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Sim MJW, Sun PD. T Cell Recognition of Tumor Neoantigens and Insights Into T Cell Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:833017. [PMID: 35222422 PMCID: PMC8867076 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.833017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In cancer, non-synonymous DNA base changes alter protein sequence and produce neoantigens that are detected by the immune system. For immune detection, neoantigens must first be presented on class I or II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) followed by recognition by peptide-specific receptors, exemplified by the T-cell receptor (TCR). Detection of neoantigens represents a unique challenge to the immune system due to their high similarity with endogenous ‘self’ proteins. Here, we review insights into how TCRs detect neoantigens from structural studies and delineate two broad mechanistic categories: 1) recognition of mutated ‘self’ peptides and 2) recognition of novel ‘non-self’ peptides generated through anchor residue modifications. While mutated ‘self’ peptides differ only by a single amino acid from an existing ‘self’ epitope, mutations that form anchor residues generate an entirely new epitope, hitherto unknown to the immune system. We review recent structural studies that highlight these structurally distinct mechanisms and discuss how they may lead to differential anti-tumor immune responses. We discuss how T cells specific for neoantigens derived from anchor mutations can be of high affinity and provide insights to their use in adoptive T cell transfer-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm J W Sim
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Peter D Sun
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD, United States
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2
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McCluskey J, Kanaan C, Diviney M. Nomenclature and Serology of HLA Class I and Class II Alleles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 118:A.1S.1-A.1S.6. [DOI: 10.1002/cpim.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James McCluskey
- University of Melbourne and Australian Red Cross Blood Service Melbourne Australia
| | - Carmel Kanaan
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service Melbourne Australia
| | - Mary Diviney
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service Melbourne Australia
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3
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A Positive Control for Detection of Functional CD4 T Cells in PBMC: The CPI Pool. Cells 2017; 6:cells6040047. [PMID: 29215584 PMCID: PMC5753071 DOI: 10.3390/cells6040047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Testing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for immune monitoring purposes requires verification of their functionality. This is of particular concern when the PBMC have been shipped or stored for prolonged periods of time. While the CEF (Cytomegalo-, Epstein-Barr and Flu-virus) peptide pool has become the gold standard for testing CD8 cell functionality, a positive control for CD4 cells is so far lacking. The latter ideally consists of proteins so as to control for the functionality of the antigen processing and presentation compartments, as well. Aiming to generate a positive control for CD4 cells, we first selected 12 protein antigens from infectious/environmental organisms that are ubiquitous: Varicella, Influenza, Parainfluenza, Mumps, Cytomegalovirus, Streptococcus, Mycoplasma, Lactobacillus, Neisseria, Candida, Rubella, and Measles. Of these antigens, three were found to elicited interferon (IFN)-γ-producing CD4 cells in the majority of human test subjects: inactivated cytomegalo-, parainfluenza-, and influenza virions (CPI). While individually none of these three antigens triggered a recall response in all donors, the pool of the three (the ‘CPI pool’), did. One hundred percent of 245 human donors tested were found to be CPI positive, including Caucasians, Asians, and African-Americans. Therefore, the CPI pool appears to be suitable to serve as universal positive control for verifying the functionality of CD4 and of antigen presenting cells.
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How frequently are predicted peptides actually recognized by CD8 cells? Cancer Immunol Immunother 2016; 65:847-55. [PMID: 27108305 PMCID: PMC4917593 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-016-1840-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Detection of antigen-specific CD8 cells frequently relies on the use of peptides that are predicted to bind to HLA Class I molecules or have been shown to induce immune responses. There is extensive knowledge on individual HLA alleles’ peptide-binding requirements, and immunogenic peptides for many antigens have been defined. The 32 individual peptides that comprise the CEF peptide pool represent such well-defined peptide determinants for Cytomegalo-, Epstein–barr-, and Influenza virus. We tested the accuracy of these peptide recognition predictions on 42 healthy human donors that have been high-resolution HLA-typed. According to the predictions, 241 recall responses should have been detected in these donors. Actual testing showed that 36 (15 %) of the predicted CD8 cell responses occurred in the high frequency range, 41 (17 %) in mid-frequencies, and 45 (19 %) were at the detection limit. In 119 instances (49 %), the predicted peptides were not targeted by CD8 cells detectably. The individual CEF peptides were recognized in an unpredicted fashion in 57 test cases. Moreover, the frequency of CD8 cells responding to a single peptide did not reflect on the number of CD8 cells targeting other determinants on the same antigen. Thus, reliance on one or a few predicted peptides provides a rather inaccurate assessment of antigen-specific CD8 cell immunity, strongly arguing for the use of peptide pools for immune monitoring.
