人锌转运蛋白8的HLA-A~*0201限制性CTL表位的预测及初步验证

目的预测和初步鉴定1型糖尿病(T1DM)主要自身抗原锌转运蛋白8(ZnT8)的HLA-A*0201限制性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic T lymphocytes,CTL)表位,为基于ZnT8抗原表位的特异性免疫治疗奠定基础。方法选取BIMAS预测工具预测该抗原HLA-A*0201限制性结合肽,人工合成待测表位肽,利用T2细胞株测定各肽与HLA-A*0201分子的结合力。利用酶联免疫斑点检测(enzyme-linked immunospotassay,ELISPOT)方法检测候选肽刺激T1DM患者外周血单个核细胞分泌IFN-γ和IL-2的能力,利用标准51Cr释放试验检测特异性CTL诱导活性。结果在所筛选的5个候选CTL表位中,ZnT8(107-115)、ZnT8(115-123)及ZnT8(145-153)与HLA-A*0201分子具有较高的结合荧光强度,可在体外有效诱导抗原特异性CTL的产生,刺激T1DM患者PBMC分泌IFN-γ和IL-2,并对抗原肽负载的T2细胞具有明显的杀伤效应。结论 ZnT8(107-115)、ZnT8(115-123)及ZnT8(145-153)可能是HLA-A*0201限制性CTL表位,为基于人ZnT8抗原表位的特异性免疫治疗奠定理论基础。     

Identification of a new HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T cell epitope from hepatocellular carcinoma-associated antigen HCA587

For the development of peptide-based cancer immunotherapies, we aimed to identify specific HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated antigen HCA587, which has been identified as a member of the cancer/testis (CT) antigens highly expressed in HCC. We first combined the use of an HLA-A*0201/peptide binding algorithm and T2 binding assays with the induction of specific CD8(+) T cell lines from normal donors by in vitro priming with high-affinity peptides, then IFN-gamma release and cytotoxicity assays were employed to identify the specific HLA-A*0201 CD8(+) T cell epitope using peptide-loaded T2 cells or the HCA587 protein(+) HCC cell line HepG2. In the six candidate synthesized peptides, two peptides showed higher binding ability in T2 binding assays. No. 2 peptide, encompassing amino acid residues FLAKLNNTV (HCA587(317-325)), was able to activate a HCA587-specific CD8(+) T-cell response in human lymphocyte cultures from two normal donors and two HCC patients, and these HCA587-specific CD8(+) T cells recognized peptide-pulsed T2 cells as well as the HCA587 protein(+) HCC cell line HepG2 in IFN-gamma release and cytotoxicity assays. The results indicate that no. 2 peptide is a new HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitope capable of inducing HCA587-specific CTLs. Our data suggest that identification of this new HCA587/HLA-A*0201 peptide FLAKLNNTV may facilitate the design of peptide-based immunotherapies for the treatment of HCA587-bearing HCC patients.     

Identification of an HLA-A*0201-restrictive CTL epitope from MUC4 for applicable vaccine therapy

Recent research has indicated that MUC4 plays an important role in the development of many tumors and may prove useful as a novel cancer immunotherapy target. We aimed to identify HLA-A*0201-restrictive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of the cancer-associated antigen MUC4. The MUC4 sequence was scanned for immunogenic peptides using HLA-binding prediction software. Dendritic cells (DCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were induced by cytokines. Five possible CTL epitopes were selected by software analysis, synthesized, and used to pulse mature DCs. The CD8⁺ T cells from PBMCs from an HLA-A*0201 healthy donor were stimulated with autologous MUC4-peptide-loaded DCs and expanded in vitro. T cell activation was assessed by ELISPOT, and cytotoxicity was determined by ⁵¹chromium (⁵¹Cr)-release assays. Our results show that CTLs induced by peptide P01204 could lyse T2 cells pulsed with peptide P01204 and HCT-116 cells (MUC4⁺, HLA-A2⁺). Compared with a control peptide, P01204 increased the number of IFN-γ producing T cells. Overall, these results suggest that P01204 is a novel HLA-A*0201-restrictive CTL epitope of the cancer-associated antigen MUC4. This will provide a foundation for the development of tumor-specific peptide vaccines.     

