HLA-A*0201/Kb及MAGE-3基因共转染B16细胞的制备及其在MAGE-3肿瘤疫苗评价中的作用

目的:为了用HLA-A2.1转基因鼠制备荷瘤模型以评价肿瘤疫苗的免疫效果,制备共表达HLA-A*0201/Kb嵌合基因和MAGE-3的B16黑色素瘤细胞.方法:采用基因共转染的方法,将HLA-A*0201/Kb和MAGE-3转染到B16黑色素瘤细胞(B16-HLA-MAGE-3),利用RT-PCR、流式细胞术(FCM)和Western blot检测了HLA-A*0201/Kb和MAGE-3在B16黑色素瘤中的表达;通过测定CTL活性和体内抑瘤实验证实肿瘤抗原MAGE-3可以在B16-HLA-MAGE-3中得到有效加工处理和提呈.结果:RT-PCR、FCM和Western blot检测到HLA-A*0201/Kb和MAGE-3在B16-HLA-MAGE-3黑色素瘤中的表达;LDH的方法观察到MAGE-3疫苗免疫小鼠脾细胞对B16-HLA-MAGE-3细胞的特异性CTL反应,抑瘤实验也证实,B16-HLA-MACE-3细胞在免疫小鼠体内生长明显受到抑制.结论:MAGE-3基因在B16-HLA-MAGE-3黑色素瘤细胞中得到表达,并被有效的加工处理、提呈给特异性CD8 T细胞;B16-HLA-MAGE-3细胞可以用来制备荷瘤模型,且该方法适合利用转基因小鼠用于人表位疫苗的体内评价.     

健康青年人HCMV特异性CD8+T细胞频率和表型分析

目的 利用负载pp65495.503抗原肽的HLA-A*0201四聚体染色结合流式细胞术,分析HLA-A2 健康青年供者外周血中HCMV pp65495-503特异性记忆CD8 T细胞的频率和表型.方法 以优化的四聚体染色方法对22例中国青年供者全血进行染色,用流式细胞仪对样品进行三色荧光分析.结果 健康中国青年人外周血中存在高频率的pp65495-503特异性CD8 T细胞,占CD8 T细胞的百分率为0.14～6.84%(均数2.45%);表型分析显示其CD28 细胞占四聚体阳性和四聚体阴性细胞的百分率分别为为32.5%(±21.7%)和58.58%(±10.4%)(P＜0.001);CD57 细胞占四聚体阳性和四聚体阴性细胞的百分率分别为55.8%(±18.4%)和27.4%(±8.3%)(P＜0.001).同时,对三例健康青年人CD8 T细胞上多种表面分子的详细分析显示,pp65495-503特异性记忆CD8 T细胞有不同比率的细胞表达CD62L、CD45RO、CD38和CD27,而且还有一定比例的细胞表达CD45RA,但不表达活化抗原CD69分子.结论 青年中国人外周血中存在高频率的HCMV特异性CD8 T细胞,这些细胞的表型存在高度异质性,可能是处于不同分化阶段的记忆和效应细胞群体组成.     

HLA-A*0201/CAP-1四聚体在结直肠癌研究中的应用1

目的:应用HLA-A*0201/CAP-1四聚体,分析HLA-A*0201+CEA+结直肠癌患者的外周血及癌旁肠系膜引流淋巴结的特异性CTLs的数量。方法:分离健康人(18例)PBMC和结直肠癌(23例)患者PBMC以及癌旁肠系膜引流淋巴结的淋巴细胞,应用流式细胞术,以HLA-A*0201/CAP-1和HLA-A*0201/FLUmp四聚体检测CAP-1和FLUmp特异性CTLs的频率。结果:在25例HLA-A*0201+个体中,结直肠癌组和正常组外周血单个核细胞中HLA-A*0201/FLU四聚体+CD8+细胞的频率分别为(0.671±0.421)%和(0.564±0.408)%,两组之间无显著差异(P=0.525)。结直肠癌组和正常组外周血单个核细胞中HLA-A*0201/CAP-1四聚体+CD8+细胞的频率分别为(2.409±2.385)%和(0.020±0.021)%,两组之间有显著差异(P=0.008)。结论:HLA-A*0201+结直肠癌患者HLA-A*0201/CAP-1四聚体+CD8+细胞的频率升高,说明CEA特异性CTLs在结直肠癌患者的免疫监视功能中具有重要的作用。对存在针对肿瘤抗原的特异性CTLs却无法阻止肿瘤进展的具体机制需要更加深入的研究。     