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5
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Leisegang M, Engels B, Schreiber K, Yew PY, Kiyotani K, Idel C, Arina A, Duraiswamy J, Weichselbaum RR, Uckert W, Nakamura Y, Schreiber H. Eradication of Large Solid Tumors by Gene Therapy with a T-Cell Receptor Targeting a Single Cancer-Specific Point Mutation. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 22:2734-43. [PMID: 26667491 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-2361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancers usually contain multiple unique tumor-specific antigens produced by single amino acid substitutions (AAS) and encoded by somatic nonsynonymous single nucleotide substitutions. We determined whether adoptively transferred T cells can reject large, well-established solid tumors when engineered to express a single type of T-cell receptor (TCR) that is specific for a single AAS. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN By exome and RNA sequencing of an UV-induced tumor, we identified an AAS in p68 (mp68), a co-activator of p53. This AAS seemed to be an ideal tumor-specific neoepitope because it is encoded by a trunk mutation in the primary autochthonous cancer and binds with highest affinity to the MHC. A high-avidity mp68-specific TCR was used to genetically engineer T cells as well as to generate TCR-transgenic mice for adoptive therapy. RESULTS When the neoepitope was expressed at high levels and by all cancer cells, their direct recognition sufficed to destroy intratumor vessels and eradicate large, long-established solid tumors. When the neoepitope was targeted as autochthonous antigen, T cells caused cancer regression followed by escape of antigen-negative variants. Escape could be thwarted by expressing the antigen at increased levels in all cancer cells or by combining T-cell therapy with local irradiation. Therapeutic efficacies of TCR-transduced and TCR-transgenic T cells were similar. CONCLUSIONS Gene therapy with a single TCR targeting a single AAS can eradicate large established cancer, but a uniform expression and/or sufficient levels of the targeted neoepitope or additional therapy are required to overcome tumor escape. Clin Cancer Res; 22(11); 2734-43. ©2015 AACRSee related commentary by Liu, p. 2602.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Boris Engels
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Illinois
| | - Karin Schreiber
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Illinois
| | - Poh Yin Yew
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Christian Idel
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ainhoa Arina
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Ralph R Weichselbaum
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, The University of Chicago, Illinois
| | - Wolfgang Uckert
- Molecular Cell Biology and Gene Therapy, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany. Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Hans Schreiber
- Institute of Immunology, Charité, Campus Buch, Berlin, Germany. Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Illinois
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6
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Noy R, Haus-Cohen M, Oved K, Voloshin T, Reiter Y. Recruitment of Oligoclonal Viral-Specific T cells to Kill Human Tumor Cells Using Single-Chain Antibody-Peptide-HLA Fusion Molecules. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:1327-35. [PMID: 25852061 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor progression is often associated with the development of diverse immune escape mechanisms. One of the main tumor escape mechanism is HLA loss, in which human solid tumors exhibit alterations in HLA expression. Moreover, tumors that present immunogenic peptides via class I MHC molecules are not susceptible to CTL-mediated lysis, because of the relatively low potency of the tumor-specific CLTs. Here, we present a novel cancer immunotherapy approach that overcomes these problems by using the high affinity and specificity of antitumor antibodies to recruit potent antiviral memory CTLs to attack tumor cells. We constructed a recombinant molecule by genetic fusion of a cytomegalovirus (CMV)-derived peptide pp65 (NLVPMVATV) to scHLA-A2 molecules that were genetically fused to a single-chain Fv Ab fragment specific for the tumor cell surface antigen mesothelin. This fully covalent fusion molecule was expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies and refolded in vitro. The fusion molecules could specifically bind mesothelin-expressing cells and mediate their lysis by NLVPMVATV-specific HLA-A2-restricted human CTLs. More importantly, these molecules exhibited very potent antitumor activity in vivo in a nude mouse model bearing preestablished human tumor xenografts that were adoptively transferred along with human memory CTLs. These results represent a novel and powerful approach to immunotherapy for solid tumors, as demonstrated by the ability of the CMV-scHLA-A2-SS1(scFv) fusion molecule to mediate specific and efficient recruitment of CMV-specific CTLs to kill tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Noy
- Cancer Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Maya Haus-Cohen
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kfir Oved
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tali Voloshin
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoram Reiter
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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7
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Okiyama N, Hasegawa H, Oida T, Hirata S, Yokozeki H, Fujimoto M, Miyasaka N, Kohsaka H. Experimental myositis inducible with transfer of dendritic cells presenting a skeletal muscle C protein-derived CD8 epitope peptide. Int Immunol 2015; 27:327-32. [DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxv001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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8
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Schweighoffer T. Molecular cancer vaccines: Tumor therapy using antigen-specific immunizations. Pathol Oncol Res 2012; 3:164-76. [PMID: 18470726 DOI: 10.1007/bf02899917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/1997] [Accepted: 08/24/1997] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination against tumors promises selective destruction of malignant cells by the host's immune system. Molecular cancer vaccines rely on recently identified tumor antigens as immunogens. Tumor antigens can be applied in many forms, as genes in recombinant vectors, as proteins or peptides representing T cell epitopes.Analysis of various aspects indicates some advantage for peptide-based vaccines over the other modalities. Further refinements and extensively monitored clinical trials are necessary to advance molecular cancer vaccines from concepts into powerful therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Schweighoffer
- Department Cell Biology, Boehringer Ingelheim Research and Development, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5, A-l 120, Wien, Austria,
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9
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Identification of two novel HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes derived from MAGE-A4. Clin Dev Immunol 2011; 2010:567594. [PMID: 21350607 PMCID: PMC3042617 DOI: 10.1155/2010/567594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Revised: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 12/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
MAGE-A antigens belong to cancer/testis (CT) antigens that are expressed in tumors but not in normal tissues except testis and placenta. MAGE-A antigens and their epitope peptides have been used in tumor immunotherapy trials. MAGE-A4 antigen is extensively expressed in various histological types of tumors, so it represents an attractive target for tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we predicted HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of MAGE-A4, followed by peptide/HLA-A*0201 affinity and complex stability assays. Of selected four peptides (designated P1, P2, P3, and P4), P1 (MAGE-A4286-294, KVLEHVVRV) and P3 (MAGE-A4272-280, FLWGPRALA) could elicit peptide-specific CTLs both in vitro from HLA-A*0201-positive PBMCs and in HLA-A*0201/Kb transgenic mice. And the induced CTLs could lyse target cells in an HLA-A*0201-restricted fashion, demonstrating that the two peptides are HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes and could serve as targets for therapeutic antitumoral vaccination.
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10
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Irvine K, Bennink J. Factors influencing immunodominance hierarchies in TCD8+ -mediated antiviral responses. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2010; 2:135-47. [PMID: 20477094 DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.2.1.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
CD8(+) T-lymphocytes (T(CD8+)) perform a critical role in immunity against tumors and virus infections. A central feature of T(CD8+) immune responses is immunodominance: the observation that T(CD8+) responses consist of a limited collection of specificities with a structured hierarchy. These immunodominance hierarchies result from a complex combination of factors. Major roles are played by peptide binding affinity, T-cell repertoire, and antigen processing and presentation. While the bulk of our information comes from mouse model systems, an increasing number of human studies suggest that immunodominance will be even more complicated. This review outlines current knowledge of T(CD8+ )immunodominance to viral antigens and discusses the relevance and importance of a thorough understanding for the rational design of vaccines that elicit effective T(CD8+) responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Irvine
- National Institute for Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Cell Biology Section/Viral Immunology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Room 209, Building 44 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-0440, USA.
