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Herre C, Ho A, Eisenbraun B, Vincent J, Nicholson T, Boutsioukis G, Meyer PA, Ottaviano M, Krause KL, Key J, Sliz P. Introduction of the Capsules environment to support further growth of the SBGrid structural biology software collection. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2024; 80:439-450. [PMID: 38832828 PMCID: PMC11154594 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798324004881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The expansive scientific software ecosystem, characterized by millions of titles across various platforms and formats, poses significant challenges in maintaining reproducibility and provenance in scientific research. The diversity of independently developed applications, evolving versions and heterogeneous components highlights the need for rigorous methodologies to navigate these complexities. In response to these challenges, the SBGrid team builds, installs and configures over 530 specialized software applications for use in the on-premises and cloud-based computing environments of SBGrid Consortium members. To address the intricacies of supporting this diverse application collection, the team has developed the Capsule Software Execution Environment, generally referred to as Capsules. Capsules rely on a collection of programmatically generated bash scripts that work together to isolate the runtime environment of one application from all other applications, thereby providing a transparent cross-platform solution without requiring specialized tools or elevated account privileges for researchers. Capsules facilitate modular, secure software distribution while maintaining a centralized, conflict-free environment. The SBGrid platform, which combines Capsules with the SBGrid collection of structural biology applications, aligns with FAIR goals by enhancing the findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability of scientific software, ensuring seamless functionality across diverse computing environments. Its adaptability enables application beyond structural biology into other scientific fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Herre
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alex Ho
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ben Eisenbraun
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James Vincent
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas Nicholson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Peter A. Meyer
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle Ottaviano
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kurt L. Krause
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jason Key
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Piotr Sliz
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Morita D, Asa M, Sugita M. Engagement with the TCR induces plasticity in antigenic ligands bound to MHC class I and CD1 molecules. Int Immunol 2023; 35:7-17. [PMID: 36053252 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of αβ T-cell receptors (TCRs) sense peptide-bound MHC (pMHC) complexes via chemical interactions, thereby mediating antigen specificity and MHC restriction. Flexible finger-like movement of CDR loops contributes to the establishment of optimal interactions with pMHCs. In contrast, peptide ligands captured in MHC molecules are considered more static because of the rigid hydrogen-bond network that stabilizes peptide ligands in the antigen-binding groove of MHC molecules. An array of crystal structures delineating pMHC complexes in TCR-docked and TCR-undocked forms is now available, which enables us to assess TCR engagement-induced conformational changes in peptide ligands. In this short review, we overview conformational changes in MHC class I-bound peptide ligands upon TCR docking, followed by those for CD1-bound glycolipid ligands. Finally, we analyze the co-crystal structure of the TCR:lipopeptide-bound MHC class I complex that we recently reported. We argue that TCR engagement-induced conformational changes markedly occur in lipopeptide ligands, which are essential for exposure of a primary T-cell epitope to TCRs. These conformational changes are affected by amino acid residues, such as glycine, that do not interact directly with TCRs. Thus, ligand recognition by specific TCRs involves not only T-cell epitopes but also non-epitopic amino acid residues. In light of their critical function, we propose to refer to these residues as non-epitopic residues affecting ligand plasticity and antigenicity (NR-PA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Morita
- Laboratory of Cell Regulation, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Molecular Network, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Minori Asa
- Laboratory of Cell Regulation, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Molecular Network, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Masahiko Sugita
- Laboratory of Cell Regulation, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Molecular Network, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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3
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Finton KAK, Rupert PB, Friend DJ, Dinca A, Lovelace ES, Buerger M, Rusnac DV, Foote-McNabb U, Chour W, Heath JR, Campbell JS, Pierce RH, Strong RK. Effects of HLA single chain trimer design on peptide presentation and stability. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1170462. [PMID: 37207206 PMCID: PMC10189100 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1170462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
MHC class I "single-chain trimer" molecules, coupling MHC heavy chain, β2-microglobulin, and a specific peptide into a single polypeptide chain, are widely used in research. To more fully understand caveats associated with this design that may affect its use for basic and translational studies, we evaluated a set of engineered single-chain trimers with combinations of stabilizing mutations across eight different classical and non-classical human class I alleles with 44 different peptides, including a novel human/murine chimeric design. While, overall, single-chain trimers accurately recapitulate native molecules, care was needed in selecting designs for studying peptides longer or shorter than 9-mers, as single-chain trimer design could affect peptide conformation. In the process, we observed that predictions of peptide binding were often discordant with experiment and that yields and stabilities varied widely with construct design. We also developed novel reagents to improve the crystallizability of these proteins and confirmed novel modes of peptide presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A. K. Finton
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Peter B. Rupert
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Della J. Friend
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ana Dinca
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Erica S. Lovelace
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Matthew Buerger
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Domnita V. Rusnac
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ulysses Foote-McNabb
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - William Chour
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - James R. Heath
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jean S. Campbell
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Robert H. Pierce
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Roland K. Strong
- Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCC), Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Roland K. Strong,
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4
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Perez MAS, Cuendet MA, Röhrig UF, Michielin O, Zoete V. Structural Prediction of Peptide-MHC Binding Modes. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2405:245-282. [PMID: 35298818 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1855-4_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The immune system is constantly protecting its host from the invasion of pathogens and the development of cancer cells. The specific CD8+ T-cell immune response against virus-infected cells and tumor cells is based on the T-cell receptor recognition of antigenic peptides bound to class I major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) at the surface of antigen presenting cells. Consequently, the peptide binding specificities of the highly polymorphic MHC have important implications for the design of vaccines, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and for personalized cancer immunotherapy. Evidence-based machine-learning approaches have been successfully used for the prediction of peptide binders and are currently being developed for the prediction of peptide immunogenicity. However, understanding and modeling the structural details of peptide/MHC binding is crucial for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms triggering the immunological processes, estimating peptide/MHC affinity using universal physics-based approaches, and driving the design of novel peptide ligands. Unfortunately, due to the large diversity of MHC allotypes and possible peptides, the growing number of 3D structures of peptide/MHC (pMHC) complexes in the Protein Data Bank only covers a small fraction of the possibilities. Consequently, there is a growing need for rapid and efficient approaches to predict 3D structures of pMHC complexes. Here, we review the key characteristics of the 3D structure of pMHC complexes before listing databases and other sources of information on pMHC structures and MHC specificities. Finally, we discuss some of the most prominent pMHC docking software.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta A S Perez
- Computer-aided Molecular Engineering Group, Department of Oncology UNIL-CHUV, Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Molecular Modelling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michel A Cuendet
- Molecular Modelling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Oncology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ute F Röhrig
- Molecular Modelling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Michielin
- Molecular Modelling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Oncology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Precision Oncology Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Computer-aided Molecular Engineering Group, Department of Oncology UNIL-CHUV, Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Molecular Modelling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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5
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Singh NK, Alonso JA, Harris DT, Anderson SD, Ma J, Hellman LM, Rosenberg AM, Kolawole EM, Evavold BD, Kranz DM, Baker BM. An Engineered T Cell Receptor Variant Realizes the Limits of Functional Binding Modes. Biochemistry 2020; 59:4163-4175. [PMID: 33074657 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
T cell receptors (TCRs) orchestrate cellular immunity by recognizing peptides presented by a range of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Naturally occurring TCRs bind the composite peptide/MHC surface, recognizing peptides that are structurally and chemically compatible with the TCR binding site. Here we describe a molecularly evolved TCR variant that binds the human class I MHC protein HLA-A2 independent of the bound peptide, achieved by a drastic perturbation of the TCR binding geometry that places the molecule far from the peptide binding groove. This unique geometry is unsupportive of normal T cell signaling. A substantial divergence between affinity measurements in solution and in two dimensions between proximal cell membranes leads us to attribute the lack of signaling to steric hindrance that limits binding in the confines of a cell-cell interface. Our results provide an example of how receptor binding geometry can impact T cell function and provide further support for the view that germline-encoded residues in TCR binding loops evolved to drive productive TCR recognition and signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant K Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Jesus A Alonso
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Daniel T Harris
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Scott D Anderson
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jiaqi Ma
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Lance M Hellman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Aaron M Rosenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Elizabeth M Kolawole
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Brian D Evavold
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - David M Kranz
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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6
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Mohamed YS, Borthwick NJ, Moyo N, Murakoshi H, Akahoshi T, Siliquini F, Hannoun Z, Crook A, Hayes P, Fast PE, Mutua G, Jaoko W, Silva-Arrieta S, Llano A, Brander C, Takiguchi M, Hanke T. Specificity of CD8 + T-Cell Responses Following Vaccination with Conserved Regions of HIV-1 in Nairobi, Kenya. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E260. [PMID: 32485938 PMCID: PMC7349992 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa carries the biggest burden of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)/AIDS epidemic and is in an urgent need of an effective vaccine. CD8+ T cells are an important component of the host immune response to HIV-1 and may need to be harnessed if a vaccine is to be effective. CD8+ T cells recognize human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-associated viral epitopes and the HLA alleles vary significantly among different ethnic groups. It follows that definition of HIV-1-derived peptides recognized by CD8+ T cells in the geographically relevant regions will critically guide vaccine development. Here, we study fine details of CD8+ T-cell responses elicited in HIV-1/2-uninfected individuals in Nairobi, Kenya, who received a candidate vaccine delivering conserved regions of HIV-1 proteins called HIVconsv. Using 10-day cell lines established by in vitro peptide restimulation of cryopreserved PBMC and stably HLA-transfected 721.221/C1R cell lines, we confirm experimentally many already defined epitopes, for a number of epitopes we define the restricting HLA molecule(s) and describe four novel HLA-epitope pairs. We also identify specific dominance patterns, a promiscuous T-cell epitope and a rescue of suboptimal T-cell epitope induction in vivo by its functional variant, which all together inform vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehia S. Mohamed
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (Y.S.M.); (N.J.B.); (N.M.); (F.S.); (Z.H.); (A.C.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11823, Egypt
| | - Nicola J. Borthwick
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (Y.S.M.); (N.J.B.); (N.M.); (F.S.); (Z.H.); (A.C.)
| | - Nathifa Moyo
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (Y.S.M.); (N.J.B.); (N.M.); (F.S.); (Z.H.); (A.C.)
| | - Hayato Murakoshi
- Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; (H.M.); (T.A.); (M.T.)
| | - Tomohiro Akahoshi
- Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; (H.M.); (T.A.); (M.T.)
| | - Francesca Siliquini
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (Y.S.M.); (N.J.B.); (N.M.); (F.S.); (Z.H.); (A.C.)
| | - Zara Hannoun
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (Y.S.M.); (N.J.B.); (N.M.); (F.S.); (Z.H.); (A.C.)
| | - Alison Crook
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (Y.S.M.); (N.J.B.); (N.M.); (F.S.); (Z.H.); (A.C.)
| | - Peter Hayes
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative IAVI-Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK;
| | - Patricia E. Fast
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative-New York, New York, NY 10004, USA;
| | - Gaudensia Mutua
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 19676 00202, Kenya; (G.M.); (W.J.)
| | - Walter Jaoko
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 19676 00202, Kenya; (G.M.); (W.J.)
| | - Sandra Silva-Arrieta
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute-HIVACAT, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-A.); (A.L.); (C.B.)
| | - Anuska Llano
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute-HIVACAT, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-A.); (A.L.); (C.B.)
| | - Christian Brander
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute-HIVACAT, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-A.); (A.L.); (C.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Vic-Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Masafumi Takiguchi
- Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; (H.M.); (T.A.); (M.T.)
