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Cancer vaccine strategies: translation from mice to human clinical trials. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2017; 67:1863-1869. [PMID: 29143114 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-017-2084-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We translated two cancer vaccine strategies from mice into human clinical trials. (1) In preclinical studies on TARP, an antigen expressed in most prostate cancers, we mapped epitopes presented by HLA-A*0201, modified them to increase affinity and immunogenicity in HLA transgenic mice, and induced human T cells that killed human cancer cells ("epitope enhancement"). In a clinical trial, HLA-A2+ prostate cancer patients with PSA biochemical recurrence (Stage D0) were vaccinated with two peptides either in Montanide-ISA51 or on autologous dendritic cells (DCs). In stage D0, the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) slope is prognostic of time to radiographic evidence of metastases and death. With no difference between arms, 74% of combined subjects had a decreased PSA slope at 1 year compared to their own baseline slopes (p = 0.0004). For patients vaccinated with DCs, response inversely correlated with a tolerogenic DC signature. A randomized placebo-controlled phase II trial is underway. (2) HER2 is a driver surface oncogene product expressed in multiple tumors. We made an adenoviral vector vaccine expressing the extracellular and transmembrane domains of HER2 and cured mice with large established HER2+ tumors, dependent on antibodies to HER2, not T cells. The mechanism differed from that of trastuzumab. We tested a human version in advanced metastatic cancer patients naïve to HER2-directed therapies. At the second and third dose levels, 45% of evaluable patients showed clinical benefit. Circulating tumor cells also declined in some vaccinated patients. Thus, cancer vaccines developed in mice were successfully translated to humans with promising early results.
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kumar SR, Prabakaran M, Ashok raj KV, He F, Kwang J. Amino Acid Substitutions Improve the Immunogenicity of H7N7HA Protein and Protect Mice against Lethal H7N7 Viral Challenge. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128940. [PMID: 26030920 PMCID: PMC4452345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza A H7N7/NL/219/03 virus creates a serious pandemic threat to human health because it can transmit directly from domestic poultry to humans and from human to human. Our previous vaccine study reported that mice when immunized intranasally (i.n) with live Bac-HA were protected from lethal H7N7/NL/219/03 challenge, whereas incomplete protection was obtained when administered subcutaneously (s.c) due to the fact that H7N7 is a poor inducer of neutralizing antibodies. Interestingly, our recent vaccine studies reported that mice when vaccinated subcutaneously with Bac-HA (H7N9) was protected against both H7N9 (A/Sh2/2013) and H7N7 virus challenge. HA1 region of both H7N7 and H7N9 viruses are differ at 15 amino acid positions. Among those, we selected three amino acid positions (T143, T198 and I211) in HA1 region of H7N7. These amino acids are located within or near the receptor binding site. Following the selection, we substituted the amino acid at these three positions with amino acids found on H7N9HA wild-type. In this study, we evaluate the impact of amino acid substitutions in the H7N7 HA-protein on the immunogenicity. We generated six mutant constructs from wild-type influenza H7N7HA cDNA by site directed mutagenesis, and individually expressed mutant HA protein on the surface of baculovirus (Bac-HAm) and compared their protective efficacy of the vaccines with Bac-H7N7HA wild-type (Bac-HA) by lethal H7N7 viral challenge in a mouse model. We found that mice immunized subcutaneously with Bac-HAm constructs T143A or T198A-I211V or I211V-T143A serum showed significantly higher hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization titer against H7N7 and H7N9 viruses when compared to Bac-HA vaccinated mice groups. We also observed low level of lung viral titer, negligible weight loss and complete protection against lethal H7N7 viral challenge. Our results indicated that amino acid substitution at position 143 or 211 improve immunogenicity of H7N7HA vaccine against H7N7/NL/219/03 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subaschandrabose Rajesh kumar
- Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Mookkan Prabakaran
- Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Kattur Venkatachalam Ashok raj
- Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Fang He
- Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jimmy Kwang
- Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- * E-mail:
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Prediction and identification of HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes from leukemia-associated protein MLAA-22 which elicit cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Med Oncol 2014; 31:293. [PMID: 25355639 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-014-0293-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a critical role in the control of leukemia. However, few effective CTL epitopes have been identified to date yet. We previously reported that MLAA-22, a protein composed of 631 amino acid residues, is a novel acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-associated antigen. In the present study, ten high-score 9-mer peptides, which were selected from MLAA-22 by using ProPred1 and SYFPEITHI bioinformatics tools, were screened to identify HLA-A*0201-restricted-specific CTL epitopes. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells were generated in vitro to be used as antigen-presenting cells for the induction of CTLs. We found that peptide MLAA-22(379-387) (LLPNAIYKV) exhibited the highest binding affinity to HLA-A*0201 among all peptide candidates in the peptide-T2 binding assay. The percentage of positive T2 cells treated with MLAA-22(379-387) was about 96.3%, which is even higher than that of the positive control peptide CML28(173-181) (95.1%). MLAA-22(379-387)-induced CTLs showed the most significant cytotoxic activity and apparent killing effects on the cell lines including THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia), A549, T2, U937, and MCF-7, and the specific lysis ratios were 83.8, 32.6, 64.4, 64.4, and 32.6%, respectively, when the effector to target ratio (E/T) was 20:1. Specific lysis (%) of MLAA1 was significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively) in THP-1 cell than those in other cancer cell lines and were 28.5, 67.8, and 83.8% at ratio 5:1, 10:1, and 20:1, respectively. Hence, MLAA-22(379-387) is a potential tumor-associated antigen target for AML immunotherapy.
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Huang YH, Terabe M, Pendleton CD, Stewart Khursigara D, Bera TK, Pastan I, Berzofsky JA. Identification and enhancement of HLA-A2.1-restricted CTL epitopes in a new human cancer antigen-POTE. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64365. [PMID: 23750208 PMCID: PMC3672105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of CD8+ T cell epitopes that can induce T cells to kill tumor cells is a fundamental step for development of a peptide cancer vaccine. POTE protein is a newly identified cancer antigen that was found to be expressed in a wide variety of human cancers, including prostate, colon, lung, breast, ovary and pancreas. Here, we determined HLA-A2.1-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes in the POTE protein, and also designed enhanced epitopes by amino acid (AA) substitutions. Five 9-mer peptides were first selected and their binding affinity to HLA-A2 molecules was measured by the T2 binding assay. POTE 272–280 and POTE 323–331 showed the strongest HLA-A2 binding affinity. AA substituted peptides POTE 252-9V (with valine at position 9), POTE 553-1Y (with tyrosine at position 1) and POTE 323-3F (with phenylalanine at position 3) conferred higher affinity for HLA-A2, and induced CTL responses cross-reactive with wild type antigens. While POTE 252-9V was the strongest in this respect, POTE 323-3F had the greatest increase in immunogenicity compared to wild type. Importantly, two modified epitopes (POTE-553-1Y and POTE-323-3F) induced CTLs that killed NCI-H522, a POTE-expressing HLA-A2+ human non-small cell lung cancer cell line, indicating natural endogenous processing of these epitopes. In conclusion, the immunogenicity of POTE epitopes can be enhanced by peptide modification to induce T cells that kill human cancer cells. A combination of POTE 553-1Y and POTE 323-3F epitopes might be an attractive vaccine strategy for HLA-A2 cancer patients to overcome tolerance induced by tumors and prevent escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Infection and Immunity Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Division of Gastroenterology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Berzofsky JA. A push-pull vaccine strategy using Toll-like receptor ligands, IL-15, and blockade of negative regulation to improve the quality and quantity of T cell immune responses. Vaccine 2012; 30:4323-7. [PMID: 22115635 PMCID: PMC3319860 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Revised: 10/25/2011] [Accepted: 11/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a strategy to optimize the efficacy of vaccines to induce T-cell immunity against chronic viral infections and cancer based on a "push-pull" approach in which we first optimize the antigen structure by increasing the affinity of epitopes for major histocompatibility complex molecules ("epitope enhancement"), then push the response not only in magnitude but also in quality toward the desired response phenotype, using synergistic combinations of cytokines, Toll-like receptor ligands, and costimulatory molecules, and then pull the response by removing the brakes exerted by negative regulatory mechanisms, including regulatory cells, cell surface molecules, and cytokines. Components of this approach show promise in macaque models of AIDS virus infection and in murine models of cancer, and are being developed for human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Berzofsky
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 6B-04 (MSC#1578) NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1578, USA.