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11
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Chiriva-Internati M, Cobos E, Kast WM. Advances in Immunotherapy of Multiple Myeloma: From the Discovery of Tumor-Associated Antigens to Clinical Trials. Int Rev Immunol 2009; 26:197-222. [PMID: 17558744 DOI: 10.1080/08830180701365966] [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] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tumors aberrantly express tumor-associated antigens that can be specifically recognized by T-cells, thereby providing a scientific rationale for the design and clinical testing of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting these antigens. Multiple myeloma is a fatal hematologic malignancy. Here, we review techniques to discover new tumor-associated antigens in multiple myeloma and the latest immunotherapeutic strategies employed in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA.
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12
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Madan RA, Arlen PM, Mohebtash M, Hodge JW, Gulley JL. Prostvac-VF: a vector-based vaccine targeting PSA in prostate cancer. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2009; 18:1001-11. [PMID: 19548854 PMCID: PMC3449276 DOI: 10.1517/13543780902997928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prostvac is a prostate cancer vaccine regimen consisting of a recombinant vaccinia vector as a primary vaccination, followed by multiple booster vaccinations employing a recombinant fowlpox vector. Both vectors contain the transgenes for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and multiple T-cell co-stimulatory molecules (TRICOM). The PSA-TRICOM vaccines infect antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and generate proteins that are expressed on the surface of the APCs in an immune context. The interaction of these APCs with T cells initiates a targeted immune response and T cell-mediated tumor cell destruction. Preliminary clinical trials have indicated negligible toxicity, and Phase II trials have suggested a survival benefit after treatment with Prostvac, especially in patients with indolent disease characteristics. Preclinical and clinical data indicate that radiation, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy may be combined with Prostvac to enhance the vaccine's efficacy. Additional strategies are in development to further enhance the clinical benefits of Prostvac, and a Phase III trial is being planned in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi A. Madan
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Philip M. Arlen
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mahsa Mohebtash
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James W. Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James L. Gulley
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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13
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Side-chain conformational space analysis (SCSA): a multi conformation-based QSAR approach for modeling and prediction of protein-peptide binding affinities. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2008; 23:129-41. [PMID: 18841329 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-008-9245-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2008] [Accepted: 09/11/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In this article, the concept of multi conformation-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (MCB-QSAR) is proposed, and based upon that, we describe a new approach called the side-chain conformational space analysis (SCSA) to model and predict protein-peptide binding affinities. In SCSA, multi-conformations (rather than traditional single-conformation) have received much attention, and the statistical average information on multi-conformations of side chains is determined using self-consistent mean field theory based upon side chain rotamer library. Thereby, enthalpy contributions (including electrostatic, steric, hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bond) and conformational entropy effects to the binding are investigated in terms of occurrence probability of residue rotamers. Then, SCSA was applied into the dataset of 419 HLA-A 0201 binding peptides, and nonbonding contributions of each position in peptide ligands are well determined. For the peptides, the hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions of the two ends are essential to the binding specificity, van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions of all the positions ensure strong binding affinity, and the loss of conformational entropy at anchor positions partially counteracts other favorable nonbonding effects.
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14
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Biddison WE, Martin R. Peptide binding motifs for MHC class I and II molecules. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; Appendix 1:Appendix 1I. [PMID: 18432645 DOI: 10.1002/0471142735.ima01is36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This overview discusses the use of peptide-binding motifs to predict interaction with a specific MHC class I or II allele, and gives examples for the use of MHC binding motifs to predict T-cell recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- W E Biddison
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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15
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Gangadhar V, Jeyakani JJ, Shaila MS, Nayak R, Chandra N. Perpetuation of immunological memory through common MHC-I binding modes of peptidomimic and antigenic peptides. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 364:308-12. [PMID: 17950699 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2007] [Accepted: 10/02/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of immunological memory assumes importance in vaccine design. We had earlier hypothesized a mechanism for the maintenance of immunological memory through the operation of a network of idiotypic and anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab2). Peptides derived from an internal image carrying anti-idiotypic antibody are hypothesized to facilitate the perpetuation of antigen specific T cell memory through similarity in peptide-MHC binding as that of the antigenic peptide. In the present work, the existence of such peptidomimics of the antigen in the Ab2 variable region and their similarity of MHC-I binding was examined by bioinformatics approaches. The analysis employing three known viral antigens and one tumor-associated antigen shows that peptidomimics from Ab2 variable regions have structurally similar MHC-I binding patterns as compared to antigenic peptides, indicating a structural basis for memory perpetuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Gangadhar
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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16
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Abstract
Synthetic peptide vaccines have potential to control viral infections. Successful experimental models using this approach include the protection of mice against the lethal Sendai virus infection by MHC class I binding CTL peptide epitope. The main benefit of vaccination with peptide epitopes is the ability to minimize the amount and complexity of a well-defined antigen. An appropriate peptide immunogen would also decrease the chance of stimulating a response against self-antigens, thereby providing a safer vaccine by avoiding autoimmunity. In general, the peptide vaccine strategy needs to dissect the specificity of antigen processing, the presence of B-and T-cell epitopes and the MHC restriction of the T-cell responses. This article briefly reviews the implications in the design of peptide vaccines and discusses the various approaches that are applied to improve their immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Azizi
- Variation Biotechnologies Inc., 22 de Varennes, Suite 210, Gatineau, QC J8T 8R1, Canada
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17
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Houghton CSB, Engelhorn ME, Liu C, Song D, Gregor P, Livingston PO, Orlandi F, Wolchok JD, McCracken J, Houghton AN, Guevara-Patiño JA. Immunological validation of the EpitOptimizer program for streamlined design of heteroclitic epitopes. Vaccine 2007; 25:5330-42. [PMID: 17570567 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2007] [Revised: 05/04/2007] [Accepted: 05/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
One strategy to generate T-cell responses to tumors is to alter subdominant epitopes through substitution of amino acids that are optimal anchors for specific MHC molecules, termed heteroclitic epitopes. This approach is manually error-prone and time-consuming. In here, we describe a computer-based algorithm (EpitOptimizer) for the streamlined design of heteroclitic epitopes. Analysis of two cancer-related proteins showed that EpitOptimizer-generated peptides have enhanced MHC-I binding compared with their wild-type counterparts; and were able to induce stronger CD8+ T-cell responses against their native epitope. These data demonstrate that this approach can serve as the basis of epitope-engineering against cancer and intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin S B Houghton
- The Swim Across America Laboratory, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, United States
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18
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Madan RA, Arlen PM, Gulley JL. PANVAC-VF: poxviral-based vaccine therapy targeting CEA and MUC1 in carcinoma. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2007; 7:543-54. [PMID: 17373905 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.7.4.543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PANVAC is a cancer vaccine therapy delivered through two viral vectors--recombinant vaccinia and recombinant fowlpox--which are given sequentially. Both vectors contain transgenes for the tumor-associated antigens epithelial mucin 1 and carcinoembryonic antigen, which are altered or overexpressed in most carcinomas. The vectors also contain transgenes for three human T cell costimulatory molecules required to enhance immune response: B7.1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and leukocyte function-associated antigen-3. PANVAC is injected subcutaneously and processed by the body's antigen-presenting cells. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of PANVAC in inducing both carcinoembryonic antigen- and mucin 1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vitro and in murine models. Other strategies that enhance the immune response include the use of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and a prime-boost administration sequence. Clinical trials have demonstrated PANVAC's safety and its ability to induce antigen-specific T cell responses. Early clinical trials are evaluating PANVAC alone and in combination with conventional chemotherapy and/or radiation. Studies to date hold promise for the use of PANVAC as a means to stimulate the immune system against malignancies and to provide clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi A Madan
- Clinical Immunotherapy Group, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Abstract
With the burgeoning immunological data in the scientific literature, scientists must increasingly rely on Internet resources to inform and enhance their work. Here we provide a brief overview of the adaptive immune response and summaries of immunoinformatics resources, emphasizing those with Web interfaces. These resources include searchable databases of epitopes and immune-related molecules, and analysis tools for T cell and B cell epitope prediction, vaccine design, and protein structure comparisons. There is an agreeable synergy between the growing collections in immune-related databases and the growing sophistication of analysis software; the databases provide the foundation for developing predictive computational tools, which in turn enable more rapid identification of immune responses to populate the databases. Collectively, these resources contribute to improved understanding of immune responses and escape, and evolution of pathogens under immune pressure. The public health implications are vast, including designing vaccines, understanding autoimmune diseases, and defining the correlates of immune protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bette Korber
- Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA.
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Grizzi F, Franceschini B, Hamrick C, Frezza EE, Cobos E, Chiriva-Internati M. Usefulness of cancer-testis antigens as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Transl Med 2007; 5:3. [PMID: 17244360 PMCID: PMC1797003 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-5-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2006] [Accepted: 01/23/2007] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in our cellular and molecular knowledge, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the major public health problems throughout the world. It is now known to be highly heterogeneous: it encompasses various pathological entities and a wide range of clinical behaviors, and is underpinned by a complex array of gene alterations that affect supra-molecular processes. Four families of HCC tumour markers have been recently proposed: a) onco-fetal and glycoprotein antigens; b) enzymes and iso-enzymes; c) cytokines and d) genes. A category of tumour-associated antigens called cancer-testis (CT) antigens has been identified and their encoding genes have been extensively investigated. CT antigens are expressed in a limited number of normal tissues as well as in malignant tumors of unrelated histological origin, including the liver. Given that cancers are being recognized as increasingly complex, we here review the role of CT antigens as liver tumour biomarkers and their validation process, and discuss why they may improve the effectiveness of screening HCC patients and help in determining the risk of developing HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Grizzi
- Laboratories of Quantitative Medicine, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Franceschini
- Laboratories of Quantitative Medicine, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cody Hamrick
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Eldo E Frezza
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Everardo Cobos
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, 3601 4th St., 79430 Lubbock, Texas, USA
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21
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Kangueane P, Sakharkar MK. HLA-peptide binding prediction using structural and modeling principles. Methods Mol Biol 2007; 409:293-299. [PMID: 18450009 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-118-9_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Short peptides binding to specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles elicit immune response. These candidate peptides have potential utility in peptide vaccine design and development. The binding of peptides to allele-specific HLA molecule is estimated using competitive binding assay and biochemical binding constants. Application of this method for proteome-wide screening in parasites, viruses, and virulent bacterial strains is laborious and expensive. However, short listing of candidate peptides using prediction approaches have been realized lately. Prediction of peptide binding to HLA alleles using structural and modeling principles has gained momentum in recent years. Here, we discuss the current status of such prediction.
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22
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Zirlik KM, Zahrieh D, Neuberg D, Gribben JG. Cytotoxic T cells generated against heteroclitic peptides kill primary tumor cells independent of the binding affinity of the native tumor antigen peptide. Blood 2006; 108:3865-70. [PMID: 16902144 PMCID: PMC1895467 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2006-04-014415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2006] [Accepted: 07/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Heteroclitic peptide modifications increase immunogenicity, allowing generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against weakly immunogenic tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). A critical issue is whether T cells generated against heteroclitic peptides retain the ability to recognize and kill tumor cells expressing the original weak TAAs, and whether there is a lower threshold of binding affinity of the native peptides, below which such CTLs can still kill primary tumor cells. To examine this we used a model examining the ability of native and heteroclitic immunoglobulin (Ig)-derived peptides to generate CTLs that can kill chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. We demonstrate that CTLs generated against heteroclitic peptides have enhanced killing of CD40-activated B cells pulsed with either heteroclitic (P < .001) or native peptide (P = .04) and primary CLL cells (P = .01). The novel finding reported here is that the rate-limiting factor appears to be the ability to generate CTLs and that once generated, CTL lysis of primary tumor cells is independent of the binding affinity of the native peptide. These findings have implications for vaccination strategies in malignancies and are currently being further examined in vivo in murine models.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD40 Antigens/immunology
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Humans
- Immunoglobulins/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Mice
- Models, Immunological
- Peptides/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Mauerer Zirlik
- Institute of Cancer, Barts and The London School of Medicine, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
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23
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Abstract
PANVAC-VF is a vaccine regimen composed of a priming dose of recombinant vaccinia virus and booster doses of recombinant fowlpox virus expressing carcinoembryonic antigen, mucin-1 and a triad of costimulatory molecules (TRICOM), which include B7.1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and leukocyte function-associated antigen-3. Vaccination is administered by subcutaneous injection followed by 4 days of local recombinant adjuvant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor at the vaccination site. The vaccine has been developed for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and has now entered a randomized Phase III clinical trial. This review will describe the background of recombinant poxvirus technology for tumor vaccine development, detail the key preclinical studies supporting the regimen, review the clinical trials supporting the current Phase III study, and highlight the key challenges and future obstacles to successful implementation of PANVAC-VF for pancreatic cancer.
