HLA and immunodominance in viral infection: T-cell responses in protection and immunopathogenesis

Abstract

The protective role of T cells in viral infection is well described. T cells generally mediate anti-viral immune responses via direct cytotoxicity and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, by providing help to B cells and by promotion of memory responses. A fundamental step in T cell responses involves presentation of viral peptide antigens in the context of human leucocyte antigens (HLA), to the T-cell receptor. HLA are highly polymorphic cell surface molecules that present a vast array of peptides to T cells and induce their activation, differentiation and proliferation into effector cells which can eliminate microbial infection.