负载HCMV pp65抗原肽的HLA-A*1101-GPI四聚体的制备和鉴定

为体外复性制备负载人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)pp65抗原肽的HLA-A*1101-GPI四聚体,研究优化HLA-A*1101重链与生物素化酶底物肽融合蛋白(HLA-A*1101-BSP)在大肠杆菌中的诱导表达的温度、时间和诱导剂IPTG浓度,并以抗HLA-A*0201抗血清进行免疫印迹鉴定HLA-A*1101-BSP的表达水平。将初步纯化的HLA-A*1101-BSP与β2-微球蛋白(β2m)和HCMV抗原肽pp6516-24(GPISGHVLK,简称GPI)一起利用稀释法进行重折叠复性,获得可溶性HLA-A*1101-GPI单体,经生物素化和纯化后,与Streptavidin-PE结合成四聚体。流式细胞仪分析显示HLA-A*1101-GPI四聚体具有与特异性细胞毒T细胞(CTL)的结合活性,表明成功获得可溶性HLA-A*1101-GPI四聚体,为研究HLA-A*1101限制性CTL的免疫应答打下基础。     

人工抗原提呈细胞的制备和应用的研究

目的 制备人工抗原提呈细胞（artificial antigen presenting cell,aAPC）并用它从HLA-A2阳性健康个体外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中诱导和扩增特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）.方法 将HLA-A2-EBV四聚体分子和抗CD28抗体分子吸附固定在细胞大小的聚苯乙烯乳胶微球（5μm）表面制成aAPC;采用流式细胞仪表型分析;aAPC和HLA-A2阳性个体人外周血单核细胞进行混合淋巴细胞反应;用HLA-A＊0201-EBV四聚体染色法检测特异性CTL的频率;应用细胞内细胞因子染色法检测特异性CTL功能性细胞因子IFN-γ的分泌;采用LDH释放法检测特异性CTL的特异杀伤活性.结果 流式细胞仪分析显示微球表面吸附有HLA-A2-EBV四聚体分子和抗CD28抗体分子;四聚体检测及细胞内细胞因子染色法检测与经典细胞毒试验结果一致,结果表明aAPC在体外可诱导抗原特异性CTL的生成.结论 aAPC制备成功,并在体外有效地诱导抗原特异性CTL的生成.     

HLA-A*0206-BSP和-A*0207-BSP融合基因的构建与表达

采用RT-PCR技术从HLA-A*0206和-A*0207阳性个体的PBMC中分别克隆出HLA-A*0206和-A*0207基因的全长cDNA序列,构建HLA-A*0206和-A*0207克隆载体。再利用PCR技术从构建的克隆载体中扩增HLA-A*0206和-A*0207的α链(重链)胞外段序列,分别经双酶切置换本室保存的HLA-A*0201-BSP重组体中的HLA-A*0201胞外段序列,使HLA-A*0206和-A*0207与BirA酶底物肽(BirA substrate peptide,BSP)序列融合,构建HLA-A*0206-BSP和-A*0207-BSP融合基因的表达载体,经限制性酶切和DNA测序证实。然后将该表达载体转化E.coliBL21(DE3)后获得表达产物,通过体外稀释复性,初步纯化的表达产物通过ELISA和Western blot检测证明能够与β2微球蛋白(HLA I类分子轻链)及HLA-A2限制性抗原肽(HBV core 18-27)折叠形成具有HLA I类分子天然构象的抗原肽/HLA-A2复合物单体。为进一步构建HLA-A*0206和-A*0207四聚体,探讨相应HLA-A2亚型的功能特点提供了物质基础。     

