Cytolytic T lymphocytes from HLA-B8⁺donors frequently recognize the Hodgkin's lymphoma associated latent membrane protein 2 of Epstein Barr virus

Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is a lymphotrophic γ-herpesvirus that infects more than 90% of the adult human population. It transforms B cells in vitro and is associated with lymphomas in vivo. In most EBV carriers the emergence of these malignancies, however, is prevented by T cell mediated immune control. Part of this control is mediated by CD8⁺ T cells, which mainly target a subset of viral nuclear antigens, EBNA3A, B and C, in healthy EBV carriers. In HLA-B8 positive individuals, the dominant CTL response is biased towards recognition of EBNA3A. However, spontaneously arising EBV-associated malignancies, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma do not express EBNA3s and instead express latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) as well as LMP1 and EBNA1. Here we describe the new HLA-B8 restricted, LMP2 derived CD8⁺ T cell epitope, LMP2_345-352. Although the frequency of LMP2_345-352 specific CD8⁺ T cells is usually lower than immunodominant EBNA3A specific CD8⁺ T cells in fresh blood, the former can be expanded in the majority of HLA-B8⁺ EBV carriers after 1 week co-culture with peptide pulsed dendritic cells. We demonstrate that LMP2_345-352 specific CD8⁺ T cells secrete IFN-γ and kill both peptide pulsed targets as well as HLA-B8 matched LCL and LMP2 expressing Hodgkin's lymphoma cells. We suggest that cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cell responses against LMP2 coexist with the immunodominant EBNA3 specific responses in healthy EBV carriers and help to resist EBV associated malignancies.