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24
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Scholl S, Salzmann S, Kaufmann AM, Höffken K. Flt3-ITD mutations can generate leukaemia specific neoepitopes: potential role for immunotherapeutic approaches. Leuk Lymphoma 2006; 47:307-12. [PMID: 16321862 DOI: 10.1080/10428190500301306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Flt3 internal tandem duplications (Flt3-ITD) can be detected in 25 - 30% of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and differ in length and sequence. We sequenced patient specific Flt3-ITD mutations in 2 Flt3-ITD positive AML cell lines and 13 Flt3-ITD harbouring AML patients. We addressed the question whether Flt3-ITD mutations can harbour HLA class I specific neoepitopes potentially able to induce a leukaemia and Flt3-ITD specific immune response. Here, we demonstrate that all but 1 Flt3-ITD mutations were unique. Interestingly, the peptide sequence of several Flt3-ITD fusion regions harbour 9 mer neoepitopes that potentially bind to HLA class I molecules in a HLA restricted manner (e.g. A1, A2, B27). The specific binding of Flt3-ITD derived neoepitopes to HLA-A2 is demonstrated. Peptide affinity of HLA-A2-restricted putative neoepitopes can be significantly improved by construction of mimotope candidates. We suggest that Flt3-ITD mutations can form new immunogenic and HLA class I-restricted peptide epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Scholl
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Oncology and Hematology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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25
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Rohrer JW, Barsoum AL, Coggin JH. Identification of oncofetal antigen/immature laminin receptor protein epitopes that activate BALB/c mouse OFA/iLRP-specific effector and regulatory T cell clones. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2006; 176:2844-56. [PMID: 16493041 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.5.2844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
During tumor development in mice and humans, oncofetal Ag/immature laminin receptor (OFA/iLRP)-specific Th1, CTL, and IL-10-secreting T (Ts) cells are induced. The presence of too many Ts or too few effector T cells appears to predict a poor prognosis. We established clones of OFA/iLRP-specific splenic Th1, CTL, and Ts cells from the OFA/iLRP+ MCA1315 fibrosarcoma-bearing BALB/c mice or from BALB/c mice vaccinated with 1 or 10 microg of rOFA/iLRP. The MCA1315 tumor cell-reactive T cell clones were characterized as to surface Ag phenotype, cytokine secretion profile, and specificity for OFA/iLRP presented by syngeneic splenic APC. OFA/iLRP-specific Th1 and Ts clones were established from all mice. OFA/iLRP-specific CTL could be established from all mice except for mice immunized with 10 microg of rOFA/iLRP. Analysis of the proliferation profile of the OFA/iLRP-specific clones to overlapping OFA/iLRP 12-mer peptides that spanned the OFA/iLRP protein sequence defined the epitopes to which the T cell clones responded. There was a similar spatial distribution of the epitopes to which the two types of CD8 T cell clones responded. The nonapeptide epitopes of the Ts clones were located between aa 36 and 147 of OFA/iLRP, while the epitopes of the CTL clones were located between aa 52 and 163. Even though the CTL and Ts epitopes shared part of the protein, all of the CD8 CTL epitopes were distinct and separable from those of CD8 Ts cells.
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MESH Headings
- Adoptive Transfer
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antigens, Neoplasm/administration & dosage
- Antigens, Neoplasm/analysis
- Antigens, Neoplasm/physiology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Clone Cells
- Cytokines/biosynthesis
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/transplantation
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/analysis
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/physiology
- Female
- Fibrosarcoma/immunology
- Fibrosarcoma/prevention & control
- Fibrosarcoma/secondary
- Growth Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Growth Inhibitors/analysis
- Growth Inhibitors/physiology
- H-2 Antigens/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Lung Neoplasms/secondary
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Receptors, Laminin/administration & dosage
- Receptors, Laminin/analysis
- Receptors, Laminin/physiology
- Spleen/cytology
- Spleen/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Rohrer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL 36688-0002, USA.
