Determination of the allele-specific antigen-binding site on I-Ak and I-Ab molecules

Successful tumor eradication was achieved by collaboration of augmented cytotoxic activity and anti-angiogenic effects following therapeutic vaccines containing helper-activating analog-loaded dendritic cells and tumor antigen DNA

We reported previously that pigeon cytochrome c-derived peptides (Pan-IA), which bind broad ranges of MHC class II molecules efficiently, activate T helper (Th) function in mice. In an experimental model, Pan-IA DNA vaccines augmented antitumor immunity in tumor antigen-immunized mice. To elicit more potent antitumor immunity and to eradicate tumors in a therapeutic setting, Pan-IA-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) were inoculated in combination with vaccines including ovalbumin (OVA) antigen DNA in tumor-bearing mice. Seventy percent of the immunized mice survived tumor-free for at least 4 months after treatment. In contrast, mice vaccinated with OVA DNA, either with or without naïve DCs, did not eliminate the tumors and died within 5 weeks. Only in mice vaccinated with OVA DNA and Pan-IA-loaded DCs were both cytotoxic and helper responses specific for OVA induced at the spleen and tumor sites as well as at the vaccination sites. Furthermore, accumulation of OVA-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes and interferon-gamma-mediated anti-angiogenesis were observed in the tumors of these mice. Thus, the combined vaccination primed both tumor-specific cytotoxicity and helper immunity resulting in augmented tumor lysis ability and anti-angiogenic effects. This is the first report to show that most established tumors were successfully eradicated by collaboration of potent antitumor immunity and anti-angiogenic effects by vaccination with tumor antigens and helper-activating analogs. This novel vaccination strategy is broadly applicable, regardless of identifying helper epitopes in target molecules, and contributes to the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines.

Positive and negative selection of T cell repertoires during differentiation in allogeneic bone marrow chimeras

T cells acquire immune functions during expansion and differentiation in the thymus. Mature T cells respond to peptide antigens (Ag) derived from foreign proteins when these peptide Ag are presented on the self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules but not on allo-MHC. This is termed self-MHC restriction. On the other hand, T cells do not induce aggressive responses to self Ag (self-tolerance). Self-MHC restriction and self-tolerance are not genetically determined but acquired a posteriori by positive and negative selection in the thymus in harmony with the functional maturation. Allogeneic bone marrow (BM) chimera systems have been a useful strategy to elucidate mechanisms underlying positive and negative selection. In this communication, the contribution of BM chimera systems to the investigation of the world of T-ology is discussed.

Novel vaccination protocol consisting of injecting MUC1 DNA and nonprimed dendritic cells at the same region greatly enhanced MUC1-specific antitumor immunity in a murine model

In order to induce specific antitumor immunity in mice, we attempted to immunize C57BL/6 mice with DNA vaccine encoding MUC1 polypeptide. When the mice immunized with MUC1 DNA were challenged with EL4-muc, MUC1-transfected syngeneic lymphoma cells, they completely rejected tumors. When DNA vaccine was given to the EL4-muc tumor-bearing mice, this vaccination was insufficient to suppress tumor growth in the mice. However, activated, but nonprimed dendritic cells (DCs) obtained from syngeneic mice and MUC1 DNA vaccine were given simultaneously to the same site of EL4-muc tumor-bearing mice, tumor growth was markedly suppressed accompanying prolongation of survival time. MUC1 antigen was detected on the DCs at the vaccination site and in regional nodes in the mice which received MUC1 DNA vaccine and DCs. These mice showed markedly enhanced cellular immune responses specific for MUC1 compared to those in mice vaccinated with MUC1 DNA alone. No significant difference in titers of antibodies to MUC1 between the two groups was observed. These results suggest that nonprimed DCs inoculated at the DNA vaccine site are essential for eliciting strong antitumor cellular immunity to suppress tumor growth efficiently in DNA-vaccinated mice. This animal model is useful for developing DNA vaccine for anti-cancer immunotherapy.

Interaction of pigeon cytochrome c-(43-58) peptide analogs with either T cell antigen receptor or I-Ab molecule

We determined that a pigeon cytochrome c-derived peptide, p43-58, possesses two anchor residues, 46 and 54, for binding with the I-Ab molecule that are compatible to the position 1 (P1) and position 9 (P9) of the core region in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II binding peptides, respectively. In the present study to analyze each binding site between P1 and P9 of p43-58 to either I-Ab or T cell antigen receptor (TCR), we investigated T cell responses to a series of peptides (P2K, P3K, P4K, P5K, P6K, P7K, and P8E) that sequentially substituted charged amino acid residues for the residues at P2 to P8 of p43-58. T cells from C57BL/10 (I-Ab) mice immunized with P4K or P6K did not mount appreciable proliferative responses to the immunogens, but those primed with other peptides (P2K, P3K, P5K, P7K, and P8E) showed substantial responses in an immunogen-specific manner. It was demonstrated by binding studies that P1 and P9 functioned as main anchors and P4 and P6 functioned as secondary anchors to I-Ab. Analyses of Vbeta usage of T cell lines specific for these analogs suggested that P8 interacts with the complementarity-determining region 1 (CDR1)/CDR2 of the TCR beta chain. Furthermore, sequencing of the TCR on T cell hybridomas specific for these analogs indicated that P5 interacts with the CDR3 of the TCR beta chain. The present findings are consistent with the three-dimensional structure of the trimolecular complex that has been reported for TCR/peptide/MHC class I molecules.