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Abstract
Cancers so much resemble self that they prove difficult for the immune system to eliminate, and those that have already escaped natural immunosurveillance have gotten past the natural immune barriers to malignancy. A successful therapeutic cancer vaccine must overcome these escape mechanisms. Our laboratory has focused on a multistep "push-pull" approach in which we combine strategies to overcome each of the mechanisms of escape. If tumor epitopes are insufficiently immunogenic, we increase their immunogenicity by epitope enhancement, improving their binding affinity to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. If the anti-tumor response is too weak or of the wrong phenotype, we use cytokines, costimulatory molecules, Toll-like receptor ligands, and other molecular adjuvants to increase not only the quantity of the response but also its quality, to push the response in the right direction. Finally, the tumor invokes multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms to defend itself, so we need to overcome those as well, including blocking or depleting regulatory cells or inhibiting regulatory molecules, to pull the response by removing the brakes. Some of these strategies individually have now been translated into human clinical trials in cancer patients. Combinations of these in a push-pull approach are promising for the successful immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Berzofsky
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Inoue M, Okazaki T, Kitazono T, Mizushima M, Omata M, Ozaki S. Regulation of antigen-specific CTL and Th1 cell activation through 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor. Int Immunopharmacol 2011; 11:67-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2010.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2010] [Revised: 09/19/2010] [Accepted: 10/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Kitazono T, Okazaki T, Araya N, Yamano Y, Yamada Y, Nakamura T, Tanaka Y, Inoue M, Ozaki S. Advantage of higher-avidity CTL specific for Tax against human T-lymphotropic virus-1 infected cells and tumors. Cell Immunol 2011; 272:11-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2011.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Revised: 09/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Groot AS, Cohen T, Ardito M, Moise L, Martin B, Berzofsky JA. Use of Bioinformatics to Predict MHC Ligands and T-Cell Epitopes. IMMUNOLOGY OF INFECTION 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s0580-9517(10)37003-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Maeda A, Okazaki T, Inoue M, Kitazono T, Yamasaki M, Lemonnier FA, Ozaki S. Immunosuppressive effect of angiotensin receptor blocker on stimulation of mice CTLs by angiotensin II. Int Immunopharmacol 2009; 9:1183-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2009.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Revised: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 06/10/2009] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Huang YH, Wu JC, Peng WL, Huo TI, Shih HH, Lan KH, Su CW, Lee SD. Generation of cytotoxicity against hepatitis delta virus genotypes and quasispecies by epitope modification. J Hepatol 2009; 50:779-88. [PMID: 19243853 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2008.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2008] [Revised: 11/07/2008] [Accepted: 11/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Quasispecies are likely responsible for virus escape from host immune surveillance. The aim of this study was to enhance the immune response against varied sequences within the HDV quasispecies in an attempt to control chronic delta hepatitis. METHODS The HLA-A2 restricted peptides spanning aa 43-51 of HDAg and three variant peptides bearing single amino acid substitutions were synthesized. Their immunogenicity and capacity to induce effective CTL responses were studied in HHD-2 mice. RESULTS Native HDV epitope produced limited cytotoxic immune response. Two modified HDV peptides (HDV 43-51 1Y; tyrosine substitution in positive 1, and 43-51 3A; alanine substitution in position 3) could enhance not only the binding affinity with HLA-A2.1 molecules but also the immunogenicity. Ex vivo interferon-gamma ELISPOT and CTL assays revealed that the two modified epitopes-induced CTLs had a higher functional avidity and produced stronger cytotoxicity to lyse constitutively HDAg-expressing Hep-G2 cells. Interestingly, the spectrums of the T cell receptor (TCR) cross-reactivity are broadened and response to multiple HDV variants by the enhanced epitopes immunization. CONCLUSIONS The modified HDV peptides can enhance the immunogenicity and the induced CTLs can cross-react with multiple HDV variants. Combination with the two enhanced epitopes might be a potential immunotherapeutic agent to control HDV quasispecies in HLA-A2 chronic hepatitis D patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201 Shih-Pai Road, Sec. 2, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
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Butler NS, Theodossis A, Webb AI, Nastovska R, Ramarathinam SH, Dunstone MA, Rossjohn J, Purcell AW, Perlman S. Prevention of cytotoxic T cell escape using a heteroclitic subdominant viral T cell determinant. PLoS Pathog 2008; 4:e1000186. [PMID: 18949029 PMCID: PMC2563037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2008] [Accepted: 09/24/2008] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
High affinity antigen-specific T cells play a critical role during protective immune responses. Epitope enhancement can elicit more potent T cell responses and can subsequently lead to a stronger memory pool; however, the molecular basis of such enhancement is unclear. We used the consensus peptide-binding motif for the Major Histocompatibility Complex molecule H-2K(b) to design a heteroclitic version of the mouse hepatitis virus-specific subdominant S598 determinant. We demonstrate that a single amino acid substitution at a secondary anchor residue (Q to Y at position 3) increased the stability of the engineered determinant in complex with H-2K(b). The structural basis for this enhanced stability was associated with local alterations in the pMHC conformation as a result of the Q to Y substitution. Recombinant viruses encoding this engineered determinant primed CTL responses that also reacted to the wildtype epitope with significantly higher functional avidity, and protected against selection of virus mutated at a second CTL determinant and consequent disease progression in persistently infected mice. Collectively, our findings provide a basis for the enhanced immunogenicity of an engineered determinant that will serve as a template for guiding the development of heteroclitic T cell determinants with applications in prevention of CTL escape in chronic viral infections as well as in tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah S. Butler
- Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Alex Theodossis
- The Protein Crystallography Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew I. Webb
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Roza Nastovska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sri Harsha Ramarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle A. Dunstone
- The Protein Crystallography Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- The Protein Crystallography Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anthony W. Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail: (AWP); (SP)
| | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AWP); (SP)
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Boberg A, Bråve A, Johansson S, Wahren B, Hinkula J, Rollman E. Murine models for HIV vaccination and challenge. Expert Rev Vaccines 2008; 7:117-30. [PMID: 18251698 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.7.1.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
HIV-1 only infects humans and chimpanzees. SIV or SHIV are, therefore, used as models for HIV in rhesus, cynomologus and pigtail macaques. Since conducting experiments in primate models does not fully mimic infection or vaccination against HIV-1 and is expensive, there is a great need for small-animal models in which it is possible to study HIV-1 infection, immunity and vaccine efficacy. This review summarizes the available murine models for studying HIV-1 infection with an emphasis on our experience of the HIV-1-infected-cell challenge as a model for evaluating candidate HIV-1 vaccines. In the cell-based challenge model, several important factors that, hopefully, can be related to vaccine efficacy in humans were discovered: the efficiency of combining plasmid DNA representing several of the viral genes originating from multiple clades of HIV-1, the importance of adjuvants activating innate and induced immunity and the enhanced HIV eradication by drug-conjugated antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Boberg
- Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Berzofsky
- Molecular Immunogenetics and Vaccine Research Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Abstract
Classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens are trimeric molecules found on the surface of nucleated cells in all jawed vertebrates. MHC I are recognised by two families of receptors: clonotypic T cell receptors expressed on the surface of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and monomorphic receptors expressed by both natural killer cells and CTLs. The production of MHC I molecules within the cells is a sequential process performed with the help of interacting proteins: proteases, chaperones, transporters and so on. Although largely homologous in their structure, organisation and function, the human and mouse MHC I antigen processing and presentation machineries show fine differences. Transgenesis and 'knockout' or 'knock-in' technologies permit the addition of relevant human genes or the replacement of mouse genes by their human orthologues in order to produce immunologically humanised mice. Such experimental animals are especially relevant for the comparative evaluation of immunotherapies and for the characterisation of MHC I peptide epitopes. This review presents the similarities and differences between mouse and human MHC I antigen processing machinery, and describes the development and utilisation of improving mouse models of human cytotoxic T cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Pascolo
- Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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Okazaki T, Terabe M, Catanzaro AT, Pendleton CD, Yarchoan R, Berzofsky JA. Possible therapeutic vaccine strategy against human immunodeficiency virus escape from reverse transcriptase inhibitors studied in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. J Virol 2006; 80:10645-51. [PMID: 16920824 PMCID: PMC1641790 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01351-05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leading to escape from anti-HIV drugs is the greatest challenge to the treatment of HIV infection. High-grade resistance to the nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor lamivudine (also known as 3TC) is associated with a substitution of valine for methionine at position 184 of RT. This amino acid residue is contained within the HLA-A2-restricted epitope VIYQYMDDL (RT-WT). Here, we sought to determine whether a peptide vaccine could be developed using an epitope enhancement strategy that could induce a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response specific for an epitope containing the drug resistance mutation M184V to exert an opposing selective pressure. RT-WT-specific CTLs developed from HLA-A2 transgenic mice did not recognize the M184V mutation of RT-WT (RT-M184V). However, RT-M184V exhibited higher binding affinity for HLA-A2 than RT-WT. Also, both anchor-enhanced RT-WT (RT-2L9V) and RT-2L9V-M184V-specific CTLs recognized RT-M184V and displayed cross-reactivity to RT-WT. Nevertheless, the CTL repertoire elicited by the epitope-enhanced RT-2L9V-M184V appeared more selective for the RT inhibitor-induced M184V mutation. Peptide vaccines based on such strategies may be worth testing for their ability to exert selective pressure against drug-resistant strains and thus delay or prevent the development of HIV with the M184V resistance mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Okazaki
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 6B-04 (MSC#1578), NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1578, USA
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Ramage JM, Spendlove I, Rees R, Moss RS, Durrant LG. The use of reverse immunology to identify HLA-A2 binding epitopes in Tie-2. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2006; 55:1004-10. [PMID: 16408213 PMCID: PMC11029822 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-005-0119-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2005] [Accepted: 12/23/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A potential target for a cancer vaccine would be receptors, such as Tie-2 which are over expressed on tumour endothelium. Using computer aided motif predictions for possible HLA class I epitopes, we have identified peptides from Tie-2 that should bind with a range of affinities to HLA-A*0201. No direct correlation between predicted values and actual binding affinities was observed. Although, the programs did produce a number of false positives, two epitopes were predicted that bound with relatively high affinity when compared with an influenza peptide. We have previously identified a Tie-2 epitope and shown that it was only immunogenic when we substituted preferred amino acids at key anchor residues to increase binding affinity. In this study we used a similar approach to generate modified epitopes. When HLA-A2 transgenic mice were immunised with peptides, CTL killing of the target cells was only achieved when the wild type epitope was presented at moderate levels. Moreover, the efficiency of immunisation was increased when we linked CD4 epitopes to CD8 epitopes. Caution should therefore be employed in the use of both reverse immunology and anchor modification of CTL epitopes in the identification of CTL epitopes for cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith M Ramage
- Academic unit of Clinical Oncology, Nottingham University, Hucknall Road, City Hospital, NG5 1PB, Nottingham, UK.
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van den Broeke LT, Pendleton CD, Mackall C, Helman LJ, Berzofsky JA. Identification and epitope enhancement of a PAX-FKHR fusion protein breakpoint epitope in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells created by a tumorigenic chromosomal translocation inducing CTL capable of lysing human tumors. Cancer Res 2006; 66:1818-23. [PMID: 16452243 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-2549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fusion proteins created by chromosomal translocations in tumors can create neoantigenic determinants at the breakpoint, which are unique to the tumor cells but shared by the vast majority of tumors of that histologic type. If the fusion protein is responsible for the malignant transformation, its expression cannot be lost by the tumor to escape immune responses against this tumor antigen. Here, we identify such a fusion protein breakpoint epitope in the PAX-FKHR fusion protein created by the t(2;13) translocation present in 80% of cases of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a highly aggressive pediatric soft-tissue sarcoma. We use autologous dendritic cells pulsed with the RS10 breakpoint fusion peptide to raise a human CTL line from a normal healthy HLA-B7+ blood donor specific for this peptide. These CTLs are CD8+ (CD4-CD56-) and restricted by HLA-B7. These human peptide-specific CTL lyse human HLA-B7+ rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells. Therefore, the fusion protein is endogenously processed to produce this natural epitope presented by HLA-B7 and thus this peptide is a bone fide human tumor antigen. We also define a substitution that increases the affinity for HLA-B7 without loss of antigenicity. This epitope-enhanced peptide may serve as a candidate cancer vaccine for HLA-B7+ patients with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon T van den Broeke