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; (Y.S.M.); (N.J.B.); (N.M.); (F.S.); (Z.H.); (A.C.)
- Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; (H.M.); (T.A.); (M.T.)
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7
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Tarbe M, Miles JJ, Edwards ESJ, Miles KM, Sewell AK, Baker BM, Quideau S. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Hapten-Clicked Analogues of The Antigenic Peptide Melan-A/MART-1 26(27L)-35. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:799-807. [PMID: 32162475 PMCID: PMC7473458 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A click-chemistry-based approach was implemented to prepare peptidomimetics designed in silico and made from aromatic azides and a propargylated GIGI-mimicking platform derived from the altered Melan-A/MART-126(27L)-35 antigenic peptide ELAGIGILTV. The CuI -catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition was carried out on solid support to generate rapidly a first series of peptidomimetics, which were evaluated for their capacity to dock at the interface between the major histocompatibility complex class-I (MHC-I) human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 and T-cell receptors (TCRs). Despite being a weak HLA-A2 ligand, one of these 11 first synthetic compounds bearing a p-nitrobenzyl-triazole side chain was recognized by the receptor proteins of Melan-A/MART-1-specific T-cells. After modification of the N and C termini of this agonist, which was intended to enhance HLA-A2 binding, one of the resulting seven additional compounds triggered significant T-cell responses. Thus, these results highlight the capacity of naturally circulating human TCRs that are specific for the native Melan-A/MART-126-35 peptide to cross-react with peptidomimetics bearing organic motifs structurally different from the native central amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Tarbe
- Université de Bordeaux, ISM (CNRS-UMR 5255), 351 cours de la Libération, 33405, Talence Cedex, France
| | - John J Miles
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Emily S J Edwards
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Level 6, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Kim M Miles
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Stéphane Quideau
- Université de Bordeaux, ISM (CNRS-UMR 5255), 351 cours de la Libération, 33405, Talence Cedex, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
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8
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O’Rourke SM, Morozov GI, Roberts JT, Barb AW, Sgourakis NG. Production of soluble pMHC-I molecules in mammalian cells using the molecular chaperone TAPBPR. Protein Eng Des Sel 2019; 32:525-532. [PMID: 32725167 PMCID: PMC7451022 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzaa015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Current approaches for generating major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class-I proteins with desired bound peptides (pMHC-I) for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications are limited by the inherent instability of empty MHC-I molecules. Using the properties of the chaperone TAP-binding protein related (TAPBPR), we have developed a robust method to produce soluble, peptide-receptive MHC-I molecules in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells at high yield, completely bypassing the requirement for laborious refolding from inclusion bodies expressed in E.coli. Purified MHC-I/TAPBPR complexes can be prepared for multiple human allotypes, and exhibit complex glycan modifications at the conserved Asn 86 residue. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate both HLA allele-specific peptide binding and MHC-restricted antigen recognition by T cells for two relevant tumor-associated antigens. Our system provides a facile, high-throughput approach for generating pMHC-I antigens to probe and expand TCR specificities present in polyclonal T cell repertoires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M O’Rourke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Giora I Morozov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Jacob T Roberts
- Roy J Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Adam W Barb
- Roy J Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Nikolaos G Sgourakis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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9
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Madura F, Rizkallah PJ, Legut M, Holland CJ, Fuller A, Bulek A, Schauenburg AJ, Trimby A, Hopkins JR, Wells SA, Godkin A, Miles JJ, Sami M, Li Y, Liddy N, Jakobsen BK, Loveridge EJ, Cole DK, Sewell AK. TCR-induced alteration of primary MHC peptide anchor residue. Eur J Immunol 2019; 49:1052-1066. [PMID: 31091334 PMCID: PMC6618058 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The HLA-A*02:01-restricted decapeptide EAAGIGILTV, derived from melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells-1 (MART-1) protein, represents one of the best-studied tumor associated T-cell epitopes, but clinical results targeting this peptide have been disappointing. This limitation may reflect the dominance of the nonapeptide, AAGIGILTV, at the melanoma cell surface. The decapeptide and nonapeptide are presented in distinct conformations by HLA-A*02:01 and TCRs from clinically relevant T-cell clones recognize the nonapeptide poorly. Here, we studied the MEL5 TCR that potently recognizes the nonapeptide. The structure of the MEL5-HLA-A*02:01-AAGIGILTV complex revealed an induced fit mechanism of antigen recognition involving altered peptide-MHC anchoring. This "flexing" at the TCR-peptide-MHC interface to accommodate the peptide antigen explains previously observed incongruences in this well-studied system and has important implications for future therapeutic approaches. Finally, this study expands upon the mechanisms by which molecular plasticity can influence antigen recognition by T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Anna Fuller
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Anna Bulek
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John J. Miles
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of TherapeuticsAustralian Institute of Tropical Health and MedicineJames Cook UniversityCairnsQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Yi Li
- Immunocore Ltd.AbingdonUK
| | | | | | - E. Joel Loveridge
- School of ChemistryCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Department of ChemistrySwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - David K. Cole
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Immunocore Ltd.AbingdonUK
| | - Andrew K. Sewell
- School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Systems Immunity Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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10
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Blaha DT, Anderson SD, Yoakum DM, Hager MV, Zha Y, Gajewski TF, Kranz DM. High-Throughput Stability Screening of Neoantigen/HLA Complexes Improves Immunogenicity Predictions. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 7:50-61. [PMID: 30425106 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mutated peptides (neoantigens) from a patient's cancer genome can serve as targets for T-cell immunity, but identifying which peptides can be presented by an MHC molecule and elicit T cells has been difficult. Although algorithms that predict MHC binding exist, they are not yet able to distinguish experimental differences in half-lives of the complexes (an immunologically relevant parameter, referred to here as kinetic stability). Improvement in determining actual neoantigen peptide/MHC stability could be important, as only a small fraction of peptides in most current vaccines are capable of eliciting CD8+ T-cell responses. Here, we used a rapid, high-throughput method to experimentally determine peptide/HLA thermal stability on a scale that will be necessary for analysis of neoantigens from thousands of patients. The method combined the use of UV-cleavable peptide/HLA class I complexes and differential scanning fluorimetry to determine the Tm values of neoantigen complexes. Measured Tm values were accurate and reproducible and were directly proportional to the half-lives of the complexes. Analysis of known HLA-A2-restricted immunogenic peptides showed that Tm values better correlated with immunogenicity than algorithm-predicted binding affinities. We propose that temperature stability information can be used as a guide for the selection of neoantigens in cancer vaccines in order to focus attention on those mutated peptides with the highest probability of being expressed on the cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan T Blaha
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Scott D Anderson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Daniel M Yoakum
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Marlies V Hager
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Yuanyuan Zha
- Department of Pathology, Department of Medicine, and the Ben May Department of Cancer, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Thomas F Gajewski
- Department of Pathology, Department of Medicine, and the Ben May Department of Cancer, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - David M Kranz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
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11
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Truong AD, Hong Y, Lee J, Lee K, Tran HTT, Dang HV, Nguyen VK, Lillehoj HS, Hong YH. Chicken novel leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamilies B1 and B3 are transcriptional regulators of major histocompatibility complex class I genes and signaling pathways. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2018; 32:614-628. [PMID: 30381742 PMCID: PMC6502725 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.18.0561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective The inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRBs) play an important role in innate immunity. The present study represents the first description of the cloning and structural and functional analysis of LILRB1 and LILRB3 isolated from two genetically disparate chicken lines. Methods Chicken LILRB1-3 genes were identified by bioinformatics approach. Expression studies were performed by transfection, quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Signal transduction was analyzed by western blots, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometric. Cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Amino acid homology and phylogenetic analyses showed that the homologies of LILRB1 and LILRB3 in the chicken line 6.3 to those proteins in the chicken line 7.2 ranged between 97%–99%, while homologies between chicken and mammal proteins ranged between 13%–19%, and 13%–69%, respectively. Our findings indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 subdivided into two groups based on the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM) present in the transmembrane domain. Chicken line 6.3 has two ITIM motifs of the sequence LxYxxL and SxYxxV while line 7.2 has two ITIM motifs of the sequences LxYxxL and LxYxxV. These motifs bind to SHP-2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11) that plays a regulatory role in immune functions. Moreover, our data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 associated with and activated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and β2-microglobulin and induced the expression of transporters associated with antigen processing, which are essential for MHC class I antigen presentation. This suggests that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are transcriptional regulators, modulating the expression of components in the MHC class I pathway and thereby regulating immune responses. Furthermore, LILRB1 and LILRB3 activated Janus kinase2/tyrosine kinase 2 (JAK2/TYK2); signal transducer and activator of transcription1/3 (STAT1/3), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 genes expressed in Macrophage (HD11) cells, which induced Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines. Conclusion These data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are innate immune receptors associated with SHP-2, MHC class I, β2-microglobulin, and they activate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of immunity and immunopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Duc Truong
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea.,Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, National Institute of Veterinary Research, 86 Truong Chinh, Dong Da, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Yeojin Hong
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea
| | - Janggeun Lee
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea
| | - Kyungbaek Lee
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea
| | - Ha Thi Thanh Tran
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, National Institute of Veterinary Research, 86 Truong Chinh, Dong Da, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Hoang Vu Dang
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, National Institute of Veterinary Research, 86 Truong Chinh, Dong Da, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Viet Khong Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, National Institute of Veterinary Research, 86 Truong Chinh, Dong Da, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Hyun S Lillehoj
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Yeong Ho Hong
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea
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12
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Riley TP, Hellman LM, Gee MH, Mendoza JL, Alonso JA, Foley KC, Nishimura MI, Vander Kooi CW, Garcia KC, Baker BM. T cell receptor cross-reactivity expanded by dramatic peptide-MHC adaptability. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 14:934-942. [PMID: 30224695 PMCID: PMC6371774 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0130-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
T cell receptor cross-reactivity allows a fixed T cell repertoire to respond to a much larger universe of potential antigens. Recent work has emphasized the importance of peptide structural and chemical homology, as opposed to sequence similarity, in T cell receptor cross-reactivity. Surprisingly though, T cell receptors can also cross-react between ligands with little physiochemical commonalities. Studying the clinically relevant receptor DMF5, we demonstrate that cross-recognition of such divergent antigens can occur through mechanisms that involve heretofore unanticipated rearrangements in the peptide and presenting MHC protein, including binding-induced peptide register shifts and extensions from MHC peptide binding grooves. Moreover, cross-reactivity can proceed even when such dramatic rearrangements do not translate into structural or chemical molecular mimicry. Beyond demonstrating new principles of T cell receptor cross-reactivity, our results have implications for efforts to predict and control T cell specificity and cross-reactivity, and highlight challenges associated with predicting T cell reactivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Riley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Lance M Hellman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Marvin H Gee
