ABSTRACT
Objective To explore how to trigger an HLA Ⅰ restricted CD8 + T cell response to exogenously synthesized peptides in vitro . Methods A new panel of therapeutic peptides based on the immunodominant B and CTL epitopes of HBV PreS 2 region and HBcAg and the tetanus toxoid common T helper epitopes were synthesized by Merrifield solid phase peptide synthesis, and HLA A2 + human PBMCs were used to investigate the immunological properties of the mimetic peptides. Results The results demonstrated that the peptides could trigger vigorous CD8 + HBV specific CTL responses in vitro specifically and effectively. Conclusion The results reveal that T helper plus B epitopes designing with the introduction of short and flexible linker can remarkably improve the immunogenicity of short peptides and hence produce effective CTL responses in vitro .