基于骨肉瘤高表达抗原PBF CTL表位改造及鉴定

目的:观察骨肉瘤高表达抗原乳头瘤病毒结合因子(PBF)的改造表位是否有HLA-A2限制性抗肿瘤能力,开发基于骨肉瘤的多肽免疫治疗。方法:首先运用RT-PCR和Western blot方法检测PBF在骨肉瘤细胞系U2OS和Saos-2的表达情况。然后通过Net CTL 1.2、SYFPEITHI和IEDB软件预测打分来选取PBF的HLA-A2限制性表位。替换PBF抗原锚定位点氨基酸获得改造肽。候选表位肽的合成方法是标准的Fmoc化学合成法,结合力实验用于检测候选表位与T2A2细胞表面HLA-A2分子的结合能力,ELISPOT实验检测候选表位肽诱导细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)分泌干扰素γ(IFN-γ)的能力,乳酸脱氧酶(LDH)释放实验和羧基荧光素琥珀酰亚胺脂(CFSE)细胞毒实验检测候选肽诱导CTL的能力。结果:PBF在骨肉瘤细胞系U2OS和Saos-2均有表达,候选肽P75-1Y2L、P412-1Y、P416-1Y2L9V、P107-1Y和P435-1Y2L具有较好的结合力,且改造肽与HLA-A2的结合力高于原肽。ELISPOT实验结果显示表位肽P412、P412-1Y、P416、P416-1Y2L9V和P435-1Y2L诱导的CTL具有分泌IFN-γ的能力;P412-1Y和P416-1Y2L9V诱导特异性T细胞免疫分泌的IFN-γ略高于原肽。LDH释放实验和CFSE细胞毒实验结果显示表位P412、P412-1Y、P416和P416-1Y2L9V对U2OS细胞均有一定的杀伤作用,P412-1Y和P416-1Y2L9V特异性CTLs对U2OS细胞杀伤率高于原肽特异性CTLs。结论:PBF抗原改造表位P412-1Y和P416-1Y2L9V与天然表位P412和P416相比有更高的HLA-A2分子亲和力,保留了原有的免疫原性,并且改造肽抗肿瘤免疫效应强于天然表位。P412-1Y和P416-1Y2L9V是优秀的PBF抗原的HLA-A*0201限制性CTL候选表位,可以成为新的抗肿瘤多肽免疫治疗疫苗的候选表位。     

Identification of a common HLA-A*0201-restricted epitope among SSX family members by mimicking altered peptide ligands strategy

The synovial sarcoma X breakpoint (SSX) gene family contains nine members. The SSX proteins are CT (cancer/testis) antigens and can be expressed in many tumor types. T cell immune response against SSX protein can be detected in tumor patients and mice expressing any SSX. Screening predominant protective epitopes might improve the low immunogenicity against these "self" CT antigens. Herein, we predicted HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes for all nine SSX family members, followed by validation with epitope molecular modeling, peptide/HLA-A*0201 affinity, and binding stability assays. We obtained four highly homologous candidate epitopes with the high immunogenicity scores designated P1, P4, P5 and P6, from the nine SSX members. Each of the four candidates could elicit strong epitope-specific CTL immune responses, but P4 could evoke more interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing T cells and more potent CTLs that could lyse more target cells. Importantly, almost all of the four epitopes induced CTLs could cross-lyse the mutual targets both in vitro in human PBMCs and HLA-A2.1/K(b) transgenic mice, but P4 showed superiority to other epitopes in term of cross-cytolysis. All of these results demonstrate that P4 can induce anti-tumor immunity in a fashion superior to other candidates, and may be the "common" CTL epitope among all SSX-expressing tumors. Due to its documented responses herein, P4 has potential application in peptide-mediated immunotherapy.     

Differential Binding to Frequent HLA-A Alleles of p21 RAS Derived Peptides Bearing Oncogenic Substitutions at Position 12 or 13

RAS oncogenic proteins are frequently found mutated in human cancers, where they are known to be implicated in the tumoral process. Mutations occur preferentially at positions 12, 13 or 61. Identification of potential T cell epitopes is the first step to determine if RAS mutated proteins can generate tumor specific antigens which could be further used as targets for cancer immunotherapy protocols. We have investigated the capacity of synthetic wild-type and mutant RAS derived peptides encompassing positions 12 and 13 to bind to three frequent HLA-A alleles: HLA-A*0201, HLA-A*0301 and HLA-A*1101. Binding was evaluated by two methods using TAP-defective cell lines: a cytometric assay based on HLA molecules stabilization at the cell surface, and an assembly assay detecting interactions between solubilized HLA molecules and peptides. Positive HLA binding was observed for two sets of synthetic peptides, one specific for HLA-A*0201 allele (RAS 5–14), and the other one specific for HLA-A*0301 and HLA-A*1101 alleles (RAS 8–16). Interestingly, the different substitutions at positions 12 and 13 were not equivalent for HLA binding. These observations will be useful for the in vitro generation of restricted CD8⁺ T lymphocytes specific for mutated RAS proteins and recognizing tumoral cells expressing such RAS mutations.     

