Identification of peptide sequences that potentially trigger HLA‐A2.1‐restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes

We used the human processing defective cell line 174CEM.T2 (T2) to identify potential cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of human proteins. Exogenously added peptides can increase the number of properly folded HLA‐A2.1 molecules on the cell surface of T2 cells, as shown by immunofluorescence measurements using the mouse monoclonal antibody BB7.2 (anti‐HLA‐A2.1) and fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled goat anti‐mouse F(ab')2 antibody. The peptides were selected on the basis of a computer score derived from the recently described HLA‐A2.1 specific motif. Analysis of the influenza matrix protein showed that 15 out of 35 high‐scoring peptides up‐regulate the expression of HLA‐A2.1 molecules on theT2 cell surface. The combination of the computer scoring program and an immunofluorescence‐based peptide binding assay allows rapid detection of potential CTL target peptides.