Mucosal HIV-1 pox virus prime-boost immunization induces high-avidity CD8 T cells with regime-dependent cytokine/granzyme B profiles

Abstract

The quality of virus-specific CD8+ CTL immune responses generated by mucosal and systemic poxvinis prime-boost vaccines were evaluated in terms of T cell avidity and single-cell analysis of effector gene expression. Intranasal (I.N.) immunization regimes generated higher avidity CTL responses specific for HIV KdGag197-205 (amino acid sequence AMQMLKETI; H-2Kd binding) compared with i.m. immunization regime. Single-cell RT-PCR of KdGag197-205-specific mucosal and systemic CTL revealed that the cytokine and granzyme B expression profiles were dependent on both the route and time after immunization. The I.N./i.m.-immunized group elicited elevated number of CTL-expressing granzyme B mRNA from th..