Identification of a novel CD8+ T cell epitope derived from cancer-testis antigen MAGE-4 in oesophageal carcinoma

MAGE-4 is considered as an attractive cancer-testis (CT) antigen for tumour immunotherapy, and it is overexpressed in oesophageal carcinoma (EC). To identify MAGE-4-derived HLA-A2 restricted epitopes, native peptides and their analogues were predicted with prediction programs. The native peptide, p286 (KVLEHVVRV), and its analogues, p286-1Y2L and p286-1Y2L9L, showed potent binding affinity and stability towards HLA-A*0201 molecule. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by p286-1Y2L9L could release IFN-γ in ELISPOT assay. In cytotoxicity assay, p286-1Y2L9L showed the capability to induce specific CTLs which could lyse the target cancer cells from both PBMCs of healthy donors and HLA-A2.1/K(b) transgenic mice. Our results indicated that the peptide p286-1Y2L9L could serve as a novel candidate epitope to develop peptide vaccines against oesophageal carcinoma.     

Prediction of HLA class I-restricted T-cell epitopes of islet autoantigen combined with binding and dissociation assays

Identification of cognate peptides recognized by human leucocyte antigen (HLA)/T cell receptor (TCR) complex provides insight into the pathogenic process of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We hypothesize that HLA-binding assays alone are inadequate metrics for the affinity of peptides. Zinc transporter-8 (ZnT8) has emerged in recent years as a novel, major, human autoantigen. Therefore, we aim to identify the HLA-A2-restricted ZnT8 epitopes using both binding and dissociation assays. HLA class I peptide affinity algorithms were used to predict candidate ZnT8 peptides that bind to HLA-A2. We analyzed 15 reported epitopes of seven β-cell candidate autoantigens and eight predicted candidate ZnT8 peptides using binding and dissociation assays. Using IFN-γ ELISpot assay, we tested peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from recent-onset T1D patients and healthy controls for reactivity to seven reported epitopes and eight candidate ZnT8 peptides directly ex vivo. We found five of seven recently reported epitopes in Chinese T1D patients. Of the eight predicted ZnT8 peptides, ZnT8(153-161) had a strong binding affinity and the lowest dissociation rate to HLA-A*0201. We identified it as a novel HLA-A*0201-restricted T-cell epitope in three of eight T1D patients. We conclude that ZnT8(153-161) is a novel HLA-A*0201-restricted T-cell epitope. We did not observe a significant correlation (P = 0.3, R = - 0.5) between cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response and peptide/HLA*0201 complex stability. However, selection of peptides based on affinity and their dissociation rate may be helpful for the identification of candidate CTL epitopes. Thus, we can minimize the number of experiments for the identification of T-cell epitopes from interesting antigens.     

Identification of HER-2/neu immunogenic epitopes presented by renal cell carcinoma and other human epithelial tumors.

HER-2/neu is a tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in a large variety of human tumors. Eight HER-2/neu peptides displaying HLA-A*0201 anchoring motifs were selected and tested for their binding affinity to HLA-A*0201 and their capacity to elicit cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in both HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice and in HLA-A*0201(+) healthy donors. Two high-affinity (p5 and p48) and one intermediate-affinity (p1023) peptides triggered CTL responses in both transgenic mice and humans, comparable to those observed for the well-known HER2/neu dominant peptide p369. CTL induced in transgenic mice lysed HLA-A*0201(+) RMA cells infected with recombinant HER-2/neu but not cells infected with wild-type vaccinia virus. Human CTL lysed HLA-A*0201(+) HER-2/neu(+) tumor cells of different origins (breast, colon, lung and renal cancer) irrespective of the expression levels of HER-2/neu. Importantly, primed CTL specific for these epitopes were detected in freshly isolated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from three renal cell carcinoma patients. Therefore, the HER-2/neu peptides p5, p48 and p1023 may be good candidates for immunotherapy of a broad spectrum of tumors, including renal cell carcinoma.     