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Juan L Mendoza
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jesus A Alonso
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kendra C Foley
- Department of Surgery, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Michael I Nishimura
- Department of Surgery, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Craig W Vander Kooi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - K Christopher Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA. .,Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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13
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Palermo B, Franzese O, Donna CD, Panetta M, Quintarelli C, Sperduti I, Gualtieri N, Foddai ML, Proietti E, Ferraresi V, Ciliberto G, Nisticò P. Antigen-specificity and DTIC before peptide-vaccination differently shape immune-checkpoint expression pattern, anti-tumor functionality and TCR repertoire in melanoma patients. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1465163. [PMID: 30524882 PMCID: PMC6279427 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1465163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently described that DNA-damage inducing drug DTIC, administered before peptide (Melan-A and gp100)-vaccination, improves anti-tumor CD8+ Melan-A-specific T-cell functionality, enlarges the Melan-A+ TCR repertoire and impacts the overall survival of melanoma patients. To identify whether the two Ags employed in the vaccination differently shape the anti-tumor response, herein we have carried out a detailed analysis of phenotype, anti-tumor functionality and TCR repertoire in treatment-driven gp100-specific CD8+ T cells, in the same patients previously analyzed for Melan-A. We found that T-cell clones isolated from patients treated with vaccination alone possessed an Early/intermediate differentiated phenotype, whereas T cells isolated after DTIC plus vaccination were late-differentiated. Sequencing analysis of the TCRBV chains of 29 treatment-driven gp100-specific CD8+ T-cell clones revealed an oligoclonal TCR repertoire irrespective of the treatment schedule. The high anti-tumor activity observed in T cells isolated after chemo-immunotherapy was associated with low PD-1 expression. Differently, T-cell clones isolated after peptide-vaccination alone expressed a high level of PD-1, along with LAG-3 and TIM-3, and were neither tumor-reactive nor polyfunctional. Blockade of PD-1 reversed gp100-specific CD8+ T-cell dysfunctionality, confirming the direct role of this co-inhibitory molecule in suppressing anti-tumor activity, differently from what we have previously observed for Melan-A+CD8+ T cells, expressing PD-1 but highly functional. These findings indicate that the functional advantage induced by combined chemo-immunotherapy is determined by the tumor antigen nature, T-cell immune-checkpoints phenotype, TCR repertoire diversity and anti-tumor T-cell quality and highlights the importance of integrating these parameters to develop effective immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Palermo
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ornella Franzese
- Department of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosmo Di Donna
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Panetta
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Novella Gualtieri
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Proietti
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome
| | | | | | - Paola Nisticò
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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14
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How an alloreactive T-cell receptor achieves peptide and MHC specificity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E4792-E4801. [PMID: 28572406 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700459114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell receptor (TCR) allorecognition is often presumed to be relatively nonspecific, attributable to either a TCR focus on exposed major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphisms or the degenerate recognition of allopeptides. However, paradoxically, alloreactivity can proceed with high peptide and MHC specificity. Although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, the existence of highly specific alloreactive TCRs has led to their use as immunotherapeutics that can circumvent central tolerance and limit graft-versus-host disease. Here, we show how an alloreactive TCR achieves peptide and MHC specificity. The HCV1406 TCR was cloned from T cells that expanded when a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected HLA-A2- individual received an HLA-A2+ liver allograft. HCV1406 was subsequently shown to recognize the HCV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3):1406-1415 epitope with high specificity when presented by HLA-A2. We show that NS3/HLA-A2 recognition by the HCV1406 TCR is critically dependent on features unique to both the allo-MHC and the NS3 epitope. We also find cooperativity between structural mimicry and a crucial peptide "hot spot" and demonstrate its role, along with the MHC, in directing the specificity of allorecognition. Our results help explain the paradox of specificity in alloreactive TCRs and have implications for their use in immunotherapy and related efforts to manipulate TCR recognition, as well as alloreactivity in general.
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15
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Immunogenic decapeptide in melanoma immunotherapy. J Mol Model 2016; 22:267. [PMID: 27761743 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-016-3140-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is a cancer associated with melanocytes of epidermis. There has been a consistent increase in the number of melanoma patients because of the depletion of the ozone layer which makes it of paramount importance to explore the immunogenic potential of various peptides in melanoma therapy. In the current study, a mutated decapeptide (ELAGIGILTV) epitope ID 12941 was taken from the melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells. This epitope displayed relatively better affinity for histocompatibility leukocyte antigen influencing the proliferation of cytotoxic T-cells. Immunogenicity of the oligopeptide can be further intensified by its simultaneous binding to the programmed death receptor of the T lymphocytes. We have used the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approach to reveal the dynamics of the decapeptide and its consequences to immunogenic effects. The dynamics have ensembled various conformations of the peptide which have been clustered in their representative conformers. During the dynamics, the peptide was found to fold to its conformation with a minimum free energy. Moreover, multiple analysis of the MD trajectory has provided many physiochemical features involved in the biological activity to improve the immunogenicity of this antigenic peptide. The manuscript concludes by proposing this decapeptide as a potential vaccine for the melanoma cancer.
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16
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An Engineered Switch in T Cell Receptor Specificity Leads to an Unusual but Functional Binding Geometry. Structure 2016; 24:1142-1154. [PMID: 27238970 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2016.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Utilizing a diverse binding site, T cell receptors (TCRs) specifically recognize a composite ligand comprised of a foreign peptide and a major histocompatibility complex protein (MHC). To help understand the determinants of TCR specificity, we studied a parental and engineered receptor whose peptide specificity had been switched via molecular evolution. Altered specificity was associated with a significant change in TCR-binding geometry, but this did not impact the ability of the TCR to signal in an antigen-specific manner. The determinants of binding and specificity were distributed among contact and non-contact residues in germline and hypervariable loops, and included disruption of key TCR-MHC interactions that bias αβ TCRs toward particular binding modes. Sequence-fitness landscapes identified additional mutations that further enhanced specificity. Our results demonstrate that TCR specificity arises from the distributed action of numerous sites throughout the interface, with significant implications for engineering therapeutic TCRs with novel and functional recognition properties.
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17
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Attaf M, Legut M, Cole DK, Sewell AK. The T cell antigen receptor: the Swiss army knife of the immune system. Clin Exp Immunol 2015; 181:1-18. [PMID: 25753381 PMCID: PMC4469151 DOI: 10.1111/cei.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian T cell receptor (TCR) orchestrates immunity by responding to many billions of different ligands that it has never encountered before and cannot adapt to at the protein sequence level. This remarkable receptor exists in two main heterodimeric isoforms: αβ TCR and γδ TCR. The αβ TCR is expressed on the majority of peripheral T cells. Most αβ T cells recognize peptides, derived from degraded proteins, presented at the cell surface in molecular cradles called major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Recent reports have described other αβ T cell subsets. These 'unconventional' T cells bear TCRs that are capable of recognizing lipid ligands presented in the context of the MHC-like CD1 protein family or bacterial metabolites bound to the MHC-related protein 1 (MR1). γδ T cells constitute a minority of the T cell pool in human blood, but can represent up to half of total T cells in tissues such as the gut and skin. The identity of the preferred ligands for γδ T cells remains obscure, but it is now known that this receptor can also functionally engage CD1-lipid, or immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily proteins called butyrophilins in the presence of pyrophosphate intermediates of bacterial lipid biosynthesis. Interactions between TCRs and these ligands allow the host to discriminate between self and non-self and co-ordinate an attack on the latter. Here, we describe how cells of the T lymphocyte lineage and their antigen receptors are generated and discuss the various modes of antigen recognition by these extraordinarily versatile receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Attaf
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - M Legut
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - D K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - A K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
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18
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Snyder A, Makarov V, Merghoub T, Yuan J, Zaretsky JM, Desrichard A, Walsh LA, Postow MA, Wong P, Ho TS, Hollmann TJ, Bruggeman C, Kannan K, Li Y, Elipenahli C, Liu C, Harbison CT, Wang L, Ribas A, Wolchok JD, Chan TA. Genetic basis for clinical response to CTLA-4 blockade in melanoma. N Engl J Med 2014; 371:2189-2199. [PMID: 25409260 PMCID: PMC4315319 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1406498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3190] [Impact Index Per Article: 319.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective cancer treatments, but molecular determinants of clinical benefit are unknown. Ipilimumab and tremelimumab are antibodies against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4). Anti-CTLA-4 treatment prolongs overall survival in patients with melanoma. CTLA-4 blockade activates T cells and enables them to destroy tumor cells. METHODS We obtained tumor tissue from patients with melanoma who were treated with ipilimumab or tremelimumab. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on tumors and matched blood samples. Somatic mutations and candidate neoantigens generated from these mutations were characterized. Neoantigen peptides were tested for the ability to activate lymphocytes from ipilimumab-treated patients. RESULTS Malignant melanoma exomes from 64 patients treated with CTLA-4 blockade were characterized with the use of massively parallel sequencing. A discovery set consisted of 11 patients who derived a long-term clinical benefit and 14 patients who derived a minimal benefit or no benefit. Mutational load was associated with the degree of clinical benefit (P=0.01) but alone was not sufficient to predict benefit. Using genomewide somatic neoepitope analysis and patient-specific HLA typing, we identified candidate tumor neoantigens for each patient. We elucidated a neoantigen landscape that is specifically present in tumors with a strong response to CTLA-4 blockade. We validated this signature in a second set of 39 patients with melanoma who were treated with anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. Predicted neoantigens activated T cells from the patients treated with ipilimumab. CONCLUSIONS These findings define a genetic basis for benefit from CTLA-4 blockade in melanoma and provide a rationale for examining exomes of patients for whom anti-CTLA-4 agents are being considered. (Funded by the Frederick Adler Fund and others.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Snyder
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Vladimir Makarov
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Taha Merghoub
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Jianda Yuan
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Jesse M Zaretsky
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Alexis Desrichard
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Logan A Walsh
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Michael A Postow
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Phillip Wong
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Teresa S Ho
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Travis J Hollmann
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Cameron Bruggeman
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Kasthuri Kannan
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Yanyun Li
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Ceyhan Elipenahli
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Cailian Liu
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Christopher T Harbison
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Lisu Wang
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
| | - Timothy A Chan
- Department of Medicine (A.S., T.M., M.A.P., J.D.W.), Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (A.S., V.M., A.D., L.A.W., K.K., T.A.C.), Swim across America-Ludwig Collaborative Research Laboratory (T.M., Y.L., C.E., C.L., J.D.W.), Department of Radiation Oncology (T.A.C.), Department of Pathology (T.J.H.), and Immunology Program, Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy (J.Y., P.W., T.S.H., J.D.W.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medical College (A.S., M.A.P., J.D.W., T.A.C.); and Department of Mathematics, Columbia University (C.B.) - all in New York; the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (J.M.Z., A.R.) and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (A.R.), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles; and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ (C.T.H., L.W.)
