A therapy-related point mutation changes the HLA restriction of an HIV-1 Pol epitope from A2 to B57 and enhances its recognition

Abstract

In this study, we investigated CD8 T-cell recognition of wild-type HIV-1 Pol (RT 210-220) peptide LRWGFTTPDKK and of several variants incorporating common antiretroviral therapy-associated mutations (L210W, T215Y, Y215C). LRWGFTTPDKK was weakly and infrequently recognized in the context of HLA-A2. However, the 215C mutation created a strong, commonly recognized HLA-B57-restricted epitope. An antiretroviral therapy-associated mutation thus alters the HLA restriction of a weak Pol epitope, potentially enhancing CD8 T-cell recognition of HIV.