三种常见HBV抗原肽-HLA-A*0201复合物四聚体的构建及初步检测应用

目的 体外构建三种常见HBV抗原肽-HLA-A*0201复合物四聚体,并初步用该三种四聚体对抗原肽特异性的细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)进行了初步检测.方法 原核高效表达的HLA-A*0201-BSP和β2m蛋白,分别和三种HBV抗原肽(HBVCore18-27,Env335-343,Po1575-583)体外复性折叠成可溶性的HLA-A*0201抗原肽复合物单体,经BirA酶作用并通过凝胶过滤层析法纯化复合物单体,分别将复合物单体与藻红蛋白标记的链霉亲和素按一定比例耦合构建成相应的三种抗原肽四聚体.最后进行流式细胞仪检测.结果 Dot-ELISA和ELISA检测显示获得了三种具有天然构象的生物素化的HBV抗原肽-HLA-A*0201复合物单体.构建的三种四聚体均可以检测到相应特异性的CTL,在自限性感染患者体内针对乙肝核心抗原(core18-27)的CTL细胞频数(0.18%)高于针对聚合酶抗原(po1575-583)(0.08%)和包膜抗原(env335-343)(0.06%).结论 成功构建了三种具有完整构象的生物素化HBV抗原肽-HLA-A*0201复合物单体,所构建的三种四聚体都可以检测到抗原特异性的CTL.     

HIV-1 pol抗原HLA-A＊0201限制性低亲和性CTL表位预测及改造分析

目的:初步筛选HIV-1 pol抗原的HLA-A*0201 限制性低亲和性CTL表位,预测并初步鉴定修饰后的表位与HLA-A*0201之间亲和性的变化.方法:采用超基序、蛋白酶解、HLA结合力等预测相结合的办法筛选HLA-A*0201限制性低亲和性CTL表位,通过氨基酸置换适当修饰,并以T2细胞检测HLA-A*0201分子与肽的亲和力和稳定性来评价修饰后表位.结果:筛选出的低亲和性CTL候选表位,经修饰后与HLA-A*0201 之间的亲和性均有不同程度的提高.其中,YVSLSFPQI (pol52-60Y1),YVSQIIEQL(pol673-681Y1),YIQKETWEA(pol548-556Y1)HLA-A*0201呈高亲和力结合,同时肽-HLA-A*0201复合物半数解离时间(Dissociation Complex50,DC50)均大于8 h.结论:预测的pol抗原表位经过修饰可能会成为潜在的HLA-A*0201限制性表位.     

巨细胞病毒特异性免疫应答体外检测系统的建立

目的 以巨细胞病毒(CMV)感染的成纤维母细胞为抗原提呈细胞,建立CMV特异性细胞免疫应答的体外检测模型.方法 将CMV-AD169、RV-TB40E-4突变株分别感染人胚肺成纤维母细胞(HELF),流式细胞仪(FCM)检测感染细胞HLA-A * 0201表达强度;将感染的HELF、荷载外源性多肽的自身外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)以及未感染的HELF分别与PBMC共同孵育,FCM检测CD8+ T细胞内IFN-γ的表达作为应答指标.结果 CMV-AD169感染细胞HLA-A * 0201表达强度较未感染组降低78.24%±19.72%,而突变株病毒不影响其表达,而且对AD169感染的HELF无应答的PBMC却对突变株病毒感染的细胞显示出了强阳性应答.AD169感染并荷载外源性多肽的HELF产生的刺激应答率,是感染的HELF和荷载多肽的未感染HELF所诱导应答比率的总和.结论 CMV-AD169下调MHG Ⅰ分子表达,但不减弱细胞提呈外源多肽的能力.RV-TB40E-4是US2-6/US11基因被删除的CMV突变株,不抑制MHC Ⅰ分子表达,从而代表了一种更适宜研究CMV特异性免疫应答的工具.     

Identification of a new HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T cell epitope from hepatocellular carcinoma-associated antigen HCA587

For the development of peptide-based cancer immunotherapies, we aimed to identify specific HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated antigen HCA587, which has been identified as a member of the cancer/testis (CT) antigens highly expressed in HCC. We first combined the use of an HLA-A*0201/peptide binding algorithm and T2 binding assays with the induction of specific CD8(+) T cell lines from normal donors by in vitro priming with high-affinity peptides, then IFN-gamma release and cytotoxicity assays were employed to identify the specific HLA-A*0201 CD8(+) T cell epitope using peptide-loaded T2 cells or the HCA587 protein(+) HCC cell line HepG2. In the six candidate synthesized peptides, two peptides showed higher binding ability in T2 binding assays. No. 2 peptide, encompassing amino acid residues FLAKLNNTV (HCA587(317-325)), was able to activate a HCA587-specific CD8(+) T-cell response in human lymphocyte cultures from two normal donors and two HCC patients, and these HCA587-specific CD8(+) T cells recognized peptide-pulsed T2 cells as well as the HCA587 protein(+) HCC cell line HepG2 in IFN-gamma release and cytotoxicity assays. The results indicate that no. 2 peptide is a new HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitope capable of inducing HCA587-specific CTLs. Our data suggest that identification of this new HCA587/HLA-A*0201 peptide FLAKLNNTV may facilitate the design of peptide-based immunotherapies for the treatment of HCA587-bearing HCC patients.     

Functional profile of human influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity is influenced by interleukin-2 concentration and epitope specificity

The ability of influenza A virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to degranulate and produce cytokines upon antigenic restimulation was studied in four HLA-A*0101 and HLA-A*0201 positive subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of these subjects were stimulated with influenza A virus in the presence of high or low interleukin (IL)-2 concentrations. CD8(+) T cell populations specific for the HLA-A*0101 restricted epitope NP(44-52) and the HLA-A*0201 restricted epitope M1(58-66) were identified by positive staining with tetramers of peptide major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) (NP-Tm and M1-Tm, respectively). Within these populations, the proportion of cells mobilizing CD107a, or expressing interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-(TNF)-alpha upon short-term peptide restimulation was determined by flow cytometry. Independent of IL-2 concentrations, large subject-dependent differences in the mobilization of CD107a and expression of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha by both NP- and M1-specific T cells were observed. In two of the four subjects, the functional profile of NP-Tm(+) and M1-Tm(+) cells differed considerably. Overall, no difference in the proportion of NP-Tm(+) or M1-Tm(+) cells expressing CD107a was observed. The proportion of M1-Tm(+) cells that produced IFN-gamma (P < 0.05) was larger than for NP-Tm(+) cells, independent of IL-2 concentration. When cultured under IL-2(hi) concentrations higher TNF-alpha expression was also observed in M1-Tm(+) cells (P < 0.05). The IL-2 concentration during expansion of virus-specific cells had a profound effect on the functionality of both M1-Tm(+) and NP-Tm(+) cells.     

The use of HLA-A*0201-transfected K562 as standard antigen-presenting cells for CD8(+) T lymphocytes in IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays.

ELISPOT assays are increasingly used for a direct detection and quantification of single antigen-specific T cells in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). They are particularly attractive for the monitoring of specific T lymphocyte responses in clinical trials assessing antigen-specific immunizations in patients with cancer or chronic viral infections. However, one major limitation for the broad clinical implementation of ELISPOT assays is the lack of an inexhaustible source of suitable HLA-matched antigen-presenting cells (APC). Currently available allogeneic or xenogeneic APC (such as the human lymphoid hybrid T2 or HLA-transfected insect cells) can either lead to strong background spot production by APC-reactive T lymphocytes or have a low antigen presentation capability. Both phenomena can prevent the detection of low frequency T cell responses in PBMC. In search of alternative APC for ELISPOT assays, the human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 that per se does not express HLA class I and class II molecules on the cell surface was transfected with the HLA-A*0201 gene. Clonal HLA-A*0201-expressing K562 (K562/A*0201) cells were able to process and present endogenously expressed and exogenously loaded melanoma peptide antigens to HLA-A*0201-restricted cytolytic T lymphocyte clones in cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays. K562/A*0201 cells were then used as APC in IFN-gamma spot assays to detect ex vivo CD8(+) T lymphocytes responsive to known HLA-A*0201-binding peptide epitopes derived from cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, influenza virus and melanoma in PBMC from HLA-A*0201-positive donors. In the majority of cases, peptide-pulsed K562/A*0201 cells were similarly efficient in the ability to visualize single antigen-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes when compared to T2 cells. However, in contrast to T2, background reactivity of CD8(+) T cells responsive to unpulsed K562/A*0201 was regularly found to be negligible, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the ELISPOT assay, particularly in donors with strong anti-T2 reactivity. K562 cells transfected with HLA-A*0201 or other HLA genes can serve as standard APC for monitoring T lymphocyte responses against tumor and viral peptide antigens.     