Prediction of HLA class I-restricted T-cell epitopes of islet autoantigen combined with binding and dissociation assays

Identification of cognate peptides recognized by human leucocyte antigen (HLA)/T cell receptor (TCR) complex provides insight into the pathogenic process of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We hypothesize that HLA-binding assays alone are inadequate metrics for the affinity of peptides. Zinc transporter-8 (ZnT8) has emerged in recent years as a novel, major, human autoantigen. Therefore, we aim to identify the HLA-A2-restricted ZnT8 epitopes using both binding and dissociation assays. HLA class I peptide affinity algorithms were used to predict candidate ZnT8 peptides that bind to HLA-A2. We analyzed 15 reported epitopes of seven β-cell candidate autoantigens and eight predicted candidate ZnT8 peptides using binding and dissociation assays. Using IFN-γ ELISpot assay, we tested peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from recent-onset T1D patients and healthy controls for reactivity to seven reported epitopes and eight candidate ZnT8 peptides directly ex vivo. We found five of seven recently reported epitopes in Chinese T1D patients. Of the eight predicted ZnT8 peptides, ZnT8_153–161 had a strong binding affinity and the lowest dissociation rate to HLA-A*0201. We identified it as a novel HLA-A*0201-restricted T-cell epitope in three of eight T1D patients. We conclude that ZnT8_153–161 is a novel HLA-A*0201-restricted T-cell epitope. We did not observe a significant correlation (P = 0.3, R = ? 0.5) between cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response and peptide/HLA*0201 complex stability. However, selection of peptides based on affinity and their dissociation rate may be helpful for the identification of candidate CTL epitopes. Thus, we can minimize the number of experiments for the identification of T-cell epitopes from interesting antigens.     

Lack of tumor recognition by hTERT peptide 540-548-specific CD8(+) T cells from melanoma patients reveals inefficient antigen processing

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex responsible for the maintenance of the length of the telomeres during cell division, which is active in germ-line cells as well as in the vast majority of tumors but not in most normal tissues. The wide expression of the human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) in tumors makes it an interesting candidate vaccine for cancer. hTERT-derived peptide 540-548 (hTERT(540)) has been recently shown to be recognized in an HLA-A*0201-restricted fashion by T cell lines derived from peptide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors. As a first step to the inclusion of this peptide in immunotherapy clinical trials, it is crucial to assess hTERT(540)-specific T cell reactivity in cancer patients as well as the ability of hTERT-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes to recognize and lyse hTERT-expressing target cells. Here, we have analyzed the CD8(+) T cell response to peptide hTERT(540) in HLA-A*0201 melanoma patients by using fluorescent HLA-A*0201/hTERT(540) peptide tetramers. HLA-A*0201/hTERT(540) tetramer(+) CD8(+) T cells were readily detected in peptide-stimulated PBMC from a significant proportion of patients and could be isolated by tetramer-guided cell sorting. hTERT(540)-specific CD8(+) T cells were able to specifically recognize HLA-A*0201 cells either pulsed with peptide or transiently transfected with a minigene encoding the minimal epitope. In contrast, they failed to recognize hTERT-expressing HLA-A*0201(+) target cells. Furthermore, in vitro proteasome digestion studies revealed inadequate hTERT processing. Altogether, these results raise questions on the use of hTERT(540) peptide for cancer immunotherapy.     

Immunological characterization of respiratory syncytial virus N protein epitopes recognized by human cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are crucial for the control of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. This study has identified CTL epitopes of the RSV N protein in healthy subjects. We screened the primary structure of the N protein for HLA-A 0201-binding amino acid consensus motifs, identifying three peptides designated as N-RSV1, N-RSV2, and N-RSV3. These peptides were used to generate CTL lines by stimulating human HLA-A 02.01 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. These CTL lines were then characterized by performing CTL chromium release assays and IFN-gamma secretion detection by intracellular cytokine staining. N-RSV1 and N-RSV3 peptides elicited the strongest cytolytic activity against RSV-infected cells and they could be useful epitopes for the analysis of CTL responses to RSV and for understanding immune-induced disease pathogenesis.     