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute/NIH, Building 10, Rm. 6B-04, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Okazaki T, Pendleton CD, Sarobe P, Thomas EK, Iyengar S, Harro C, Schwartz D, Berzofsky JA. Epitope Enhancement of a CD4 HIV Epitope toward the Development of the Next Generation HIV Vaccine. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2006; 176:3753-9. [PMID: 16517744 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.6.3753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Virus-specific CD4+ T cell help and CD8+ cytotoxic T cell responses are critical for maintenance of effective immunity in chronic viral infections. The importance of CD4+ T cells has been documented in HIV infection. To investigate whether a stronger CD4+ T cell response can be induced by modifications to enhance the T1 epitope, the first CD4+ T cell epitope discovered in HIV-1-gp120, we developed a T1-specific CD4+ T cell line from a healthy volunteer immunized with a canarypox vector expressing gp120 and boosted with recombinant gp120. This T1-specific CD4+ T cell line was restricted to DR13, which is common in U.S. Caucasians and African-Americans and very frequent in Africans. Peptides with certain amino acid substitutions in key positions induced enhanced specific CD4+ T cell proliferative responses at lower peptide concentration than the original epitope. This relatively conserved CD4 epitope improved by the epitope enhancement strategy could be a component of a more effective second generation vaccine construct for HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Okazaki
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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20
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Belyakov IM, Ahlers JD, Berzofsky JA. Mucosal AIDS vaccines: current status and future directions. Expert Rev Vaccines 2005; 3:S65-73. [PMID: 15285706 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.3.4.s65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Natural transmission of HIV occurs through mucosal surfaces. New information in immunology, virology and vaccinology has emerged regarding strategies for development of new mucosal vaccines against HIV. The intestinal mucosa represents a major site of HIV replication and amplification, and the initial site of CD4+ T-cell depletion. Local mucosal CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) and mucosal antibody can control AIDS virus replication within local tissues prior to systemic dissemination and can be more effective than a systemic immune response. Mucosal HIV vaccine delivery should be considered among the most effective immunization routes in the induction of mucosal antibody and CD8+ CTLs and protection against mucosal infection. New mucosal vaccine strategies, such as prime-boost, using a new generation of mucosal adjuvants, a synergistic combination of cytokines, chemokines, costimulatory molecules, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, and targeting lymph nodes which drain mucosal sites, show promise to improve the efficacy of mucosal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor M Belyakov
- Molecular Immunogenetics and Vaccine Research, Section, Vaccine Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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21
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McKinney DM, Skvoretz R, Livingston BD, Wilson CC, Anders M, Chesnut RW, Sette A, Essex M, Novitsky V, Newman MJ. Recognition of variant HIV-1 epitopes from diverse viral subtypes by vaccine-induced CTL. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2004; 173:1941-50. [PMID: 15265928 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.3.1941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Recognition by CD8(+) T lymphocytes (CTL) of epitopes that are derived from conserved gene products, such as Gag and Pol, is well documented and conceptually supports the development of epitope-based vaccines for use against diverse HIV-1 subtypes. However, many CTL epitopes from highly conserved regions within the HIV-1 genome are highly variable, when assessed by comparison of amino acid sequences. The TCR is somewhat promiscuous with respect to peptide binding, and, as such, CTL can often recognize related epitopes. In these studies, we evaluated CTL recognition of five sets of variant HIV-1 epitopes restricted to HLA-A*0201 and HLA-A*1101 using HLA transgenic mice. We found that numerous different amino acid substitutions can be introduced into epitopes without abrogating their recognition by CTL. Based on our findings, we constructed an algorithm to predict those CTL epitopes capable of inducing responses in the HLA transgenic mice to the greatest numbers of variant epitopes. Similarity of CTL specificity for variant epitopes was demonstrated for humans using PBMC from HIV-1-infected individuals and CTL lines produced in vitro using PBMC from HIV-1-uninfected donors. We believe the ability to predict CTL epitope immunogenicity and recognition patterns of variant epitopes can be useful for designing vaccines against multiple subtypes and circulating recombinant forms of HIV-1.
