Host CD8 T cell response to viral infections involves recognition of 8-10-mer peptides presented by MHC-I molecules. However, proteasomes generate predominantly 2-7-mer peptides, but the role of these peptides is largely unknown. Here, we show that s ...
Host CD8 T cell response to viral infections involves recognition of 8-10-mer peptides presented by MHC-I molecules. However, proteasomes generate predominantly 2-7-mer peptides, but the role of these peptides is largely unknown. Here, we show that single short peptides of <8-mer from Latent Membrane Protein 2 (LMP2) of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) can bind HLA-A*11:01 and stimulate CD8 + cells. Surprisingly, two peptide fragments between 4-7-mer derived from LMP2 (340-349) were able to complement each other, forming combination epitopes that can stimulate specific CD8 + T cell responses. Moreover, peptides from self-antigens can complement non-self peptides within the HLA binding cleft, forming neoepitopes. Solved structures of a tetra-complex comprising two peptides, HLA and β2-microglobulin revealed the free terminals of the two peptides to adopt an upward conformation directed towards the T cell receptor. Our results demonstrate a previously unknown mix-and-match combination of dual peptide occupancy in HLA that can generate vast combinatorial complexity.
Organizational Affiliation:
Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, #03-06 Immunos, Singapore, 138648, Singapore. ren_ee_chee@immunol.a-star.edu.sg.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore, 119260, Singapore. ren_ee_chee@immunol.a-star.edu.sg.,Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, #03-06 Immunos, Singapore, 138648, Singapore.
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