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19
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Reiser JB, Legoux F, Gras S, Trudel E, Chouquet A, Léger A, Le Gorrec M, Machillot P, Bonneville M, Saulquin X, Housset D. Analysis of relationships between peptide/MHC structural features and naive T cell frequency in humans. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:5816-26. [PMID: 25392532 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1303084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The structural rules governing peptide/MHC (pMHC) recognition by T cells remain unclear. To address this question, we performed a structural characterization of several HLA-A2/peptide complexes and assessed in parallel their antigenicity, by analyzing the frequency of the corresponding Ag-specific naive T cells in A2(+) and A2(-) individuals, as well as within CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets. We were able to find a correlation between specific naive T cell frequency and peptide solvent accessibility and/or mobility for a subset of moderately prominent peptides. However, one single structural parameter of the pMHC complexes could not be identified to explain each peptide antigenicity. Enhanced pMHC antigenicity was associated with both highly biased TRAV usage, possibly reflecting favored interaction between particular pMHC complexes and germline TRAV loops, and peptide structural features allowing interactions with a broad range of permissive CDR3 loops. In this context of constrained TCR docking mode, an optimal peptide solvent exposed surface leading to an optimal complementarity with TCR interface may constitute one of the key features leading to high frequency of specific T cells. Altogether our results suggest that frequency of specific T cells depends on the fine-tuning of several parameters, the structural determinants governing TCR-pMHC interaction being just one of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Reiser
- Université de Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Direction des sciences du vivant, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France
| | - François Legoux
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Unité mixte de recherche 892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie Nantes Angers, F-44000 Nantes, France; and
| | - Stéphanie Gras
- Université de Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Direction des sciences du vivant, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Eric Trudel
- Université de Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Direction des sciences du vivant, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Anne Chouquet
- Université de Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Direction des sciences du vivant, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Alexandra Léger
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Unité mixte de recherche 892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie Nantes Angers, F-44000 Nantes, France; and
| | - Madalen Le Gorrec
- Université de Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Direction des sciences du vivant, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Paul Machillot
- Université de Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Direction des sciences du vivant, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Marc Bonneville
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Unité mixte de recherche 892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie Nantes Angers, F-44000 Nantes, France; and
| | - Xavier Saulquin
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Unité mixte de recherche 892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie Nantes Angers, F-44000 Nantes, France; and Université de Nantes, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Dominique Housset
- Université de Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Direction des sciences du vivant, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France; Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, F-38044 Grenoble, France;
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20
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Romero P, Speiser DE, Rufer N. Deciphering the unusual HLA-A2/Melan-A/MART-1-specific TCR repertoire in humans. Eur J Immunol 2014; 44:2567-70. [PMID: 25154881 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201445004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The Melan-A/MART-1(26-35) antigenic peptide is one of the best studied human tumor-associated antigens. It is expressed in healthy melanocytes and malignant melanoma and is recognized by CD8(+) T cells in the context of the MHC class I molecule HLA-A*0201. While an unusually large repertoire of CD8(+) T cells specific for this antigen has been documented, the reasons for its generation have remained elusive. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Pinto et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 2811-2821] uncover one important mechanism by comparing the thymic expression of the Melan-A gene to that in the melanocyte lineage. This study shows that medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) dominantly express a truncated Melan-A transcript, the product of misinitiation of transcription. Consequently, the protein product in mTECs lacks the immunodominant epitope spanning residues 26-35, thus precluding central tolerance to this antigen. In contrast, melanocytes and melanoma tumor cells express almost exclusively the full-length Melan-A transcript, thus providing the target antigen for efficient recognition by HLA-A2-restricted CD8(+) T cells. The frequency of these alternative gene transcription modes may be more common than previously appreciated and may represent an important factor modulating the efficiency of central tolerance induction in the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Romero
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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21
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Smith SN, Wang Y, Baylon JL, Singh NK, Baker BM, Tajkhorshid E, Kranz DM. Changing the peptide specificity of a human T-cell receptor by directed evolution. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5223. [PMID: 25376839 PMCID: PMC4225554 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Binding of a T-cell receptor (TCR) to a peptide/major histocompatibility complex is the key interaction involved in antigen specificity of T cells. The recognition involves up to six complementarity determining regions (CDR) of the TCR. Efforts to examine the structural basis of these interactions and to exploit them in adoptive T-cell therapies has required the isolation of specific T-cell clones and their clonotypic TCRs. Here we describe a strategy using in vitro-directed evolution of a single TCR to change its peptide specificity, thereby avoiding the need to isolate T-cell clones. The human TCR A6, which recognizes the viral peptide Tax/HLA-A2, was converted to TCR variants that recognized the cancer peptide MART1/HLA-A2. Mutational studies and molecular dynamics simulations identified CDR residues that were predicted to be important in the specificity switch. Thus, in vitro engineering strategies alone can be used to discover TCRs with desired specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena N. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, 600 S. Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yuhang Wang
- Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Javier L. Baylon
- Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Nishant K. Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, 1234 Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, IN 46557, USA
| | - Brian M. Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, 1234 Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, IN 46557, USA
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, 600 S. Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - David M. Kranz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, 600 S. Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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22
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Hoppes R, Oostvogels R, Luimstra JJ, Wals K, Toebes M, Bies L, Ekkebus R, Rijal P, Celie PHN, Huang JH, Emmelot ME, Spaapen RM, Lokhorst H, Schumacher TNM, Mutis T, Rodenko B, Ovaa H. Altered peptide ligands revisited: vaccine design through chemically modified HLA-A2-restricted T cell epitopes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:4803-13. [PMID: 25311806 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Virus or tumor Ag-derived peptides that are displayed by MHC class I molecules are attractive starting points for vaccine development because they induce strong protective and therapeutic cytotoxic T cell responses. In thus study, we show that the MHC binding and consequent T cell reactivity against several HLA-A*02 restricted epitopes can be further improved through the incorporation of nonproteogenic amino acids at primary and secondary anchor positions. We screened more than 90 nonproteogenic, synthetic amino acids through a range of epitopes and tested more than 3000 chemically enhanced altered peptide ligands (CPLs) for binding affinity to HLA-A*0201. With this approach, we designed CPLs of viral epitopes, of melanoma-associated Ags, and of the minor histocompatibility Ag UTA2-1, which is currently being evaluated for its antileukemic activity in clinical dendritic cell vaccination trials. The crystal structure of one of the CPLs in complex with HLA-A*0201 revealed the molecular interactions likely responsible for improved binding. The best CPLs displayed enhanced affinity for MHC, increasing MHC stability and prolonging recognition by Ag-specific T cells and, most importantly, they induced accelerated expansion of antitumor T cell frequencies in vitro and in vivo as compared with the native epitope. Eventually, we were able to construct a toolbox of preferred nonproteogenic residues with which practically any given HLA-A*02 restricted epitope can be readily optimized. These CPLs could improve the therapeutic outcome of vaccination strategies or can be used for ex vivo enrichment and faster expansion of Ag-specific T cells for transfer into patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rieuwert Hoppes
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rimke Oostvogels
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands Department of Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jolien J Luimstra
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kim Wals
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mireille Toebes
- Division of Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laura Bies
- Division of Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Reggy Ekkebus
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pramila Rijal
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Patrick H N Celie
- Division of Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute Protein Facility, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and
| | - Julie H Huang
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten E Emmelot
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Robbert M Spaapen
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henk Lokhorst
- Department of Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ton N M Schumacher
- Division of Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tuna Mutis
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Boris Rodenko
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Huib Ovaa
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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23
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Fujiyama T, Oze I, Yagi H, Hashizume H, Matsuo K, Hino R, Kamo R, Imayama S, Hirakawa S, Ito T, Takigawa M, Tokura Y. Induction of cytotoxic T cells as a novel independent survival factor in malignant melanoma with percutaneous peptide immunization. J Dermatol Sci 2014; 75:43-8. [PMID: 24802712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant melanoma (MM) often shows multiple chemo-resistance, leading to poor prognosis of the patients. Therapeutic anti-cancer vaccination may be a feasible way to prolong the survival of patients. We have demonstrated that application of antigenic peptides via the tape-stripped, horny layer-removed skin, known as percutaneous peptide immunization (PPI), induces tumor cell-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in rodents and humans. OBJECTIVE To evaluate clinical significance of PPI in advanced MM patients. METHODS We performed PPI in 59 patients undergoing advanced MM with Melan-A, tyrosinase, MAGE-2, MAGE-3 and gp-100 peptides based on HLA typing in individuals. The induction of CTLs was assessed by the tetramer or pentamer flow cytometry in 35 patients. Patients showing positive CTL responses to all antigens were defined as complete responder (n=18), and those showing negative responses to at least one applied antigen were classified as incomplete responder (n=17). The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival (OS). For statistical analysis, log-rank test, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used. RESULTS OS of the complete responders was longer than that of the incomplete responders (median survival time: 55.8 vs 20.3 months, log rank P=0.089). A hazard ratio for the complete responders relative to the incomplete responders was 0.23 (95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.93, P=0.039) in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. CONCLUSION The induction of CTLs was a novel independent survival factor, and the induction of peptide-specific CTLs by PPI contributes to the prolonged survival and represents an impact on therapeutic approaches in MM. Unique trial number: UMIN000005706.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiharu Fujiyama
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
| | - Isao Oze
- Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Yagi
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Hideo Hashizume
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Keitaro Matsuo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Kyusyu University, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Hino
- Department of Dermatology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Riei Kamo
- Department of Dermatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | | | - Satoshi Hirakawa
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Taisuke Ito
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Masahiro Takigawa
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Tokura
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
