Characterization of JC virus-specific CD4+ T cell epitopes in healthy individuals

Abstract

Infection with John Cunningham virus (JCV) is very common in humans and usually remains asymptomatic in healthy individuals. However, under circumstances of severe immunocompromise, the polyomavirus JC may cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a life-threatening demyelinating disease of the human brain. PML preferentially occurs in situations of compromised CD4+ T cell function or number and little is known about the JCV epitopes recognized by CD4+ T cells. In this study, we mapped the JCV-specific CD4+ T cell response in healthy individuals using proliferation assays with peptides spanning the entire JCV proteome. Our aim was to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms assuring immune control of JCV.