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26
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Chen Y, Trofe J, Gordon J, Du Pasquier RA, Roy-Chaudhury P, Kuroda MJ, Woodle ES, Khalili K, Koralnik IJ. Interplay of cellular and humoral immune responses against BK virus in kidney transplant recipients with polyomavirus nephropathy. J Virol 2006; 80:3495-505. [PMID: 16537617 PMCID: PMC1440396 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.80.7.3495-3505.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of the polyomavirus BK (BKV) causes polyomavirus nephropathy (PVN) in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients and may lead to loss of the renal allograft. We have identified two HLA-A*0201-restricted nine-amino-acid cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of the BKV major capsid protein VP1, VP1(p44), and VP1(p108). Using tetramer staining assays, we showed that these epitopes were recognized by CTLs in 8 of 10 (VP1(p44)) and 5 of 10 (VP1(p108)) HLA-A*0201+ healthy individuals, while both epitopes elicited a CTL response in 10 of 10 KTx recipients with biopsy-proven PVN, although at variable levels. After in vitro stimulation with the respective peptides, CTLs directed against VP1(p44) were more abundant than against VP1(p108) in most healthy individuals, while the converse was true in KTx recipients with PVN, suggesting a shift in epitope immunodominance in the setting of active BKV infection. A strong CTL response in KTx recipients with PVN appeared to be associated with decreased BK viral load in blood and urine and low anti-BKV antibody titers, while a low or undetectable CTL response correlated with viral persistence and high anti-BKV antibody titers. These results suggest that this cellular immune response is present in most BKV-seropositive healthy individuals and plays an important role in the containment of BKV in KTx recipients with PVN. Interestingly, the BKV CTL epitopes bear striking homology with the recently described CTL epitopes of the other human polyomavirus JC (JCV), JCV VP1(p36) and VP1(p100). A high degree of epitope cross-recognition was present between BKV and corresponding JCV-specific CTLs, which indicates that the same population of cells is functionally effective against these two closely related viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Chen
- Division of Viral Pathogenesis, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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27
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Guevara-Patiño JA, Engelhorn ME, Turk MJ, Liu C, Duan F, Rizzuto G, Cohen AD, Merghoub T, Wolchok JD, Houghton AN. Optimization of a self antigen for presentation of multiple epitopes in cancer immunity. J Clin Invest 2006; 116:1382-90. [PMID: 16614758 PMCID: PMC1435720 DOI: 10.1172/jci25591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2005] [Accepted: 02/21/2006] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells recognizing self antigens expressed by cancer cells are prevalent in the immune repertoire. However, activation of these autoreactive T cells is limited by weak signals that are incapable of fully priming naive T cells, creating a state of tolerance or ignorance. Even if T cell activation occurs, immunity can be further restricted by a dominant response directed at only a single epitope. Enhanced antigen presentation of multiple epitopes was investigated as a strategy to overcome these barriers. Specific point mutations that create altered peptide ligands were introduced into the gene encoding a nonimmunogenic tissue self antigen expressed by melanoma, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (Tyrp1). Deficient asparagine-linked glycosylation, which was caused by additional mutations, produced altered protein trafficking and fate that increased antigen processing. Immunization of mice with mutated Tyrp1 DNA elicited cross-reactive CD8(+) T cell responses against multiple nonmutated epitopes of syngeneic Tyrp1 and against melanoma cells. These multi-specific anti-Tyrp1 CD8(+) T cell responses led to rejection of poorly immunogenic melanoma and prolonged survival when immunization was started after tumor challenge. These studies demonstrate how rationally designed DNA vaccines directed against self antigens for enhanced antigen processing and presentation reveal novel self epitopes and elicit multi-specific T cell responses to nonimmunogenic, nonmutated self antigens, enhancing immunity against cancer self antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Guevara-Patiño
- Swim Across America Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
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28
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Yan RQ, Li XS, Yang TY, Xia C. Structures and homology modeling of chicken major histocompatibility complex protein class I (BF2 and β2m). Mol Immunol 2006; 43:1040-6. [PMID: 16112197 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2005.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2005] [Accepted: 07/06/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In order to elucidate the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) structures of chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I protein (BF2 and beta2m) and further reconstruct their complex identifying the virus-derived antigenic peptides, the mature protein of BF2 and beta2m genes were expressed solubility in pMAL-p2X/Escherichia coli. TB1 system. The expressed MBP-BF2- and MBP-beta2m-fusion proteins were purified, and cleaved by the factor Xa protease. Subsequently, the monomers were further separated, and the purified MBP-BF2, -beta2m, and MBP were analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. The contents of alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn, and random coil in BF2 protein were 72, 102, 70, and 90 amino acids (aa), respectively. The beta2m proteins displayed a typical beta-sheet and the contents of alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn, and random coil were 0, 46, 30, and 22 aa, respectively. Homology modeling of BF2 and beta2m proteins were similar as the 3D structure of human MHC class I (HLA-A2). The results showed that pMAL-p2X expression and purification system could be used to obtain the right conformational BF2 and beta2m proteins, and the 2D and 3D structures of BF2 and beta2m were revealed to be similar to human's. The recombinant BF2 and beta2m-based proteins might be a powerful tool for further detecting antigenic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo Qian Yan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
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29
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Anchor profiles of HLA-specific peptides: analysis by a novel affinity scoring method and experimental validation. Proteins 2006; 58:53-69. [PMID: 15526297 DOI: 10.1002/prot.20302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The study of intermolecular interactions is a fundamental research subject in biology. Here we report on the development of a quantitative structure-based affinity scoring method for peptide-protein complexes, named PepScope. The method operates on the basis of a highly specific force field function (CHARMM) that is applied to all-atom structural representations of peptide-receptor complexes. Peptide side-chain contributions to total affinity are scored after detailed rotameric sampling followed by controlled energy refinement. A de novo approach to estimate dehydration energies was developed, based on the simulation of individual amino acids in a solvent box filled with explicit water molecules. Transferability of the method was demonstrated by its application to the hydrophobic HLA-A2 and -A24 receptors, the polar HLA-A1, and the sterically ruled HLA-B7 receptor. A combined theoretical and experimental study on 39 anchor substitutions in FxSKQYMTx/HLA-A2 and -A24 complexes indicated a prediction accuracy of about two thirds of a log-unit in Kd. Analysis of free energy contributions identified a great role of desolvation and conformational strain effects in establishing a given specificity profile. Interestingly, the method rightly predicted that most anchor profiles are less specific than so far assumed. This suggests that many potential T-cell epitopes could be missed with current prediction methods. The results presented in this work may therefore significantly affect T-cell epitope discovery programs applied in the field of peptide vaccine development.