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24
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Hawse WF, Gloor BE, Ayres CM, Kho K, Nuter E, Baker BM. Peptide modulation of class I major histocompatibility complex protein molecular flexibility and the implications for immune recognition. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:24372-81. [PMID: 23836912 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.490664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells use the αβ T cell receptor (TCR) to recognize antigenic peptides presented by class I major histocompatibility complex proteins (pMHCs) on the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells. Flexibility in both TCRs and peptides plays an important role in antigen recognition and discrimination. Less clear is the role of flexibility in the MHC protein; although recent observations have indicated that mobility in the MHC can impact TCR recognition in a peptide-dependent fashion, the extent of this behavior is unknown. Here, using hydrogen/deuterium exchange, fluorescence anisotropy, and structural analyses, we show that the flexibility of the peptide binding groove of the class I MHC protein HLA-A*0201 varies significantly with different peptides. The variations extend throughout the binding groove, impacting regions contacted by TCRs as well as other activating and inhibitory receptors of the immune system. Our results are consistent with statistical mechanical models of protein structure and dynamics, in which the binding of different peptides alters the populations and exchange kinetics of substates in the MHC conformational ensemble. Altered MHC flexibility will influence receptor engagement, impacting conformational adaptations, entropic penalties associated with receptor recognition, and the populations of binding-competent states. Our results highlight a previously unrecognized aspect of the "altered self" mechanism of immune recognition and have implications for specificity, cross-reactivity, and antigenicity in cellular immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Hawse
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
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25
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Madura F, Rizkallah PJ, Miles KM, Holland CJ, Bulek AM, Fuller A, Schauenburg AJA, Miles JJ, Liddy N, Sami M, Li Y, Hossain M, Baker BM, Jakobsen BK, Sewell AK, Cole DK. T-cell receptor specificity maintained by altered thermodynamics. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:18766-75. [PMID: 23698002 PMCID: PMC3696650 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.464560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizes peptides bound to major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) and allows T-cells to interrogate the cellular proteome for internal anomalies from the cell surface. The TCR contacts both MHC and peptide in an interaction characterized by weak affinity (KD = 100 nM to 270 μM). We used phage-display to produce a melanoma-specific TCR (α24β17) with a 30,000-fold enhanced binding affinity (KD = 0.6 nM) to aid our exploration of the molecular mechanisms utilized to maintain peptide specificity. Remarkably, although the enhanced affinity was mediated primarily through new TCR-MHC contacts, α24β17 remained acutely sensitive to modifications at every position along the peptide backbone, mimicking the specificity of the wild type TCR. Thermodynamic analyses revealed an important role for solvation in directing peptide specificity. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that can govern the exquisite peptide specificity characteristic of TCR recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Madura
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
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26
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Baker BM, Scott DR, Blevins SJ, Hawse WF. Structural and dynamic control of T-cell receptor specificity, cross-reactivity, and binding mechanism. Immunol Rev 2013; 250:10-31. [PMID: 23046120 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.2012.01165.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, structural biology has shown how T-cell receptors engage peptide/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) complexes and provided insight into the mechanisms underlying antigen specificity and cross-reactivity. Here we review and contextualize our contributions, which have emphasized the influence of structural changes and molecular flexibility. A repeated observation is the presence of conformational melding, in which the T-cell receptor (TCR), peptide, and in some cases, MHC protein cooperatively adjust in order for recognition to proceed. The structural changes reflect the intrinsic dynamics of the unligated proteins. Characterization of the dynamics of unligated TCR shows how binding loop motion can influence TCR cross-reactivity as well as specificity towards peptide and MHC. Examination of peptide dynamics indicates not only peptide-specific variation but also a peptide dependence to MHC flexibility. This latter point emphasizes that the TCR engages a composite peptide/MHC surface and that physically the receptor makes little distinction between the peptide and MHC. Much additional evidence for this can be found within the database of available structures, including our observations of a peptide dependence to the TCR binding mode and structural compensations for altered interatomic interactions, in which lost TCR-peptide interactions are replaced with TCR-MHC interactions. The lack of a hard-coded physical distinction between peptide and MHC has implications not only for specificity and cross-reactivity but also the mechanisms underlying MHC restriction as well as attempts to modulate and control TCR recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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27
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Abstract
αβ-TCRs expressed at the CD8(+) T-cell surface interact with short peptide fragments (p) bound to MHC class I molecules (pMHCI). The TCR/pMHCI interaction is pivotal in all aspects of CD8(+) T-cell immunity. However, the rules that govern the outcome of TCR/pMHCI engagement are not entirely understood, and this is a major barrier to understanding the requirements for both effective immunity and vaccination. In the present study, we discovered an unexpected feature of the TCR/pMHCI interaction by showing that any given TCR exhibits an explicit preference for a single MHCI-peptide length. Agonists of nonpreferred length were extremely rare, suboptimal, and often entirely distinct in sequence. Structural analysis indicated that alterations in peptide length have a major impact on antigenic complexity, to which individual TCRs are unable to adapt. This novel finding demonstrates that the outcome of TCR/pMHCI engagement is determined by peptide length in addition to the sequence identity of the MHCI-bound peptide. Accordingly, the effective recognition of pMHCI Ag, which is a prerequisite for successful CD8(+) T-cell immunity and protective vaccination, can only be achieved by length-matched Ag-specific CD8(+) T-cell clonotypes.
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28
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Newell EW, Sigal N, Bendall SC, Nolan GP, Davis MM. Cytometry by time-of-flight shows combinatorial cytokine expression and virus-specific cell niches within a continuum of CD8+ T cell phenotypes. Immunity 2012; 36:142-52. [PMID: 22265676 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2012.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 476] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2011] [Revised: 10/19/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cytotoxic CD8(+) T lymphocytes directly kill infected or aberrant cells and secrete proinflammatory cytokines. By using metal-labeled probes and mass spectrometric analysis (cytometry by time-of-flight, or CyTOF) of human CD8(+) T cells, we analyzed the expression of many more proteins than previously possible with fluorescent labels, including surface markers, cytokines, and antigen specificity with modified peptide-MHC tetramers. With 3-dimensional principal component analysis (3D-PCA) to display phenotypic diversity, we observed a relatively uniform pattern of variation in all subjects tested, highlighting the interrelatedness of previously described subsets and the continuous nature of CD8(+) T cell differentiation. These data also showed much greater complexity in the CD8(+) T cell compartment than previously appreciated, including a nearly combinatorial pattern of cytokine expression, with distinct niches occupied by virus-specific cells. This large degree of functional diversity even between cells with the same specificity gives CD8(+) T cells a remarkable degree of flexibility in responding to pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan W Newell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
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29
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Insaidoo FK, Borbulevych OY, Hossain M, Santhanagopolan SM, Baxter TK, Baker BM. Loss of T cell antigen recognition arising from changes in peptide and major histocompatibility complex protein flexibility: implications for vaccine design. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:40163-73. [PMID: 21937447 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.283564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Modification of the primary anchor positions of antigenic peptides to improve binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins is a commonly used strategy for engineering peptide-based vaccine candidates. However, such peptide modifications do not always improve antigenicity, complicating efforts to design effective vaccines for cancer and infectious disease. Here we investigated the MART-1(27-35) tumor antigen, for which anchor modification (replacement of the position two alanine with leucine) dramatically reduces or ablates antigenicity with a wide range of T cell clones despite significantly improving peptide binding to MHC. We found that anchor modification in the MART-1(27-35) antigen enhances the flexibility of both the peptide and the HLA-A*0201 molecule. Although the resulting entropic effects contribute to the improved binding of the peptide to MHC, they also negatively impact T cell receptor binding to the peptide·MHC complex. These results help explain how the "anchor-fixing" strategy fails to improve antigenicity in this case, and more generally, may be relevant for understanding the high specificity characteristic of the T cell repertoire. In addition to impacting vaccine design, modulation of peptide and MHC flexibility through changes to antigenic peptides may present an evolutionary strategy for the escape of pathogens from immune destruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis K Insaidoo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
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30
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Borbulevych OY, Santhanagopolan SM, Hossain M, Baker BM. TCRs used in cancer gene therapy cross-react with MART-1/Melan-A tumor antigens via distinct mechanisms. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2011; 187:2453-63. [PMID: 21795600 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
T cells engineered to express TCRs specific for tumor Ags can drive cancer regression. The first TCRs used in cancer gene therapy, DMF4 and DMF5, recognize two structurally distinct peptide epitopes of the melanoma-associated MART-1/Melan-A protein, both presented by the class I MHC protein HLA-A*0201. To help understand the mechanisms of TCR cross-reactivity and provide a foundation for the further development of immunotherapy, we determined the crystallographic structures of DMF4 and DMF5 in complex with both of the MART-1/Melan-A epitopes. The two TCRs use different mechanisms to accommodate the two ligands. Although DMF4 binds the two with a different orientation, altering its position over the peptide/MHC, DMF5 binds them both identically. The simpler mode of cross-reactivity by DMF5 is associated with higher affinity toward both ligands, consistent with the superior functional avidity of DMF5. More generally, the observation of two diverging mechanisms of cross-reactivity with the same Ags and the finding that TCR-binding orientation can be determined by peptide alone extend our understanding of the mechanisms underlying TCR cross-reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Y Borbulevych
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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31
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Diverse peptide presentation of rhesus macaque major histocompatibility complex class I Mamu-A 02 revealed by two peptide complex structures and insights into immune escape of simian immunodeficiency virus. J Virol 2011; 85:7372-83. [PMID: 21561910 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00350-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I)-restricted CD8(+) T-cell responses play a pivotal role in anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immunity and the control of viremia. The rhesus macaque is an important animal model for HIV-related research. Among the MHC I alleles of the rhesus macaque, Mamu-A 02 is prevalent, presenting in ≥20% of macaques. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of Mamu-A 02, the second structure-determined MHC I from the rhesus macaque after Mamu-A 01. The peptide presentation characteristics of Mamu-A 02 are exhibited in complex structures with two typical Mamu-A 02-restricted CD8(+) T-cell epitopes, YY9 (Nef159 to -167; YTSGPGIRY) and GY9 (Gag71 to -79; GSENLKSLY), derived from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). These two peptides utilize similar primary anchor residues (Ser or Thr) at position 2 and Tyr at position 9. However, the central region of YY9 is different from that of GY9, a difference that may correlate with the immunogenic variance of these peptides. Further analysis indicated that the distinct conformations of these two peptides are modulated by four flexible residues in the Mamu-A 02 peptide-binding groove. The rare combination of these four residues in Mamu-A 02 leads to a variant presentation for peptides with different residues in their central regions. Additionally, in the two structures of the Mamu-A 02 complex, we compared the binding of rhesus and human β(2) microglobulin (β(2)m) to Mamu-A 02. We found that the peptide presentation of Mamu-A 02 is not affected by the interspecies interaction with human β(2)m. Our work broadens the understanding of CD8(+) T-cell-specific immunity against SIV in the rhesus macaque.