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MESH Headings
- AIDS Vaccines/immunology
- Algorithms
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Amino Acid Substitution
- Animals
- Antigenic Variation/genetics
- Antigenic Variation/immunology
- Epitopes/chemistry
- Epitopes/genetics
- Epitopes/immunology
- Gene Products, env/chemistry
- Gene Products, env/immunology
- Gene Products, gag/chemistry
- Gene Products, gag/immunology
- Gene Products, pol/chemistry
- Gene Products, pol/immunology
- Genes, MHC Class I
- HIV Antigens/chemistry
- HIV Antigens/genetics
- HIV Antigens/immunology
- HIV Infections/immunology
- HIV-1/classification
- HIV-1/immunology
- HLA-A2 Antigen/genetics
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- HLA-A3 Antigen/genetics
- HLA-A3 Antigen/immunology
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Peptide Fragments/chemical synthesis
- Peptide Fragments/chemistry
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Sequence Alignment
- T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
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22
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Kran AMB, Sørensen B, Nyhus J, Sommerfelt MA, Baksaas I, Bruun JN, Kvale D. HLA- and dose-dependent immunogenicity of a peptide-based HIV-1 immunotherapy candidate (Vacc-4x). AIDS 2004; 18:1875-83. [PMID: 15353973 DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200409240-00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Vacc-4x immunotherapy candidate is composed of four modified peptides corresponding to conserved domains of the HIV-1 protein p24 that preferentially include HLA-A2 restricted elements. Dose-dependent safety and immunogenicity of Vacc-4x and the significance of a HLA-A2 haplotype were examined. DESIGN Non-AIDS, HIV-1 infected healthy patients (n = 40) stable on HAART with CD4 counts > 300 x 10 cells/l were randomized to receive either low-dose or high-dose Vacc-4x over 26 weeks in an open, prospective phase II clinical trial. METHODS Patients received a total of 10 intradermal injections, using recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor as a local adjuvant. Vacc-4x-specific cellular responses were monitored in vivo by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test infiltrates and in vitro by both T-cell proliferation, and induction /secretion of cytokines. RESULTS Most patients developed Vacc-4x-specific DTHs (90%) and proliferative T-cell responses (80%) that were inter-related in magnitude. High-dose Vacc-4x generally induced stronger specific immune responses than low dose in terms of DTH areas and CD4 and CD8 T-cell proliferation. Only HLA-A2 negative patients had a definite dose advantage, and this subgroup had in fact the best overall DTH and proliferative responses. In contrast, no significant dose difference was observed for HLA-A2 positive patients. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS HIV-associated specific responses were safely induced in most patients by Vacc-4x in a dose-dependent manner and were also influenced by the HLA haplotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marte B Kran
- Ullevål University Hospital, University of Oslo, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo, Norway.
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23
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Berzofsky JA, Ahlers JD, Janik J, Morris J, Oh S, Terabe M, Belyakov IM. Progress on new vaccine strategies against chronic viral infections. J Clin Invest 2004. [PMID: 15314679 DOI: 10.1172/jci200422674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the most cost-effective strategies for preventing viral infections, vaccines have proven effective primarily against viruses causing acute, self-limited infections. For these it has been sufficient for the vaccine to mimic the natural virus. However, viruses causing chronic infection do not elicit an immune response sufficient to clear the infection and, as a result, vaccines for these viruses must elicit more effective responses--quantitative and qualitative--than does the natural virus. Here we examine the immunologic and virologic basis for vaccines against three such viruses, HIV, hepatitis C virus, and human papillomavirus, and review progress in clinical trials to date. We also explore novel strategies for increasing the immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Berzofsky
- Molecular Immunogenetics and Vaccine Research Section, Vaccine Branch, The Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute/NIH, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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24
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Wong FS, Wen L. What can the HLA transgenic mouse tell us about autoimmune diabetes? Diabetologia 2004; 47:1476-87. [PMID: 15349728 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-004-1505-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2004] [Accepted: 07/27/2004] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a polygenic disease strongly associated with the class II molecules DR3, 4 and the linked DQ2, 8 alleles. These molecules play an important role in presentation of peptide antigens after intracellular processing to CD4 T lymphocytes. A number of in vitro approaches have been used to elucidate the molecular basis for the association of particular HLA alleles with susceptibility to or protection from Type 1 diabetes mellitus. These have focused on the structure of the antigen-presenting molecules, together with their peptides. Binding studies, peptide elution, molecular modelling and crystallisation of the peptide MHC complex have between them made it possible to define the peptide-binding regions and to examine the stability of binding of peptides from putative autoantigens. It is difficult to study the role of these molecules in vivo in humans, and HLA transgenic mice have been generated to overcome this problem. Studies of mice expressing the HLA class II alleles associated with diabetes have shown that the presence of HLA molecules alone does not cause disease except in the presence of an islet "insult", even when this "insult" would in itself be insufficient to precipitate disease in the absence of the HLA class II transgene. HLA transgenic mice offer a way to elucidate the in vivo role of these molecules, and could help the development of targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Wong
