Identification of a new HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope from CML28

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2006 Dec;55(12):1575-83. doi: 10.1007/s00262-006-0152-8. Epub 2006 Mar 14.

Abstract

Identification of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes from additional tumor antigens is essential for the development of specific immunotherapy of malignant tumors. CML28, a recently discovered cancer-testis (CT) antigen from chronic myelogenous leukemia, is considered to be a promising target of tumor-specific immunotherapy. Because HLA-A*0201 is one of the most common histocompatibility molecule in Chinese, we aim at identifying CML28 peptides presented by HLA-A*0201. A panel of CML28-derived antigenic peptides was predicted using a computer-based program. Four peptides with highest predicted score were synthesized and tested for their binding affinities to HLA-A*0201 molecule. Then these peptides were assessed for their immunogenicity to elicit specific immune responses mediated by CTLs both in vitro, from PBMCs sourced from four healthy HLA-A*0201(+) donors, and in vivo, in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice. One of the tested peptides, CML28((173-181)), induced peptide-specific CTLs in vitro as well as in vivo, which could specifically secrete IFN-gamma and lyse major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched tumor cell lines endogenously expressing CML28 antigen and CML28((173-181) )pulsed Jurkat-A2/Kb cells, respectively. These results demonstrate that CML28((173-181) )is a naturally processed and presented CTL epitope with HLA-A*0201 motif and has a promising immunogenicity both in vitro and in vivo. As CML28 is expressed in a large variety of histological tumors besides chronic myelogenous leukemia, we propose that the newly identified epitope, CML28((173-181)), would be of potential use in peptide-based, cancer-specific immunotherapy against a broad spectrum of tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / pharmacology
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology*
  • Antigens, Surface / pharmacology
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Exoribonucleases / genetics
  • Exoribonucleases / immunology*
  • Exoribonucleases / pharmacology
  • Exosome Multienzyme Ribonuclease Complex
  • HLA-A Antigens / metabolism*
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, Surface
  • EXOSC5 protein, human
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-A*02:01 antigen
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Peptides
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Exoribonucleases
  • Exosome Multienzyme Ribonuclease Complex