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32
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Two distinct conformations of a rinderpest virus epitope presented by bovine major histocompatibility complex class I N*01801: a host strategy to present featured peptides. J Virol 2011; 85:6038-48. [PMID: 21450819 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00030-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The presentation of viral peptide epitopes to host cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is crucial for adaptive cellular immunity to clear the virus infection, especially for some chronic viral infections. Indeed, hosts have developed effective strategies to achieve this goal. The ideal scenario would be that the peptide epitopes stimulate a broad spectrum of CTL responses with diversified T-cell receptor (TCR) usage (the TCR repertoire). It is believed that a diversified TCR repertoire requires a "featured" peptide to be presented by the host major histocompatibility complex (MHC). A featured peptide can be processed and presented in a number of ways. Here, using the X-ray diffraction method, the crystal structures of an antigenic peptide derived from rinderpest virus presented by bovine MHC class I N*01801 (BoLA-A11) have been solved, and two distinct conformations of the presented peptide are clearly displayed. A detailed analysis of the structure and comparative sequences revealed that the polymorphic amino acid isoleucine 73 (Ile73) is extremely flexible, allowing the MHC groove to adopt different conformations to accommodate the rinderpest virus peptide. This makes the peptide more featured by exposing different amino acids for T-cell recognition. The crystal structures also demonstrated that the N*01801 molecule has an unusually large A pocket, resulting in the special conformation of the P1 residue at the N terminus of the peptide. We propose that this strategy of host peptide presentation might be beneficial for creating a diversified TCR repertoire, which is important for a more-effective CTL response.
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33
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Douat-Casassus C, Borbulevych O, Tarbe M, Gervois N, Jotereau F, Baker BM, Quideau S. Crystal structures of HLA-A*0201 complexed with Melan-A/MART-1(26(27L)-35) peptidomimetics reveal conformational heterogeneity and highlight degeneracy of T cell recognition. J Med Chem 2010; 53:7061-6. [PMID: 20806940 DOI: 10.1021/jm100683p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
There is growing interest in using tumor associated antigens presented by class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) proteins as cancer vaccines. As native peptides are poorly stable in biological fluids, researchers have sought to engineer synthetic peptidomimetics with greater biostability. Here, we demonstrate that antigenic peptidomimetics of the Melan-A/MART-1(26(27L)-35) melanoma antigen adopt strikingly different conformations when bound to MHC-I, highlighting the degeneracy of T cell recognition and revealing the challenges associated with mimicking native peptide conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Douat-Casassus
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires (UMR-CNRS 5255) and Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie (IECB), Université de Bordeaux, 2 Rue Robert Escarpit, 33607 Pessac, France
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34
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Tarbe M, Azcune I, Balentová E, Miles JJ, Edwards EE, Miles KM, Do P, Baker BM, Sewell AK, Aizpurua JM, Douat-Casassus C, Quideau S. Design, synthesis and evaluation of β-lactam antigenic peptide hybrids; unusual opening of the β-lactam ring in acidic media. Org Biomol Chem 2010; 8:5345-53. [PMID: 20927455 DOI: 10.1039/c003877f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
β-Lactam peptides were envisioned as conformational constraints in antigenic peptides (APs). Three different β-lactam tripeptides of varying flexibility were prepared in solution and incorporated in place of the central part of the altered melanoma associated antigenic peptide Leu(27)-Melan-A(26-35) using solid phase synthesis techniques. Upon TFA cleavage from the solid support, an unexpected opening of the β-lactam ring occurred with conservation of the amide bond. After adaptation of the solid phase synthesis strategy, β-lactam peptides were successfully obtained and both opened and closed forms were evaluated for their capacity to bind to the antigen-presenting class-I MHC HLA-A2 protein system. None of the closed β-lactam peptides bound to HLA-A2, but their opened variants were shown to be moderate to good HLA-A2 ligands, one of them being even capable of stimulating a Melan-A-specific T cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Tarbe
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires (UMR-CNRS 5255) and Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie (IECB), 2 rue Robert Escarpit, 33607 Pessac, France
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35
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Liu J, Sun Y, Qi J, Chu F, Wu H, Gao F, Li T, Yan J, Gao GF. The membrane protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus acts as a dominant immunogen revealed by a clustering region of novel functionally and structurally defined cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes. J Infect Dis 2010; 202:1171-80. [PMID: 20831383 PMCID: PMC7537489 DOI: 10.1086/656315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which emerged with highly contagious and life-threatening characteristics in 2002, remains a potential risk for future outbreaks. Membrane (M) and envelope (E) proteins are major structural proteins of the SARS-CoV. The M protein has been determined as a protective antigen in humoral responses. However, its potential roles in stimulating cellular immunity remain elusive. METHODS In this study, a panel of peptides derived from M and E proteins were tested by in vitro refolding, T2 cell-binding assays, and responses stimulated by cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes in HLA-A2.1/K(b) transgenic mice and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS A nonameric epitope Mn2 and a decameric epitope Md3 derived from the M protein were identified and used for the evaluation of M protein-specific immunity. Responses stimulated by M protein-specific CTL epitopes have been found in the PBMCs of donors who had recovered from SARS infection. Additionally, the transmembrane domain of the M protein may contain a T cell epitope cluster revealed by the immunogenic and structural analysis of a panel of truncated peptides overlapping with Mn2 and Md3. CONCLUSIONS The M protein of SARS-CoV holds dominant cellular immunogenicity. This, together with previous reports of a strong humoral response against the M protein, may help to further explain the immunogenicity of SARS and serves as potential targets for SARS-CoV vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate University, Beijing, China
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36
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Cole DK, Edwards ESJ, Wynn KK, Clement M, Miles JJ, Ladell K, Ekeruche J, Gostick E, Adams KJ, Skowera A, Peakman M, Wooldridge L, Price DA, Sewell AK. Modification of MHC anchor residues generates heteroclitic peptides that alter TCR binding and T cell recognition. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2010; 185:2600-10. [PMID: 20639478 PMCID: PMC3024538 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Improving T cell Ags by altering MHC anchor residues is a common strategy used to enhance peptide vaccines, but there has been little assessment of how such modifications affect TCR binding and T cell recognition. In this study, we use surface plasmon resonance and peptide-MHC tetramer binding at the cell surface to demonstrate that changes in primary peptide anchor residues can substantially and unpredictably alter TCR binding. We also demonstrate that the ability of TCRs to differentiate between natural and anchor-modified heteroclitic peptides distinguishes T cells that exhibit a strong preference for either type of Ag. Furthermore, we show that anchor-modified heteroclitic peptides prime T cells with different TCRs compared with those primed with natural Ag. Thus, vaccination with heteroclitic peptides may elicit T cells that exhibit suboptimal recognition of the intended natural Ag and, consequently, impaired functional attributes in vivo. Heteroclitic peptide-based immune interventions therefore require careful evaluation to ensure efficacy in the clinic.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytokines/immunology
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- Flow Cytometry
- HLA-A Antigens/genetics
- HLA-A Antigens/immunology
- HLA-A Antigens/metabolism
- HLA-A2 Antigen
- Humans
- Mutation
- Oligopeptides/genetics
- Oligopeptides/immunology
- Oligopeptides/metabolism
- Peptide Library
- Protein Binding/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Surface Plasmon Resonance
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Cole
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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37
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Abdul-Alim CS, Li Y, Yee C. Conditional superagonist CTL ligands for the promotion of tumor-specific CTL responses. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2010; 184:6514-21. [PMID: 20483791 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0900448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although it has been demonstrated that CTLs can be raised against tumor-associated self-antigens, achieving consistent and effective clinical responses has proven challenging. Superagonist altered peptide ligands (APLs) can often elicit potent antitumor CTL responses where the native tumor-associated epitope fails. Current methods have identified a limited number of superagonist APLs, including the prototypic 27L mutant of MART-1. However, more comprehensive screening strategies would be desirable. In this study, we use a novel genetic screen, involving recombinant technology and class I Ag cross-presentation, to search for supraoptimal superagonists of the 27L MART-1 mutant by surveying the effectiveness of virtually every single amino acid substitution mutant of 27L to activate human Ag-specific CTL clones recognizing the wild-type MART-1(26-35) epitope. We identify three novel mutant epitopes with superagonist properties that are functionally superior to 27L; however, the ability of a given analogue to act as superagonist varies among patients and suggests that a given superagonist APL may be ideally suited to different patients. These findings endorse the use of comprehensive methods to establish panels of potential superagonist APLs to individualize tumor peptide vaccines among patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Siddiq Abdul-Alim
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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Cole DK, Yuan F, Rizkallah PJ, Miles JJ, Gostick E, Price DA, Gao GF, Jakobsen BK, Sewell AK. Germ line-governed recognition of a cancer epitope by an immunodominant human T-cell receptor. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:27281-9. [PMID: 19605354 PMCID: PMC2785656 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.022509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2009] [Revised: 05/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8(+) T-cells specific for MART-1-(26-35), a dominant melanoma epitope restricted by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201, are exceptionally common in the naive T-cell repertoire. Remarkably, the TRAV12-2 gene is used to encode the T-cell receptor alpha (TCRalpha) chain in >87% of these T-cells. Here, the molecular basis for this genetic bias is revealed from the structural and thermodynamic properties of an archetypal TRAV12-2-encoded TCR complexed to the clinically relevant heteroclitic peptide, ELAGIGILTV, bound to HLA-A*0201 (A2-ELA). Unusually, the TRAV12-2 germ line-encoded regions of the TCR dominate the major atomic contacts with the peptide at the TCR/A2-ELA interface. This "innate" pattern of antigen recognition probably explains the unique characteristics and extraordinary frequencies of CD8(+) T-cell responses to this epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K. Cole
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Biochemistry, Henry Wellcome Building, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Fang Yuan
- the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre J. Rizkallah
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Biochemistry, Henry Wellcome Building, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- the STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4AD, United Kingdom
| | - John J. Miles
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Biochemistry, Henry Wellcome Building, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- the Cellular Immunology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4029, Australia
| | - Emma Gostick
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Biochemistry, Henry Wellcome Building, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Price
