CD8(+) T cells specific for both persistent and non-persistent viruses display distinct differentiation phenotypes but have similar level of PD-1 expression in healthy Chinese individuals.

Anti-viral CD8(+) T cell responses involve an initial expansion and effector phase, followed by contraction phase and formation of CD8(+) memory T cells. During this contraction phase, increased surface expression of the negative regulator PD-1 is associated with functional exhaustion of CD8(+) T cells. Although its role in T cell suppression has been established, the importance of PD-1 in the differentiation of CD8(+) T cells remains unclear. In this study, we examine PD-1 expression in relation to viral specificity of CD8(+) T cells against persistent or non-persistent viruses, and further define differentiation phenotypes of CD8(+) T cells by CD27 and CD28 expression. Surprisingly, the inhibitory receptor PD-1 was expressed by Flu-specific CD8(+) T cells in a level comparable to HCMV-and EBV-specific cells. Moreover, in virus-specific CD8(+) T cells, CD127(+)/CD127(-) and CD62L(+)/CD62L(-) cells expressed similar levels of PD-1 molecules. These results suggest that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may play a regulatory role in memory T cell subsets in addition to its association with T-cell exhaustion.

[Improved expression of HLA-A* 2402-BSP in Escherichia coli and its tetramer preparation].

HLA-A* 2402 is one of the most frequently encountered HLA-A alleles in East Asian populations. In order to study the CD8+ T cell responses in Chinese populations, we have described the generation and functional test of HLA-A* 2402 tetramer loaded with HCMV pp65(341-349) peptide (QYDPVAALF, QYD). The cDNA of HLA-A* 2402 heavy chain was cloned by RT-PCR from one of the donors. DNA fragment encoding the ectodomain of HLA-A* 2402 heavy chain fused at its carboxyl-terminal a BirA substrate peptide (BSP) was amplified by PCR with the cloned heavy chain cDNA as a template. The wild-type gene of HLA-A* 2402-BSP was not expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), while mutant HLA-A* 2402-BSP gene with optimized codons was overexpressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli. Furthermore, the soluble HLA-A* 2402-QYD monomers were generated by in vitro refolding of washed inclusion bodies in the presence of beta2-microglobulin and QYD peptide. The tetramer was subsequently formed by mixing HLA-A* 2402-QYD monomers with streptavidin-PE at a molar ratio of 4:1. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that this tetramer possessed binding activity with specific CTL from HLA-A24+ donors and the frequencies of tetramer-binding CTL were 0.09% - 0.37% within total CD8+ T cells. This tetrameric agent provides a powerful tool to explore the secrets of CTL responses against HCMV antigens in HLA-A* 2402 individuals.

[Preparation and identification of human soluble sPD-L1 and its antibodies].

This study reports the preparation and identification of soluble programmed death-1 (PD-1) ligand-1 (sPD-L1) and its antibodies of mouse origin. Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography was used to perform on-column refolding with simultaneous purification of denatured sPD-L1, and soluble sPD-L1 with purity of 95% was obtained. The purified sPD-L1 was verified by immunoblotting using a commercial goat-anti-human PD-L1 antibody. An ELISA-based assay showed that it also had high binding activity for its cognate receptor PD-1. Furthermore, mouse anti-sPD-L1 antiserum of high titer was raised using the purified sPD-L1 as an immunogen, and the specific IgG antibodies were purified using sPD-L1-HiTrap affinity chromatography. In addition, a sensitive sandwich ELISA was established using the purified IgG antibodies together with the commercial goat antibodies. In conclusion, the preparation of soluble sPD-Ll and its antibodies provide the basis for detection of the potential anti-PD-L1 antibodies and soluble PD-L1 in humans as well as for further investigation of its in vivo bioactivities and characterization of its potential receptors.

[Expression and refolding of a HLA-A*0203-BSP fusion protein and identification of its tetramers].

AIM: To optimize expression condition of HLA-A*0203 heavy chain ectodomain fused with a BirA substrate peptide (BSP) (HLA-A*0203-BSP) for E.coli BL21(DE3) transformant and to prepare a functional HLA-A*0203 tetramer loaded with an antigenic peptide derived from EBNA3(596-604) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). METHODS: The temperature, IPTG concentration and inductive duration of HLA-A*0203-BSP fusion protein expressed for E.coli BL21(DE3) transformant were optimized. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses were employed to detect the expressed fusion protein. The monomer of soluble HLA-A*0203-peptide was generated from the fusion protein by in vitro refolding of washed inclusion bodies in the presence of beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) and HLA-A*0203 restricted EBV EBNA3(596-604) peptide (SVRDRLARL, SVR). Refolded and purified monomer was then biotinylated with BirA. Following the purification of the obtained biotinylated monomer, the tetramer was formed by incubation with streptavidin-PE at a ratio of 4:1. Flow cytometry (FCM) analysis was performed to determine its binding activity with specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). RESULTS: SDS-PAGE and Western blot showed that the optimized expression condition was overnight induction at 37 degrees C with 0.4 mmol/L IPTG. The expressed protein of about 34 kDa in the form of inclusion bodies accumulated up to about 30% of total bacterial protein under the optimized expression condition. The monomer of soluble HLA-A*0203/SVR was successfully generated and purified. Non-reducing SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the biotinylation was above 85%. HLA-A*0203/SVR tetramer was constructed by mixing the monomer with streptavidin-PE at a ratio of 4:1. FCM analysis indicated that this tetramer could bind specific CTL from HLA-A2+ donors. CONCLUSION: HLA-A*0203-BSP fusion protein was overexpressed in E.coli under the optimized condition. The tetramers of HLA-A*0203/SVR were prepared from this fusion protein and it possessed binding activity with specific CTL, which provided a powerful tool for direct visualization and quantification of specific CTL from HLA-A*0203 donors.