O-glycosylated human MUC1 repeats are processed in vitro by immunoproteasomes

J Immunol. 2007 Aug 15;179(4):2380-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.4.2380.

Abstract

The targeting of epitopes on tumor-associated glycoforms of human MUC1 represents a primary goal in immunotherapeutic anticancer strategies. Effective immune responses to cancer cells certainly require the activation of specific cytotoxic T cell repertoires by cross-priming of dendritic cells either via immunoproteasomal or by endosomal processing of ectodomain epitopes on MUC1-positive carcinomas. Because no evidence is currently available on the capacities of human immunoproteasomes to cleave mucin-type O-glycosylated peptides, we performed in vitro studies to address the questions of whether glycosylated MUC1 repeats are cleaved by immunoproteasomes and in which way O-linked glycans control the site specificity of peptide cleavage via their localization and structures. We show for the first time that mucin-type O-glycosylated peptides are effective substrates of immunoproteasomes, however, the patterns of cleavage are qualitatively and quantitatively influenced by O-glycosylation. The nonglycosylated MUC1 repeat peptide (clusters of oligorepeats AHGVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPP or AHGVTSAPESRPAPGSTAPA) is cleaved preferentially within or adjacent to the SAP and GST motifs with formation of a complex fragment pattern that includes major nona- and decapeptides. O-GalNAc modified peptides are largely resistant to proteolysis if these preferred cleavage sites are located adjacent to O-glycosylation, whereas peptides even with elongated glycans at more distant sites can form effective substrates yielding major glycopeptide fragments in the class I size range.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / immunology
  • Antigen Presentation* / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / chemistry*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Cell-Free System / enzymology
  • Cell-Free System / immunology
  • Cell-Free System / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / enzymology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Endosomes / enzymology
  • Endosomes / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / chemistry*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mucin-1
  • Mucins / chemistry*
  • Mucins / immunology
  • Mucins / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / immunology
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / chemistry*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / immunology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / enzymology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • Mucins
  • Peptides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex