Identification of B cell epitopes reactive to human papillomavirus type-16L1- derived peptides

• Main Authors: Fukui Akimasa, Matsueda Satoko, Kawano Kouichiro, Tsuda Naotake, Komatsu Nobukazu, Shichijo Shigeki, Sasada Tetsuro, Hattori Satoshi, Ushijima Kimio, Itoh Kyogo, Kamura Toshiharu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-09-01
• Series: Virology Journal
• Subjects: Human papillomavirus; Prophylactic vaccine; Anti-peptide antibody; Virus-like particles
• Online Access: http://www.virologyj.com/content/9/1/199

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Persistent infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 causes cervical cancer. To better understand immune responses to the prophylactic vaccine, HPV 16/18 L1 virus-like particles (HPV-VLPs), we investigated B cell epitopes of HPV16 L1-derived peptides.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sera from mice immunized with HPV-16/18 L1 VLPs were analyzed for their IgG titers against 10 different HPV16 L1-derived peptides (20-mer) that contain human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I A-2, A-24 and class II DR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One 20-mer peptide at positions 300 to 319 was identified as a common B cell epitope in both Balb/c (H-2^d) and C57BL/6 (H-2^b) mice. Mapping analysis showed that the 10-amino-acid sequence at positions 304to 313 was an immunogenic portion. It is of note that the binding capability of this 10-mer peptide to the HLA-A2 and HLA-A24 molecules was confirmed by the HLA class I stabilization assay. In addition, one unique 20-mer was determined as a B cell epitope in each strain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results might provide new information for better understanding of immune responses to HPV 16 L1.</p>