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30
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Rakoff-Nahoum S, Kuebler PJ, Heymann JJ, E Sheehy M, Ortiz GM, S Ogg G, Barbour JD, Lenz J, Steinfeld AD, Nixon DF. Detection of T lymphocytes specific for human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) in patients with seminoma. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2006; 22:52-6. [PMID: 16438646 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2006.22.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) is distinctive among the retroviruses that comprise about 8% of the human genome in that multiple HERV-K proviruses encode full-length viral proteins, and many HERV-K proviruses formed during recent human evolution. HERV-K gag proteins are found in the cytoplasm of primary tumor cells of patients with seminoma. We identified HERV-K-specific T cells in patients with a past history of seminoma using the interferon-gamma ELISPOT assay and an MHC-HERV-K peptide-specific tetramer. A minority of apparently healthy subjects without evident germ cell tumors also made HERV-K-specific T cell responses. In summary, we detected T cell reactivity to HERV-K peptides in both past seminoma patients and a minority of apparently healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Rakoff-Nahoum
- J.D. Gladstone Institutes, Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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31
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Li B, Wang Y, Chen J, Wu H, Chen W. Identification of a new HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T cell epitope from hepatocellular carcinoma-associated antigen HCA587. Clin Exp Immunol 2005; 140:310-9. [PMID: 15807856 PMCID: PMC1809362 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02786.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xue Yuan Road, Beijing, 100083, China
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32
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Doytchinova IA, Guan P, Flower DR. Quantitative structure-activity relationships and the prediction of MHC supermotifs. Methods 2005; 34:444-53. [PMID: 15542370 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2004.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The underlying assumption in quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) methodology is that related chemical structures exhibit related biological activities. We review here two QSAR methods in terms of their applicability for human MHC supermotif definition. Supermotifs are motifs that characterise binding to more than one allele. Supermotif definition is the initial in silico step of epitope-based vaccine design. The first QSAR method we review here--the additive method--is based on the assumption that the binding affinity of a peptide depends on contributions from both amino acids and the interactions between them. The second method is a 3D-QSAR method: comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). Both methods were applied to 771 peptides binding to 9 HLA alleles. Five of the alleles (A*0201, A*0202, A*0203, A*0206 and A*6802) belong to the HLA-A2 superfamily and the other four (A*0301, A*1101, A*3101 and A*6801) to the HLA-A3 superfamily. For each superfamily, supermotifs defined by the two QSAR methods agree closely and are supported by many experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irini A Doytchinova
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, High Street, Compton, Berkshire RG20 7NN, UK
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33
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Affiliation(s)
- Golo Ahlenstiel
- Liver Diseases Section, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA
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34
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Wang W, Merchlinsky M, Inman J, Golding B. Identification of a novel immunodominant cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope derived from human factor VIII in a murine model of hemophilia A. Thromb Res 2005; 116:335-44. [PMID: 16038719 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2004.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2004] [Revised: 12/13/2004] [Accepted: 12/16/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy of hemophilia A could be complicated by the development of immune responses against the vector as well as the Factor VIII (FVIII) transgene. Previous efforts have been focused on identifying FVIII inhibitor antibody epitopes, whereas the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes have not been characterized. CTL would kill cells expressing such epitopes and thus limit the efficacy of gene therapy. To investigate CTL responses against human FVIII in a mouse model of hemophilia A, a computer algorithm program (BIMAS) was employed to predict CTL epitopes of human FVIII. The potential binding of these predicted peptides to MHC class I K(b) was evaluated in a TAP-deficient cell line. When recombinant vaccinia virus expressing B domain-deleted human FVIII (vv-FVIII) was used to immunize E16 hemophilia A mice, a specific CTL response against FVIII152-159 was generated. In contrast, a CTL response to four other FVIII peptides was not detected. Therefore, FVIII152-159 represents a dominant CTL epitope. Identification of this epitope raises the possibility that CTL response to FVIII gene-transduced cells can be diminished by deliberatively mutating the dominant CTL epitope while retaining the biologic function of FVIII for hemophilia A gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weila Wang
- Laboratory of Plasma Derivatives, Division of Hematology, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 29 Lincoln Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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35
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Palomba ML, Roberts WK, Dao T, Manukian G, Guevara-Patiño JA, Wolchok JD, Scheinberg DA, Houghton AN. CD8+ T-Cell–Dependent Immunity Following Xenogeneic DNA Immunization against CD20 in a Tumor Challenge Model of B-Cell Lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res 2005. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.370.11.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The CD20 B-cell differentiation antigen is an attractive target for immunotherapy of B-cell lymphomas. In an experimental lymphoma model, BALB/c mice were immunized with mouse or human CD20 cDNA (mCD20 and hCD20, respectively) or their extracellular domains (minigenes). IFNγ secretion by CD8+ T cells against CD20 was detected in mice vaccinated with hCD20 or human minigene, indicating that hCD20-primed CD8+ T cells recognize syngeneic CD20. Systemic challenge with syngeneic A20 cells, an aggressive lymphoma, resulted in long-term survival in a subset of immunized mice. Overall long-term survival was 14% in groups vaccinated with the human minigene versus 4% in control groups (P < 0.001). CD8+ T-cell depletion during the effector phase completely abrogated this effect. Antibodies against a recombinant mouse CD20 protein produced in insect cells were detected in mice immunized with hCD20 DNA and human and mouse minigene, but not in mice receiving mCD20 DNA. These results show that active immunization with xenogeneic DNA vaccines can induce CD8+ T cell–dependent immunity against CD20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lia Palomba
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Wendy K. Roberts
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Tao Dao
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Gregory Manukian
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jose A. Guevara-Patiño
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jedd D. Wolchok
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - David A. Scheinberg
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Alan N. Houghton
- Department of Medicine and Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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McSparron H, Blythe MJ, Zygouri C, Doytchinova IA, Flower DR. JenPep: a novel computational information resource for immunobiology and vaccinology. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCES 2003; 43:1276-87. [PMID: 12870921 DOI: 10.1021/ci030461e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
JenPep is a relational database containing a compendium of thermodynamic binding data for the interaction of peptides with a range of important immunological molecules: the major histocompatibility complex, TAP transporter, and T cell receptor. The database also includes annotated lists of B cell and T cell epitopes. Version 2.0 of the database is implemented in a bespoke postgreSQL database system and is fully searchable online via a perl/HTML interface (URL: http://www.jenner.ac.uk/JenPep).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen McSparron
