The Regions on the Light Chain of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A Recognized by T Cells from Toxin-Treated Cervical Dystonia Patients. The Complete Human T-Cell Recognition Map of the Toxin Molecule.

We have recently mapped the in vitro proliferative responses of T cells from botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A)-treated cervical dystonia (CD) patients with overlapping peptides encompassing BoNT/A heavy chain (residues 449-1296). In the present study, we determined the recognition profiles, by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from the same set of patients, of BoNT/A light (L) chain (residues 1-453) by using 32 synthetic overlapping peptides that encompassed the entire L chain. Profiles of the T-cell responses (expressed in stimulation index, SI; Z score based on transformed SI) to the peptides varied among the patients. Samples from 14 patients treated solely with BoNT/A recognized 3-13 (average 7.2) peptides/sample at Z > 3.0 level. Two peptide regions representing residues 113-131 and 225-243 were recognized by around 40% of these patients. Regarding treatment parameters, treatment history with current BOTOX® only group produced significantly lower average T-cell responses to the 32 L-chain peptides compared to treatments with mix of type A including original and current BOTOX®. Influence of other treatment parameters on T-cell recognition of the L-chain peptides was also observed. Results of the submolecular T-cell recognition of the L chain are compared to those of the H chain and the T-cell recognition profile of the entire BoNT/A molecule is discussed. Abbreviations used: BoNT/A, botulinum neurotoxin type A; BoNT/Ai, inactivated BoNT/A; BoNT/B, botulinum neurotoxin type B; CD, cervical dystonia; L chain, the light chain (residues 1-448) of BoNT/A; LNC, lymph node cells; H chain, the heavy chain (residues 449-1296) of BoNT/A; HC, C-terminal domain (residues 855-1296) of H chain; HN, N-terminal domain (residues 449-859) of H chain; MPA, mouse protection assay; SI, stimulation index (SI = cpm of 3H-thymidine incorporated by antigen-stimulated T cells/cpm incorporated by unstimulated cells); TeNT, tetanus neurotoxin; TeNTi, inactivated TeNT.

Submolecular recognition regions of the HN domain of the heavy chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A by T cells from toxin-treated cervical dystonia patients.

We have recently reported the submolecular T-cell recognition profile of the C-terminal half (HC, residues 855-1296) of the heavy (H) chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 25 BoNT-treated cervical dystonia (CD) patients. In the current study, we describe the mapping of the T-cell responses of the patients to the N-terminal half (HN, residues 449-859) of the heavy chain by using 29 synthetic overlapping peptides encompassing the entire HN domain of BoNT/A. The profiles of the T-cell responses to the peptides varied among the patients. Samples from 14 patients treated solely with BoNT/A recognized 1-9 (average 3.7) peptides/sample at Z>3.0 level. Three peptide regions representing residues 631-649, 659-677 and 743-761 were frequently recognized by 29-64% of the patients. In patients with positive anti-BoNT/A antibody responses the overall positive T cell responses to the HN peptides were significantly increased compared to antibody-negative patients. Influence of treatment parameters on the T-cell recognition of the HN peptides was also observed. The results were compared with those of previously identified HC region.

Submolecular recognition of the C-terminal domain of the heavy chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A by T cells from toxin-treated cervical dystonia patients.

We determined the T-cell proliferative responses of the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 25 botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT)-treated patients to 31 overlapping synthetic peptides encompassing the C-terminal half (residues 855-1296) of BoNT/A heavy chain. Responses of PBL to HC peptides varied among patients. Samples from 14 patients treated solely with BoNT/A recognized 2-13 (average 6.4) peptides/sample at Z>3.0 level. Six peptide regions representing residues 855-873, 1023-1041, 1051-1069, 1093-1111, 1135-1153 and 1247-1265 were frequently recognized by 36-57% of these PBLs. Influence of treatment parameters on T-cell recognition of the peptides was also investigated.

Regions recognized on the light chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A by T lymphocytes of SJL and BALB/c mice primed with inactivated toxin.

Lymph node cells (LNC) from SJL (H-2(s)) and BALB/c (H-2(d)) mice primed once with inactivated botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) were examined for their T-cell responses to each of 32 synthetic overlapping peptides (19 residues each, L1-L32) that encompass the entire L chain (residues 1-448) of BoNT/A. LNC of SJL gave strong responses to 6 regions on, L2 (residues 15-23), L10/11/12 (127-173), L19 (253-271) and L21 (281-299), and moderate to weak responses to L9 (113-131), L14/15 (183-215) and L27 (365-383). In BALB/c, LNC gave a substantial T-cell response only against peptide L12 (residues 155-173), and responded very weakly to 9 other peptides. The results were compared with the recognition profiles determined previously in these two strains after multiple BoNT/A injections. Overall responses to the L-chain peptides of T cells in later profiles were found to be somewhat weakened in SJL and stayed essentially at a similar level in BALB/c, although responses to BoNT/A increased. In SJL, response to L10 (127-145) remained the highest in the later profile. Strong responses against L12 (155-173) observed in both strains at early stage were reduced to an insignificant level. Cross-reactivity to tetanus neurotoxin by BoNT/A-specific T cells was observed in SJL but not in BALB/c. Design of an effective synthetic peptide vaccine will require incorporation of both T cell- and Ab-recognition elements of the BoNT molecule. Significance and possible implications of these results on BoNT/A-specific T-cell responses of BoNT-treated patients are discussed.