The Fine Specificity of Recognition of Influenza Virus Proteins by Human Cytotoxic T Cells

Abstract

Influenza specific, MHC restricted cytotoxic T cells have been shown to be of importance during the in vivo response to Influenza A virus infection in mouse and man (Lin et al 1981, McMichael et al 1983.) It has been possible to map the virus specificity of such CTL raised in vitro from immune individuals usina recombinant vaccinia viruses which express single influenza viral proteins in appropriate target cells. Thus CTL have been shown to recognise the conserved internal proteins of Influenza A virus — nucleoprotein (NP), basic polymerase (PB2) and matrix protein (M1) (Gotch et al 1987a). Peptides derived from influenza proteins have been identified that were recognised by virus specific human CTL in association with MHC class I molecules (Townsend et al 1986 and Cotch et al 1987b). Thus it seems likely that viral antigens are processed inside infected cells and peptides representing discrete entities from individual antigens are presented on the surface of the target cell specifically bound to class I MHC molecules. CTL recognition and destruction of virally infected targets may therefore be thought of as a tripartite interaction between peptide, MHC molecule and T cell receptor, and it was of considerable interest to elucidate further the nature of this tripartite complex and to understand the interactions involved.