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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25
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Berzofsky JA, Ahlers JD, Janik J, Morris J, Oh S, Terabe M, Belyakov IM. Progress on new vaccine strategies against chronic viral infections. J Clin Invest 2004; 114:450-62. [PMID: 15314679 PMCID: PMC503779 DOI: 10.1172/jci22674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the most cost-effective strategies for preventing viral infections, vaccines have proven effective primarily against viruses causing acute, self-limited infections. For these it has been sufficient for the vaccine to mimic the natural virus. However, viruses causing chronic infection do not elicit an immune response sufficient to clear the infection and, as a result, vaccines for these viruses must elicit more effective responses--quantitative and qualitative--than does the natural virus. Here we examine the immunologic and virologic basis for vaccines against three such viruses, HIV, hepatitis C virus, and human papillomavirus, and review progress in clinical trials to date. We also explore novel strategies for increasing the immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Berzofsky
- Molecular Immunogenetics and Vaccine Research Section, Vaccine Branch, The Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute/NIH, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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26
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Snyder JT, Belyakov IM, Dzutsev A, Lemonnier F, Berzofsky JA. Protection against lethal vaccinia virus challenge in HLA-A2 transgenic mice by immunization with a single CD8+ T-cell peptide epitope of vaccinia and variola viruses. J Virol 2004; 78:7052-60. [PMID: 15194781 PMCID: PMC421672 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.78.13.7052-7060.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8(+) T lymphocytes have been shown to be involved in controlling poxvirus infection, but no protective cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes are defined for variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, or for vaccinia virus. Of several peptides in vaccinia virus predicted to bind HLA-A2.1, three, VETFsm(498-506), A26L(6-14), and HRP2(74-82), were found to bind HLA-A2.1. Splenocytes from HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice immunized with vaccinia virus responded only to HRP2(74-82) at 1 week and to all three epitopes by ex vivo enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay at 4 weeks postimmunization. To determine if these epitopes could elicit a protective CD8(+) T-cell response, we challenged peptide-immunized HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice intranasally with a lethal dose of the WR strain of vaccinia virus. HRP2(74-82) peptide-immunized mice recovered from infection, while naïve mice died. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells eliminated protection. Protection of HHD-2 mice, lacking mouse class I major histocompatibility complex molecules, implicates CTLs restricted by human HLA-A2.1 as mediators of protection. These results suggest that HRP2(74-82), which is shared between vaccinia and variola viruses, may be a CD8(+) T-cell epitope of vaccinia virus that will provide cross-protection against smallpox in HLA-A2.1-positive individuals, representing almost half the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Snyder
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1578, USA
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27
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Oh S, Terabe M, Pendleton CD, Bhattacharyya A, Bera TK, Epel M, Reiter Y, Phillips J, Linehan WM, Kasten-Sportes C, Pastan I, Berzofsky JA. Human CTLs to Wild-Type and Enhanced Epitopes of a Novel Prostate and Breast Tumor-Associated Protein, TARP, Lyse Human Breast Cancer Cells. Cancer Res 2004; 64:2610-8. [PMID: 15059918 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-03-2183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Vaccine therapy for prostate and breast cancer may have potential for treating these major causes of death in males and females, respectively. Critical to the development of tumor-specific vaccines is finding and characterizing novel antigens to be recognized by CD8(+) T cells. To define new CD8(+) T-cell tumor antigens, we determined two wild-type HLA-A2 epitopes from a recently found tumor-associated protein, TARP (T-cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein), expressed in prostate and breast cancer cells. We were also able to engineer epitope-enhanced peptides by sequence modifications. Both wild-type and enhanced epitopes induced peptide-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses in A2K(b) transgenic mice. In vitro restimulation of human CD8(+) T cells from a prostate cancer patient resulted in CD8(+) T cells reactive to the peptide epitopes that could lyse HLA-A2(+) human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) expressing TARP. Epitope-specific human CD8(+) T cells were also enumerated in patients' peripheral blood by tetramer staining. Our data suggest that HLA-A2-binding TARP epitopes and enhanced epitopes discovered in this study could be incorporated into a potential vaccine for both breast and prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- SangKon Oh
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1578, USA
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