CD8+ suppressor and cytotoxic T cells recognize the same human leukocyte antigen-A2 restricted cytomegalovirus peptide

We explored the possibility that antigen-specific human CD8+ T cells, which display cytotoxic or suppressor function, can recognize the same peptide epitope. Using the human leukocyte antigen-A0201 restricted immunodominant cytomegalovirus epitope pp65-NLVPMVATV for pulsing either mature/immunogenic or ILT3highILT4high tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC), we generated cytotoxic and suppressor CD8+ T-cell lines, respectively. Our data indicate that modulating the functional state of DC is crucial to the development of tolerogenic or immunogeneic peptide-specific vaccines.