[Identification of HTNV-NP-specific T lymphocyte epitopes and analysis of the epitope-specific T cell response].

AIM

To identify the nucleocapsid protein of Hantaan virus (HTNV-NP)-specific T lymphocyte epitopes and analyze the epitope-specific T cell response during hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

METHODS

T lymphocyte epitopes and frequencies of epitope-specific T cells were determined by ELISPOT using PBMCs from HFRS patients stimulated by individual or mixture of overlapping 15-mer peptides spanning the amino acid sequence of HTNV-NP.

RESULTS

Out of 10 peptide mixtures, 8 elicited strong HTNV-NP-specific responses in 18 of 47 HFRS patients, and the T cell response was found at early stage of HFRS. Moreover, 17 HTNV-NP-specific T lymphocyte epitopes were identified in 11 patients, and most epitopes were clustered near the center of NP in linear structure. Among them, 14 T lymphocyte epitopes were described for the first time.

CONCLUSION

HTNV-NP-specific T cell response can be elicited at early stage of HFRS and T lymphocyte epitopes mainly located in the center of NP, suggesting that it may play an important role in immune protection during HTNV infection.