| Title: |
A SARS-CoV-2 NSP7 homolog of a Treg epitope suppresses CD4+ and CD8+ T cell memory responses |
| Authors: |
Miah, S. M. Shahjahan; Lelias, Sandra; Gutierrez, Andres H.; McAllister, Mitchell; Boyle, Christine M.; Moise, Lenny; De Groot, Anne S. |
| Source: |
Frontiers in Immunology ; volume 14 ; ISSN 1664-3224 |
| Publisher Information: |
Frontiers Media SA |
| Publication Year: |
2023 |
| Collection: |
Frontiers (Publisher - via CrossRef) |
| Description: |
Pathogens escape host defenses by T-cell epitope mutation or deletion (immune escape) and by simulating the appearance of human T cell epitopes (immune camouflage). We identified a highly conserved, human-like T cell epitope in non-structural protein 7 (NSP7) of SARS-CoV-2, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) hetero-tetramer complex. Remarkably, this T cell epitope has significant homology to a T regulatory cell epitope (Tregitope) previously identified in the Fc region of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) (Tregitope 289). We hypothesized that the SARS-CoV-2 NSP7 epitope (NSP7-289) may induce suppressive responses by engaging and activating pre-existing regulatory T cells. We therefore compared NSP7-289 and IgG Tregitopes (289 and 289z, a shorter version of 289 that isolates the shared NSP7 epitope) in vitro . Tregitope peptides 289, 289z and NSP7-289 bound to multiple HLA-DRB1 alleles in vitro and suppressed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell memory responses. Identification and in vitro validation of SARS-CoV-2 NSP7-289 provides further evidence of immune camouflage and suggests that pathogens can use human-like epitopes to evade immune response and potentially enhance host tolerance. Further exploration of the role of cross-conserved Tregs in human immune responses to pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 is warranted. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
unknown |
| DOI: |
10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290688 |
| DOI: |
10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290688/full |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290688; https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290688/full |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.B1C87476 |
| Database: |
BASE |