Antibody-conjugated MHC class I tetramers can target tumor cells for specific lysis by T lymphocytes

To demonstrate that antibody-guided targeting of antigenic MHC class I-peptide tetramer on tumor cells can render them susceptible to lysis by relevant cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), biotinylated HLA-A*0201/Flu matrix peptide complexes were tetramerized on streptavidin molecules previously coupled to Fab' fragments from monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for cell surface markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ErbB-2 or CD20. Flow cytometry analysis showed that coating of the HLA-A2-peptide complexes on the four HLA-A2-negative human cancer lines tested (including a CEA-positive colon carcinoma, an ErbB-2(+) breast carcinoma and two CD20(+) B lymphomas) was entirely dependent upon the specificity of the conjugated antibody fragments. More importantly, HLA-A2-restricted Flu matrix peptide-specific CTL were then found to lyse specifically and efficiently the MHC-coated target cells. These results open the way to the development of new immunotherapy strategies based on antibody targeting of MHC class I-peptide complexes.     

Functional differences between influenza A-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones expressing dominant and subdominant TCR.

We have shown that the dominance of CD8+ T cells expressing TCR Vbeta17 in the adult HLA-A*0201-restricted influenza A/M1(58-66)-specific response is acquired following first antigen exposure. Despite the acquired dominance of Vbeta17+ cells, subdominant M1(58-66)-specific clones expressing non-Vbeta17+ TCR persist in all individuals. To determine whether the affinity of the expressed TCR for the HLA-A*0201/M1(58-66) complex could influence functional properties, M1(58-66)-specific clones expressing subdominant (non-Vbeta17+) TCR were compared to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones expressing dominant (Vbeta17+) TCR. The Vbeta17+ CTL required up to 10,000-fold lower amounts of M1 peptide to mediate lysis compared to CTL clones expressing other Vbeta gene segments. All Vbeta17+ CTL clones tested bound HLA-A*0201/M1(58-66) tetramer, but two of three CTL clones expressing other TCR did not bind tetramer. The inability of non-Vbeta17+ CTL to bind tetramer did not correlate with phenotype, CD8 dependence or with cytokine production profiles. This suggests a limitation for the use of tetramers in examining subdominant T cell responses. Together these findings suggest that Vbeta17+ CTL which dominate the HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL response against influenza A are not functionally distinct from subdominant non-Vbeta17+ CTL. The dominance of Vbeta17+ CTL is likely to result from a competitive advantage due to superior CTL avidity for the HLA-A*0201/M1(58-66) complex.     

Generation and characterization of malaria-specific human CD8(+) lymphocyte clones: effect of natural polymorphism on T cell recognition and endogenous cognate antigen presentationby liver cells

CD8(+) cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) play a fundamental role in the clearance of malaria parasites from the liver in mouse models. In humans, however, only low levels of parasite-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes have been observed in individuals living in endemic areas. In the present study, we identified high levels of circulating CD8(+) T lymphocytes specific for a previously described HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitope of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum in an adult living in Burkina Faso, as evidenced by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay and MHC-tetramer technology. After cloning by limiting dilution culture, T cell recognition of natural CS variants of P. falciparum was studied. The results demonstrate that naturally occurring variations drastically affect residues critical for T cell recognition as only two out of nine sequences analyzed were efficiently recognized by the CTL clones. These clones were also used to analyze T cell recognition of the endogenously presented cognate antigen. We observed efficient antigen recognition of both HLA-A*0201-transfected murine antigen presenting cells and liver cells from HLA-A*0201/K(b)-transgenic mice upon infection with recombinant vaccinia virus encoding the CS protein (WR-CS). More importantly, we demonstrate for the first time efficient recognition of WR-CS-infected human liver cells.     