Toward the development of multi-epitope p53 cancer vaccines: an in vitro assessment of CD8(+) T cell responses to HLA class I-restricted wild-type sequence p53 peptides

Wild-type sequence (wt) p53 peptides are attractive candidates for broadly applicable cancer vaccines. Six HLA-A2 or HLA-A24-restricted wt p53 peptides were evaluated for their ex vivo immunogenicity and their potential for use in cancer vaccines. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from HLA-A*0201(+) and/or HLA-A*2402(+) normal donors and subjects with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) were analyzed for p53 peptide-specific reactivity in ELISPOT IFN-gamma assays. CD8(+) T cells in 7/10 normal donors (HD) and 11/23 subjects with SCCHN responded to at least one of the wt p53 peptides. CD8(+) T cell precursors responsive to wt p53 epitopes were detected in the circulation of most subjects with early disease, and an elevated blood Tc(1)/Tc(2) ratio distinguished wt p53 peptide responders from non-responders. The identification of multiple wt p53 peptides able to induce cytolytic T lymphocytes in most subjects with cancer promotes the development of multi-epitope p53 vaccines.     

肿瘤抗原PIWIL2的HLA-A2限制性CTL表位鉴定

目的:鉴定肿瘤抗原PIWIL2的人类白细胞抗原A2(HLA-A2)限制性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)表位。方法:首先运用RT-PCR、Western blot方法检测PIWIL2在肿瘤细胞系MCF-7、SW480和HT-29中的表达情况,然后通过BIMAS、Rank Pep、Net MHC、Net CTL1.2及IEDB软件预测打分来选取PIWIL2的HLA-A2限制性的表位。候选表位肽通过标准的Fmoc化学合成法合成,结合力实验用于检测候选表位与T2A2细胞表面HLA-A2分子的结合能力,ELISPOT实验检测候选表位肽诱导CTL分泌IFN-γ的能力,体外细胞毒性实验检测候选肽诱导CTL的能力。结果:PIWIL2在肿瘤细胞系MCF-7、SW480和HT-29中均有表达。候选肽P485、P493、P965具有中等结合力。ELISPOT实验结果显示表位肽P485和P965诱导的CTL具有分泌IFN-γ的能力。细胞毒性实验结果显示表位肽P485和P965对MCF-7细胞均有一定的杀伤作用。结论:表位肽P485和P965是优秀的PIWIL2抗原HLAA2限制性CTL候选表位,可能成为新的抗肿瘤多肽免疫治疗疫苗的候选表位。     

Combined transfection with EBV-specific epitopes and HLA-A2 genes is more effective than separate transfection in promoting CTL lysis against nasopharyngeal carcinoma

To augment specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL)lysis is a promising strategy for cancer therapy,in this study,we examined the boosting effect of CTLs upon autologous lymphoblastoid B cell lines(LCLs)transfected withdiverse plasmids,to explore the possible CTL-based immunotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).FCM analysis displayed rather high ratio(>30%)of successfully transfected LCLs by utilizing the DMRIE-Ckit.CTL assays demonstrated that substantially higher ratio of CTL specific lysis was observed upon the LCLstransfected with both expression vectors encoding EBV-specific epitopes and their presentation moleculeHLA-A2,in contrast with those transfected separately.By transfecting the vector encoding HLA-A2 alone,onlythe LCLs of HLA-A2~+ donors elicited markedly higher CTL lysis.CTL assays also showed that there existed nomarked differences upon transfection by either different vectors(pcDNA3,pNGVL3 or pNGVL3-hFlex),ordifferent EBV-derived peptides(LMP_2Pepl or LMP_2Pep2),or with or without the doubled DNA sequenceencoding peptides.This study indicated a promising immunotherapy strategy on NPC through boosting andeliciting the EBV-specific CTL activation by transferring vectors encoding both EBV-specific epitopes and theirpresentation molecule HLA-A2 into autologous LCL,the presentation cells of MHC/peptide tetramericcomplex.Cellular & Molecular Immunology.2004;1(3):229-234.     

Immunogenic variation between multiple HLA-A*0201-restricted, Hepatitis C Virus-derived epitopes for cytotoxic T lymphocytes

CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a critical role in the immune control of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. In the current study, a number of HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes derived from HCV were evaluated by examining the peptide-binding affinity for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, the stability of peptide-MHC complexes, killing activities of peptide-induced CTLs, and frequencies of intracellular interferon (IFN)-gamma-positive CD8+ T cells. Among 24 peptides tested, 15 peptides induced high or medium killing activities of peptide-specific CTLs. Thirteen of the 15 peptides exhibited high or medium binding affinities for HLA-A*0201 molecules, indicating that the high binding affinity for MHC class I molecules is an important factor for immunogenicity. In contrast, the stability of peptide-MHC class I complexes was not correlated with killing activities of peptide-induced CTLs. Furthermore, only a limited number of peptides could induce high or medium frequencies of IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ T cells, which were generally considered to play a crucial role for the clearance of HCV. Analyses of the immunogenicity of CTL epitopes such as in the current study should provide important information about the design of an efficient HCV vaccine that induces vigorous, sustained, and broad HCV-specific CTL responses.     