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Biochemistry, Henry Wellcome Building, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - George F. Gao
- the **Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, and
| | - Bent K. Jakobsen
- Immunocore Limited, 57C Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RX, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K. Sewell
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Biochemistry, Henry Wellcome Building, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
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Serana F, Sottini A, Caimi L, Palermo B, Natali PG, Nisticò P, Imberti L. Identification of a public CDR3 motif and a biased utilization of T-cell receptor V beta and J beta chains in HLA-A2/Melan-A-specific T-cell clonotypes of melanoma patients. J Transl Med 2009; 7:21. [PMID: 19317896 PMCID: PMC2667493 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-7-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2009] [Accepted: 03/24/2009] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Assessment of T-cell diversity, besides giving insights about the molecular basis of tumor antigen recognition, has clinical implications since it provides criteria for evaluating antigen-specific T cells clinically relevant for spontaneous and vaccine-induced anti-tumor activity. Melan-A is one of the melanoma antigens most frequently recognized by peripheral and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in HLA-A2+ melanoma patients. Many clinical trials involving anti-tumor vaccination have been conducted using modified versions of this peptide. Methods We conducted an in-depth characterization of 210 T-cell receptor beta chain (TRB) clonotypes derived from T cells of HLA-A2+ melanoma patients displaying cytotoxic activity against natural and A27L-modified Melan-A peptides. One hundred and thirteen Melan-A-specific clonotypes from melanoma-free subjects, 199 clonotypes from T-cell clones from melanoma patients specific for melanoma antigens other than Melan-A, and 305 clonotypes derived from T cells of HLA-A2+ individuals showing unrelated specificities, were used as control. After sequence analysis, performed according to the IMGT definitions, TRBV and TRBJ usage, CDR3 length and amino acid composition were compared in the four groups of clonotypes. Results TRB sequences of Melan-A-specific clonotypes obtained from melanoma patients were highly heterogeneous, but displayed a preferential usage of few TRBV and TRBJ segments. Furthermore, they included a recurrent "public" amino acid motif (Glycine-Leucine-Glycine at positions 110-112-113 of the CDR3) rearranged with dominant TRBV and TRBJ segments and, in one case, associated with a full conservation of the entire TRB sequence. Conclusion Contrary to what observed for public anti-Melan-A T-cell receptor alpha motifs, which had been identified in several clonotypes of both melanoma patients and healthy controls, the unexpectedly high contribution of a public TRB motif in the recognition of a dominant melanoma epitope in melanoma patients may provide important information about the biology of anti-tumor T-cell responses and improve monitoring strategies of anti-tumor vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Serana
- Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
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40
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Derré L, Ferber M, Touvrey C, Devevre E, Zoete V, Leimgruber A, Romero P, Michielin O, Lévy F, Speiser DE. A novel population of human melanoma-specific CD8 T cells recognizes Melan-AMART-1 immunodominant nonapeptide but not the corresponding decapeptide. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 179:7635-45. [PMID: 18025209 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.11.7635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
HLA-A2-restricted cytolytic T cells specific for the immunodominant human tumor Ag Melan-A(MART-1) can kill most HLA-matched melanoma cells, through recognition of two naturally occurring antigenic variants, i.e., Melan-A nonamer AAGIGILTV and decamer EAAGIGILTV peptides. Several previous studies have suggested a high degree of TCR cross-reactivity to the two peptides. In this study, we describe for the first time that some T cell clones are exclusively nonamer specific, because they are not labeled by A2/decamer-tetramers and do not recognize the decamer when presented endogenously. Functional assays with peptides gave misleading results, possibly because decamers were cleaved by exopeptidases. Interestingly, nonapeptide-specific T cell clones were rarely Valpha2.1 positive (only 1 of 19 clones), in contrast to the known strong bias for Valpha2.1-positive TCRs found in decamer-specific clones (59 of 69 clones). Molecular modeling revealed that nonapeptide-specific TCRs formed unfavorable interactions with the decapeptide, whereas decapeptide-specific TCRs productively created a hydrogen bond between CDR1alpha and glutamic acid (E) of the decapeptide. Ex vivo analysis of T cells from melanoma metastases demonstrated that both nonamer and decamer-specific T cells were enriched to substantial frequencies in vivo, and representative clones showed efficient tumor cell recognition and killing. We conclude that the two peptides should be regarded as distinct epitopes when analyzing tumor immunity and developing immunotherapy against melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Derré
- Division of Clinical Onco-Immunology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
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41
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Todman SJ, Halling-Brown MD, Davies MN, Flower DR, Kayikci M, Moss DS. Toward the atomistic simulation of T cell epitopes. J Mol Graph Model 2008; 26:957-61. [PMID: 17766153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2007.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2007] [Revised: 07/25/2007] [Accepted: 07/25/2007] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Epitopes mediated by T cells lie at the heart of the adaptive immune response and form the essential nucleus of anti-tumour peptide or epitope-based vaccines. Antigenic T cell epitopes are mediated by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, which present them to T cell receptors. Calculating the affinity between a given MHC molecule and an antigenic peptide using experimental approaches is both difficult and time consuming, thus various computational methods have been developed for this purpose. A server has been developed to allow a structural approach to the problem by generating specific MHC:peptide complex structures and providing configuration files to run molecular modelling simulations upon them. A system has been produced which allows the automated construction of MHC:peptide structure files and the corresponding configuration files required to execute a molecular dynamics simulation using NAMD. The system has been made available through a web-based front end and stand-alone scripts. Previous attempts at structural prediction of MHC:peptide affinity have been limited due to the paucity of structures and the computational expense in running large scale molecular dynamics simulations. The MHCsim server (http://igrid-ext.cryst.bbk.ac.uk/MHCsim) allows the user to rapidly generate any desired MHC:peptide complex and will facilitate molecular modelling simulation of MHC complexes on an unprecedented scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Todman
- Department of Crystallography, University of London, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
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42
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Yuan F, Georgiou T, Hillon T, Gostick E, Price DA, Sewell AK, Moysey R, Gavarret J, Vuidepot A, Sami M, Bell JI, Gao GF, Rizkallah PJ, Jakobsen BK. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray structural studies of a Melan-A pMHC-TCR complex. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2007; 63:758-60. [PMID: 17768347 PMCID: PMC2376329 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309107037244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2007] [Accepted: 07/30/2007] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Melanocytes are specialized pigmented cells that are found in all healthy skin tissue. In certain individuals, diseased melanocytes can form malignant tumours, melanomas, which cause the majority of skin-cancer-related deaths. The melanoma-associated antigenic peptides are presented on cell surfaces via the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Among the melanoma-associated antigens, the melanoma self-antigen A/melanoma antigen recognized by T cells (Melan-A/MART-1) has attracted attention because of its wide expression in primary and metastatic melanomas. Here, a preliminary X-ray crystal structural study of a soluble cognate T-cell receptor (TCR) in complex with a pMHC presenting the Melan-A peptide (ELAGIGILTV) is reported. The TCR and pMHC were refolded, purified and mixed together to form complexes, which were crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. Single TCR-pMHC complex crystals were cryocooled and used for data collection. Diffraction data showed that these crystals belonged to space group P4(1)/P4(3), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 120.4, c = 81.6 A. A complete data set was collected to 3.1 A and the structure is currently being analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yuan
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, England
| | - Theonie Georgiou
- STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4AD, England
| | - Theresa Hillon
- STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4AD, England
| | - Emma Gostick
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, England
| | - David A. Price
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, England
| | - Andrew K. Sewell
- Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales
| | - Ruth Moysey
- Medigene, 57c Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxdfordshire OX14 4RX, England
| | - Jessie Gavarret
- Medigene, 57c Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxdfordshire OX14 4RX, England
| | | | - Malkit Sami
- Medigene, 57c Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxdfordshire OX14 4RX, England
| | - John I. Bell
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, England
| | - George F. Gao
- Center for Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 13 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China
| | | | - Bent K. Jakobsen
- Medigene, 57c Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxdfordshire OX14 4RX, England
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43
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Borbulevych OY, Insaidoo FK, Baxter TK, Powell DJ, Johnson LA, Restifo NP, Baker BM. Structures of MART-126/27-35 Peptide/HLA-A2 complexes reveal a remarkable disconnect between antigen structural homology and T cell recognition. J Mol Biol 2007; 372:1123-36. [PMID: 17719062 PMCID: PMC2134917 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2007.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2007] [Revised: 07/07/2007] [Accepted: 07/10/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Small structural changes in peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules often result in large changes in immunogenicity, supporting the notion that T cell receptors are exquisitely sensitive to antigen structure. Yet there are striking examples of TCR recognition of structurally dissimilar ligands. The resulting unpredictability of how T cells will respond to different or modified antigens impacts both our understanding of the physical bases for TCR specificity as well as efforts to engineer peptides for immunomodulation. In cancer immunotherapy, epitopes and variants derived from the MART-1/Melan-A protein are widely used as clinical vaccines. Two overlapping epitopes spanning amino acid residues 26 through 35 are of particular interest: numerous clinical studies have been performed using variants of the MART-1 26-35 decamer, although only the 27-35 nonamer has been found on the surface of targeted melanoma cells. Here, we show that the 26-35 and 27-35 peptides adopt strikingly different conformations when bound to HLA-A2. Nevertheless, clonally distinct MART-1(26/27-35)-reactive T cells show broad cross-reactivity towards these ligands. Simultaneously, however, many of the cross-reactive T cells remain unable to recognize anchor-modified variants with very subtle structural differences. These dichotomous observations challenge our thinking about how structural information on unligated peptide/MHC complexes should be best used when addressing questions of TCR specificity. Our findings also indicate that caution is warranted in the design of immunotherapeutics based on the MART-1 26/27-35 epitopes, as neither cross-reactivity nor selectivity is predictable based on the analysis of the structures alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Y. Borbulevych
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556, USA
- Walther Cancer Research Center, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46530, USA