四聚体技术检测原发性胆汁性肝硬化患者血循环中抗原特异性T细胞

目的定量检测原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)患者体内抗原特异性T淋巴细胞含量,探讨其在PBC发病机制中的作用。方法采用四聚体技术检测15例HLA-A0201阳性(A2 )PBC患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)经抗原肽诱导生长的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)中PDC-E2159~167aa与PDC-E2165~174aa特异性CD8 T细胞频率,以A0201阴性(A2-)PBC患者与A2 的其他慢性肝病和健康自愿者为对照组。结果在A2 PBC患者PDC-E2159~167aa与PDC-E2165~174aa诱导的CTL中可检测到其相应的四聚体/CD8 细胞,平均频率分别为0.42%±0.24%(0.17%~1.08%)、0.27%±0.17%(0.05%~0.56%),各对照组的四聚体阳性细胞频率均低于0.1%,差异非常显著(P<0.001);A2 PBC组中PDC-E2159~167aa特异性的CTL频率与PDC-E2165~174aa特异性的CTL无显著性差异(P>0.05)。处于临床Ⅰ、Ⅱ期的A2 PBC患者中CD8 特异性CTL频率均较Ⅲ期的要高(P<0.05)。PDC-E2159~167aa特异性CTL与PDC-E2165~174aa特异性CTL频率在抗-PDC阳性PBC组和抗-PDC阴性组之间均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论HLA-A0201限制性的PDC-E2159~167aa和PDC-E2165~174aa特异性CD8 CTL在PBC疾病进展中起重要作用,抗线粒体抗体阴性或抗-PDC阴性PBC患者与阳性患者可能有着相似的T细胞介导的免疫发病机制。     

Dendritic Cells Engineered to Express Defined Allo-HLA Peptide Complexes Induce Antigen-specific Cytotoxic T Cells Efficiently Killing Tumour Cells

Most tumour-associated antigens (TAA) are non-mutated self-antigens. The peripheral T cell repertoire is devoid of high-avidity TAA-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) due to self-tolerance. As tolerance is major histocompatibility complex-restricted, T cells may be immunized against TAA presented by a non-self human leucocyte antigen (HLA) molecule and transferred to cancer patients expressing that HLA molecule. Obtaining allo-restricted CTL of high-avidity and low cross-reactivity has, however, proven difficult. Here, we show that dendritic cells transfected with mRNA encoding HLA-A*0201, efficiently present externally loaded peptides from the antigen, Melan-A/MART-1 to T cells from HLA-A*0201-negative donors. CD8⁺ T cells binding HLA-A*0201/MART-1 pentamers were detected already after 12 days of co-culture in 11/11 donors. The majority of cells from pentamer⁺ cell lines were CTL and efficiently killed HLA-A*0201⁺ melanoma cells, whilst sparing HLA-A*0201⁺ B-cells. Allo-restricted CTL specific for peptides from the leukaemia-associated antigens CD33 and CD19 were obtained with comparable efficiency. Collectively, the results show that dendritic cells engineered to express defined allo-HLA peptide complexes are highly efficient in generating CTL specifically reacting with tumour-associated antigens.     

Programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand pathway-mediated immune responses against human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and carriers with autoimmune disorders

Human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) causes HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma in individuals with dysfunctional immune responses. In this study, to characterize the HTLV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) populations in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (ACs), HAM/TSP patients, and carriers with autoimmune disorders (CAIDs), we examined the role of programmed death-1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) in HTLV-1-specific CTL functions using an HTLV-1 Tax/HLA-A*0201 tetramer and an HTLV-1 Tax/HLA-A*2402 tetramer. Interestingly, the percentage of HTLV-1 Tax301-309/HLA-A*2402 tetramer(+)CD8(+) cells expressing PD-1 in ACs was significantly higher than the percentage of HTLV-1 Tax11-19/HLA-A*0201 tetramer(+)CD8(+) cells expressing PD-1. PD-1 expression was significantly downregulated on HTLV-1-specific CTLs in HAM/TSP compared with ACs. PD-L1 expression was observed in a small proportion of unstimulated lymphocytes from ACs and was greater in ACs than in HAM/TSP and CAIDs after short-term culture. Furthermore, CTL degranulation was impaired in HAM/TSP, whereas anti-PD-L1 blockade significantly increased CTL function in ACs. Downregulation of PD-1 on HTLV-1-specific CTLs and loss of PD-L1 expression in HAM/TSP and CAIDs, along with impaired function of HTLV-1-specific CTLs in HAM/TSP, may underlie the apparently dysfunctional immune response against HTLV-1.