more serious. HRSV is the main cause of hospitalization for bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and young children, with infection rates approaching 70% in the first year of life (3). Worldwide, at least 3.4 million hospital admissions each year are associated with severe HRSV disease, and the global mortality rate was estimated at more than a quarter of a million deaths in 2010, mainly in developing countries (4).The immune mechanisms involved in HRSV disease and protection are not completely understood; however, it is known that infection induces mucosal and systemic humoral and cellular responses. Studies evaluating CD4 ϩ and CD8 ϩ T-lymphocyte subsets individually or together showed that both effector MHC class I-and helper MHC class II-restricted cellular responses are particularly important in clearing infections (5). Previously, some HRSV epitopes that are restricted by different HLA class II molecules were identified using T cells from seropositive individuals (6 -9). However, these experiments were performed with overlapping synthetic pepFrom the ‡Centro Nacional

The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) translocates the cytosol-derived proteolytic peptides to the endoplasmic reticulum lumen where they complex with nascent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules. Non-functional TAP complexes and viral or tumoral blocking of these transporters leads to reduced HLA class I surface expression and a drastic change in the available peptide repertoire. Using mass spectrometry to analyze complex human leukocyte antigen HLA-bound peptide pools isolated from large numbers of TAP-deficient cells, we identified 334 TAP-independent ligands naturally presented by four different HLA-A, -B, and -C class I molecules with very different TAP dependency from the same cell line. The repertoire of TAP-independent peptides examined favored increased peptide lengths and a lack of strict binding motifs for all four HLA class I molecules studied. The TAP-independent peptidome arose from 182 parental proteins, the majority of which yielded one HLA ligand. In contrast, TAP-independent antigen processing of very few cellular proteins generated multiple HLA ligands. Comparison between TAP-independent peptidome and proteome of several subcellular locations suggests that the secretory vesicle-like organelles could be a relevant source of parental proteins for TAP-independent HLA ligands. Finally, a predominant endoproteolytic peptidase specificity for Arg/Lys or Leu/Phe residues in the P1 position of the scissile bond was found for the TAP-independent ligands. These data draw a new and intricate picture of TAP-independent pathways.

Background & Aims HLA-B*27 is associated with spontaneous HCV genotype 1 clearance. HLA-B*27-restricted CD8+ T-cells target three NS5B epitopes. Two of these epitopes are dominantly targeted in the majority of HLA-B*27+ patients. In chronic infection, viral escape occurs consistently in these two epitopes. The third epitope (NS5B2820) was dominantly targeted in an acutely infected patient. This was in contrast, however, to the lack of recognition and viral escape in the large majority of HLA-B*27+ patients. Here, we set out to determine the host factors contributing to selective targeting of this epitope. Methods Four-digit HLA class I typing and viral sequence analyses were performed in 78 HLA-B*27+ patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. CD8+ T-cell analyses were performed in a subset of patients. In addition, HLA/peptide affinity was compared for HLA-B*27:02 and 05. Results The NS5B2820 epitope is only restricted by the HLA-B*27 subtype HLA-B*27:02 (that is frequent in Mediterranean populations), but not by the prototype HLA-B*27 subtype B*27:05. Indeed, the epitope is very dominant in HLA-B*27:02+ patients and is associated with viral escape mutations at the anchor position for HLA-binding in 12 out of 13 HLA-B*27:02+ chronically infected patients. Conclusions The NS5B2820 epitope is immunodominant in the context of HLA-B*27:02, but is not restricted by other HLA-B*27 subtypes. This finding suggests an important role of HLA subtypes in the restriction of HCV-specific CD8+ responses. With minor HLA subtypes covering up to 39% of specific populations, these findings may have important implications for the selection of epitopes for global vaccines.

In the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen processing and presentation pathway, the antigenic peptides are generated from viral proteins by multiple proteolytic cleavages of the proteasome (and in some cases other cytosolic proteases) and transported to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen where they are exposed to aminopeptidase activity. In human cells, two different ER-resident enzymes, ERAP1 and ERAP2, can trim the N-terminally extended residues of peptide precursors. In this study, the possible cooperative effect of generating five naturally processed HLA-B27 ligands by both proteases was analyzed. We identified differences in the products obtained with increased detection of natural HLA-B27 ligands by comparing double versus single enzyme digestions by mass spectrometry analysis. These in vitro data suggest that each enzyme can use the degradation products of the other as a substrate for new N-terminal trimming, indicating concerted aminoproteolytic activity of ERAP 1 and ERAP2.

Background: Individuals with nonfunctional transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) present HLA class I ligands generated by TAP-independent processing pathways. Results: Different subsets of metalloproteinases generate two vaccinia-derived TAP-independent epitopes. Conclusion: Various proteolytic systems contribute to the antiviral cellular immune response, thereby facilitating immunosurveillance. Significance: This may explain why TAP-deficient individuals live normal life spans without any increased susceptibility to viral infections.

Protective cellular and humoral immune responses require previous recognition of viral antigenic peptides complexed with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules on the surface of the antigen presenting cells. The HLA class II-restricted immune response is important for the control and the clearance of poxvirus infection including vaccinia virus (VACV), the vaccine used in the worldwide eradication of smallpox. In this study, a mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify VACV ligands bound to HLA-DR and -DP class II molecules present on the surface of VACV-infected cells. Twenty-six naturally processed viral ligands among the tens of thousands of cell peptides bound to HLA class II proteins were identified. These viral ligands arose from 19 parental VACV proteins: A4, A5, A18, A35, A38, B5, B13, D1, D5, D7, D12, D13, E3, E8, H5, I2, I3, J2, and K2. The majority of these VACV proteins yielded one HLA ligand and were generated mainly, but not exclusively, by the classical HLA class II antigen processing pathway. Medium-sized and abundant proteins from the virion core and/or involved in the viral gene expression were the major source of VACV ligands bound to HLA-DR and -DP class II molecules. These findings will help to understand the effectiveness of current poxvirus-based vaccines and will be important in the design of new ones.

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