Tissue specificity of cross-reactive allogeneic responses by EBV EBNA3A-specific memory T cells

Abstract

Background: The crossreactivity of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 3A [EBNA3A])-specific CD8 T cells against allogeneic human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*44:02 has been shown to be dependent on presentation of self-peptide EEYLQAFTY by the target antigen. In this study, we report that allogeneic HLA-B*44:02 proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are poor targets for EBV EBNA3A-specific T cells. Methods: The EEY peptide was exogenously loaded onto HLA-B*44:02 and HLA-B*44:03-expressing PTECs and HUVECs. EEY-peptide-loaded, and unloaded, PTECs and HUVECs were then incubated with serial dilutions of our EBNA3A T-cel..