| | - Francis K. Insaidoo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556, USA
| | - Tiffany K. Baxter
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556, USA
| | - Daniel J. Powell
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Laura A. Johnson
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nicholas P. Restifo
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian M. Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556, USA
- Walther Cancer Research Center, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46530, USA
- *E-mail address of the corresponding author:
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Michielin O, Blanchet JS, Fagerberg T, Valmori D, Rubio-Godoy V, Speiser D, Ayyoub M, Alves P, Luescher I, Gairin JE, Cerottini JC, Romero P. Tinkering with nature: the tale of optimizing peptide based cancer vaccines. Cancer Treat Res 2007; 123:267-91. [PMID: 16211875 DOI: 10.1007/0-387-27545-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Michielin
- Office of Information Technology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Epalinges, Switzerland
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45
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Douat-Casassus C, Marchand-Geneste N, Diez E, Gervois N, Jotereau F, Quideau S. Synthetic anticancer vaccine candidates: rational design of antigenic peptide mimetics that activate tumor-specific T-cells. J Med Chem 2007; 50:1598-609. [PMID: 17328535 DOI: 10.1021/jm0613368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A rational design approach was followed to develop peptidomimetic analogues of a cytotoxic T-cell epitope capable of stimulating T-cell responses as strong as or stronger (heteroclytic) than those of parental antigenic peptides. The work described herein focused on structural alterations of the central amino acids of the melanoma tumor-associated antigenic peptide Melan-A/MART-1(26-35) using nonpeptidic units. A screening was first realized in silico to select altered peptides potentially capable of fitting at the interface between the major histocompatibilty complex (MHC) class-I HLA-A2 molecule and T-cell receptors (TCRs). Two compounds appeared to be high-affinity ligands to the HLA-A2 molecule and stimulated several Melan-A/MART-1 specific T-cell clones. Most remarkably, one of them even managed to amplify the response of one clone. Together, these results indicate that central TCR-contact residues of antigenic peptides can be replaced by nonpeptidic motifs without loss of binding affinity to MHC class-I molecules and T-cell triggering capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Douat-Casassus
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 2 rue Robert Escarpit, 33607 Pessac Cedex, France
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46
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Hao HF, Li XS, Gao FS, Wu WX, Xia C. Secondary structure and 3D homology modeling of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Protein Expr Purif 2007; 51:120-5. [PMID: 17005417 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2006.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2006] [Revised: 08/05/2006] [Accepted: 08/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
No information to date is available on the structure of fish major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) proteins. In the present study, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) MHC class I (Ctid-MHC I) and beta(2)-microglobulin (Ctid-beta2m) genes were expressed as soluble maltose binding protein (MBP)-proteins and purified in a pMAL-p2X/Escherichia coli TB1 system. The expressed proteins were purified on amylase affinity columns followed by DEAE-Sepharose. The purified products were identified by Western blotting with anti-MBP polyclonal antibodies. The MBP-Ctid-MHC I and MBP-Ctid-beta2m were cleaved separately with Factor Xa, mixed together and purified on DEAE-Sepharose. The secondary structures were analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) spectrophotometry. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of their peptide-binding domain (PBD) was modeled based sequence homology. The sequence lengths of the alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn, and random coil in the Ctid-MHC I protein were 79aa, 75aa, 20aa, and 99aa, respectively. In the 97aa of Ctid-beta2m, the contents of the alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn, and random coil were 0aa, 41aa, 12aa, and 44aa, respectively. The Ctid-beta2m protein displayed a typical beta-sheet. Homology modeling of the Ctid-MHC I and Ctid-beta2m proteins demonstrated similarities with the structure of human MHC class I proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Fang Hao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, PR China
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47
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Yagi H, Hashizume H, Horibe T, Yoshinari Y, Hata M, Ohshima A, Ito T, Takigawa M, Shibaki A, Shimizu H, Seo N. Induction of Therapeutically Relevant Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Humans by Percutaneous Peptide Immunization. Cancer Res 2006; 66:10136-44. [PMID: 17047078 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-1029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Percutaneous peptide immunization (PPI) is a simple and noninvasive immunization approach to induce potent CTL responses by peptide delivery via skin with the stratum corneum removed. After such a barrier disruption in human skin, epidermal Langerhans cells, although functionally matured through the up-regulation of HLA expression and costimulatory molecules, were found to emigrate with a reduced number of dendrites. CD8(+) populations binding to MHC-peptide tetramers/pentamers and producing IFN-gamma appeared in the blood after PPI with HLA class I-restricted antigenic peptides. PPI with melanoma-associated peptides reduced the lesion size and suppressed further development of tumors in four of seven patients with advanced melanoma. These beneficial effects were accompanied by the generation of circulating CTLs with in vitro cytolytic activity and extensive infiltration of tetramer/pentamer-binding cells into regressing lesions. PPI elicited neither local nor systemic toxicity or autoimmunity, except for vitiligo, in patients with melanoma. Therefore, PPI represents a novel therapeutic intervention for cancer in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Yagi
- Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
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48
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Bordner AJ, Abagyan R. Ab initio prediction of peptide-MHC binding geometry for diverse class I MHC allotypes. Proteins 2006; 63:512-26. [PMID: 16470819 DOI: 10.1002/prot.20831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Since determining the crystallographic structure of all peptide-MHC complexes is infeasible, an accurate prediction of the conformation is a critical computational problem. These models can be useful for determining binding energetics, predicting the structures of specific ternary complexes with T-cell receptors, and designing new molecules interacting with these complexes. The main difficulties are (1) adequate sampling of the large number of conformational degrees of freedom for the flexible peptide, (2) predicting subtle changes in the MHC interface geometry upon binding, and (3) building models for numerous MHC allotypes without known structures. Whereas previous studies have approached the sampling problem by dividing the conformational variables into different sets and predicting them separately, we have refined the Biased-Probability Monte Carlo docking protocol in internal coordinates to optimize a physical energy function for all peptide variables simultaneously. We also imitated the induced fit by docking into a more permissive smooth grid representation of the MHC followed by refinement and reranking using an all-atom MHC model. Our method was tested by a comparison of the results of cross-docking 14 peptides into HLA-A*0201 and 9 peptides into H-2K(b) as well as docking peptides into homology models for five different HLA allotypes with a comprehensive set of experimental structures. The surprisingly accurate prediction (0.75 A backbone RMSD) for cross-docking of a highly flexible decapeptide, dissimilar to the original bound peptide, as well as docking predictions using homology models for two allotypes with low average backbone RMSDs of less than 1.0 A illustrate the method's effectiveness. Finally, energy terms calculated using the predicted structures were combined with supervised learning on a large data set to classify peptides as either HLA-A*0201 binders or nonbinders. In contrast with sequence-based prediction methods, this model was also able to predict the binding affinity for peptides to a different MHC allotype (H-2K(b)), not used for training, with comparable prediction accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Bordner
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California, USA.
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49
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Colombetti S, Fagerberg T, Baumgärtner P, Chapatte L, Speiser DE, Rufer N, Michielin O, Lévy F. Impact of Orthologous Melan-A Peptide Immunizations on the Anti-Self Melan-A/HLA-A2 T Cell Cross-Reactivity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2006; 176:6560-7. [PMID: 16709813 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.11.6560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In HLA-A2 individuals, the CD8 T cell response against the differentiation Ag Melan-A is mainly directed toward the peptide Melan-A26-35. The murine Melan-A24-33 sequence encodes a peptide that is identical with the human Melan-A26-35 decamer, except for a Thr-to-Ile substitution at the penultimate position. Here, we show that the murine Melan-A24-33 is naturally processed and presented by HLA-A2 molecules. Based on these findings, we compared the CD8 T cell response to human and murine Melan-A peptide by immunizing HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Even though the magnitude of the CTL response elicited by the murine Melan-A peptide was lower than the one elicited by the human Melan-A peptide, both populations of CTL recognized the corresponding immunizing peptide with the same functional avidity. Interestingly, CTL specific for the murine Melan-A peptide were completely cross-reactive against the orthologous human peptide, whereas anti-human Melan-A CTL recognized the murine Melan-A peptide with lower avidity. Structurally, this discrepancy could be explained by the fact that Ile32 of murine Melan-A24-33 created a larger TCR contact area than Thr34 of human Melan-A26-35. These data indicate that, even if immunizations with orthologous peptides can induce strong specific T cell responses, the quality of this response against syngeneic targets might be suboptimal due to the structure of the peptide-TCR contact surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Colombetti
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
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Martinez-Hackert E, Anikeeva N, Kalams SA, Walker BD, Hendrickson WA, Sykulev Y. Structural basis for degenerate recognition of natural HIV peptide variants by cytotoxic lymphocytes. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:20205-12. [PMID: 16702212 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m601934200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that even small changes in amino acid side chains of antigenic peptide bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein may completely abrogate recognition of the peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex by the T cell receptor (TCR). Often, however, several nonconservative substitutions in the peptide antigen are accommodated and do not impair its recognition by TCR. For example, a preponderance of natural sequence variants of the human immunodeficiency virus p17 Gag-derived peptide SLYNTVATL (SL9) are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which implies that interactions with SL9 variants are degenerate both with respect to the class I MHC molecule and with respect to TCR. Here we study the molecular basis for this degenerate recognition of SL9 variants. We show that several SL9 variants bind comparably well to soluble HLA-A2 and to a particular soluble TCR and that these variants are active in the cognate cytotoxicity assay. Natural SL9 variation is restricted by its context in the HIV p17 matrix protein. High resolution crystal structures of seven selected SL9 variants bound to HLA-A2 all have remarkably similar peptide conformations and side-chain dispositions outside sites of substitution. This preservation of the peptide conformation despite epitope variations suggests a mechanism for the observed degeneracy in pMHC recognition by TCR and may contribute to the persistence of SL9-mediated immune responses in chronically infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Martinez-Hackert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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