Identification of novel T cell epitopes from efflux pumps of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play an important role in the immunity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. In the present study, the identification of novel CTL epitopes from efflux pumps, Rv1258c and Rv1410c, was reported. Candidate native peptides and their analogues were predicted with prediction programs. Rv1410c-p510 (TLAPQVEPL) and Rv1410c-p510-1Y9V (YLAPQVEPV) showed potent binding affinity and stability towards HLA-A*0201 molecule. In enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, the CTLs induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by these peptides could release interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in at least one healthy donor (HLA-A*02(+), PPD(+)). In cytotoxicity assay in vitro and in vivo, the CTLs induced by Rv1410c-p510-1Y9V could specifically lyse peptide-loaded T2 cells. This is the first report to identify CTL epitopes from the efflux pumps of Mtb. The novel epitope identified could serve as candidate to the multivalent peptide vaccine against drug-resistant M. tuberculosis.     

O-glycosylated versus non-glycosylated MUC1-derived peptides as potential targets for cytotoxic immunotherapy of carcinoma

Due to the fact that many cellular proteins are extensively glycosylated, processing and presentation mechanisms are expected to produce a pool of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-bound protein-derived peptides, part of which retain sugar moieties. The immunogenic properties of the presented glycosylated peptides in comparison to their non-glycosylated counterparts have not been determined clearly. We assessed the cellular immunogenicity of MUC1 (mucin)-derived peptides O-glycosylated with a Tn epitope (GalNAc) using HLA-A*0201 single chain (HHD)-transfected cell lines and transgenic mice. For part of the compounds Tn moiety did not interfere with the HLA-A*0201 binding. Moreover, part of the glycopeptides elicited effective cytotoxic responses, indicating recognition of the glycopeptide-HLA-A*0201 complex by the T cell receptor (TCR) and subsequent cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activation. The CTLs exhibited a substantial degree of cross-reactivity against target cells loaded with glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms of the same peptide. The studied (glyco)peptides showed cellular immunogenicity in both MUC1-HHD and HHD mice and induced effective lysis of (glyco)peptide-loaded target cells in CTL assays. However, the elicited CTLs did not induce selective lysis of human MUC1-expressing murine cell lines. Moreover, immunization with (glyco)peptide-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) did not induce significant immunotherapeutic effects. We conclude that Tn glycosylated MUC1-derived peptides can be presented by MHC class I molecules, and may be recognized by specific TCR molecules resulting in cytotoxic immune responses. However, the studied glycopeptides did not offer significant benefit as targets for cytotoxic immune response due apparently to (a) cross-reactivity of the elicited CTLs against the glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms of the same peptide and (b) low abundance of glycopeptides on tumour target cells.     

Differential binding of viral peptides to HLA-A2 alleles. Implications for human papillomavirus type 16 E7 peptide-based vaccination against cervical carcinoma

Several cancer immune intervention protocols aim at inducing T cell immunity against antigens presented by HLA-A2, the most common human MHC class I molecule. In the context of HLA-A*0201, we previously identified two cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes (E7(11-20) and E7(86-93)) encoded by the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 (HPV16 E7) oncoprotein, which is a tumor-specific antigen for cervical carcinoma. This study reports that the two HPV16 epitopes and a control hepatitis B virus epitope bind equally well to five HLA-A2 alleles (A*0201, A*0202, A*0203, A*0204, and A*0209). These HLA-A2 variants display comparable binding characteristics in accordance with the A2 supertype (M. F. Del Guercio et al., J. Immunol. 1995. 154: 685-693). Cervical carcinoma patients expressing these alleles may benefit from vaccination with the two HPV16 E7 peptides. In contrast, none of the peptides tested bound to A*0207 or A*0208, whereas heterogeneous binding was observed for A*0205 and A*0206. Therefore, the amino acid substitutions that discriminate these HLA-A2 variants from A*0201 affect antigen presentation. Taken together, our findings have implications for application of the A2 supertype concept and for vaccination with A*0201-binding peptides, in particular HPV16 E7 peptides.