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Berkshire, UK RG20 7NN
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Zöller M. Immunotherapy of cancer by active vaccination: does allogeneic bone marrow transplantation after non-myeloablative conditioning provide a new option? Technol Cancer Res Treat 2003; 2:237-60. [PMID: 12779354 DOI: 10.1177/153303460300200307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The critical role of antigen-specific T cells in cancer immunotherapy has been amply demonstrated in many model systems. Though success of clinical trials still remains far behind expectation, the continuous improvement in our understanding of the biology of the immune response will provide the basis of optimized cancer vaccines and allow for new modalities of cancer treatment. This review focuses on the current status of active therapeutic vaccination and future prospects. The latter will mainly be concerned with allogeneic bone marrow cell transplantation after non-myeloablative conditioning, because it is my belief that this approach could provide a major breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy. Concerning active vaccination protocols the following aspects will be addressed: i) the targets of immunotherapeutic approaches; ii) the response elements needed for raising a therapeutically successful immune reaction; iii) ways to achieve an optimal confrontation of the immune system with the tumor and iv) supportive regimen of immunomodulation. Hazards which one is most frequently confronted with in trials to attack tumors with the inherent weapon of immune defense will only be briefly mentioned. Many question remain to be answered in the field of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation after non-myeloablative conditioning to optimize the therapeutic setting for this likely very powerful tool of cancer therapy. Current considerations to improve engraftment and to reduce graft versus host disease while strengthening graft versus tumor reactivity will be briefly reviewed. Finally, I will discuss whether tumor-reactive T cells can be "naturally" maintained during the process of T cell maturation in the allogeneic host. Provided this hypothesis can be substantiated, a T cell vaccine will meet a pool of virgin T cells in the allogeneically reconstituted host, which are tolerant towards the host, but not anergised towards tumor antigens presented by MHC molecules of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot Zöller
- Dept. of Tumor Progression & Immune Defense, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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38
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Abstract
There is a renewed enthusiasm for therapeutic vaccination as a viable treatment for patients with cancer. Early tumor vaccines were comprised of whole tumor cells, fragments of tumor cells, or protein lysate from tumor cells. Limited results with these approaches led investigators to begin developing the next generation of cancer vaccines based on defined tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). Defining and characterizing TAAs for human cancer, development of new approaches for identifying TAAs, and novel strategies to deliver the antigens as potent therapeutic vaccines have all been the focus of intense research in the past decade and will continue to be the focus for decades to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Lewis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Southwest Cancer Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA
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McCluskey J, Kanaan C, Diviney M. Nomenclature and serology of HLA class I and class II alleles. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN IMMUNOLOGY 2003; Appendix 1:Appendix 1S. [PMID: 18432895 DOI: 10.1002/0471142735.ima01s52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This overview presents nomenclature and serology information on human leucocyte antigens, or HLA molecules, which are encoded by a cluster of genes linked on the short arm of chromosome 6. This region is known as the major histocompatibility coclass II molecules based upon their structure, tissue distribution, and source of peptide antigen, as well as upon their interactions with T cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- James McCluskey
- University of Melbourne and Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Melbourne, Australia
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40
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Doytchinova IA, Taylor P, Flower DR. Proteomics in Vaccinology and Immunobiology: An Informatics Perspective of the Immunone. J Biomed Biotechnol 2003; 2003:267-290. [PMID: 14688414 PMCID: PMC521502 DOI: 10.1155/s1110724303209232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2002] [Accepted: 12/18/2002] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The postgenomic era, as manifest, inter alia, by proteomics, offers unparalleled opportunities for the efficient discovery of safe, efficacious, and novel subunit vaccines targeting a tranche of modern major diseases. A negative corollary of this opportunity is the risk of becoming overwhelmed by this embarrassment of riches. Informatics techniques, working to address issues of both data management and through prediction to shortcut the experimental process, can be of enormous benefit in leveraging the proteomic revolution. In this disquisition, we evaluate proteomic approaches to the discovery of subunit vaccines, focussing on viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasite systems. We also adumbrate the impact that proteomic analysis of host-pathogen interactions can have. Finally, we review relevant methods to the prediction of immunome, with special emphasis on quantitative methods, and the subcellular localization of proteins within bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irini A Doytchinova
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, High Street, Compton, Berkshire, RG20 7NN, UK
| | - Paul Taylor
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, High Street, Compton, Berkshire, RG20 7NN, UK
| | - Darren R Flower
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, High Street, Compton, Berkshire, RG20 7NN, UK
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Doytchinova IA, Flower DR. Physicochemical explanation of peptide binding to HLA-A*0201 major histocompatibility complex: a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship study. Proteins 2002; 48:505-18. [PMID: 12112675 DOI: 10.1002/prot.10154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship method for the prediction of peptide binding affinities to the MHC class I molecule HLA-A*0201 was developed by applying the CoMSIA technique on a set of 266 peptides. To increase the self consistency of the initial CoMSIA model, the poorly predicted peptides were excluded from the training set in a stepwise manner and then included in the study as a test set. The final model, based on 236 peptides and considering the steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bond donor, and hydrogen bond acceptor fields, had q2 = 0.683 and r2 = 0.891. The stability of this model was proven by cross-validations in two and five groups and by a bootstrap analysis of the non-cross-validated model. The residuals between the experimental pIC50 (-logIC50) values and those calculated by "leave-one-out" cross-validation were analyzed. According to the best model, 63.2% of the peptides were predicted with /residuals/ < or = 0.5 log unit; 29.3% with 1.0 < or = /residuals/ < 0.5; and 7.5% with /residuals/ > 1.0 log unit. The mean /residual/ value was 0.489. The coefficient contour maps identify the physicochemical property requirements at each position in the peptide molecule and suggest amino acid sequences for high-affinity binding to the HLA-A*0201 molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irini A Doytchinova
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
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Konopitzky R, König U, Meyer RG, Sommergruber W, Wölfel T, Schweighoffer T. Identification of HLA-A*0201-restricted T cell epitopes derived from the novel overexpressed tumor antigen calcium-activated chloride channel 2. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2002; 169:540-7. [PMID: 12077286 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.169.1.540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination against tumor Ags may become a promising treatment modality especially in cancer types where other therapeutic approaches fail. However, diversity of tumors requires that a multitude of Ags become available. Differential expression in normal vs cancerous tissues, both at the mRNA and the protein level, may identify Ag candidates. We have previously compared transcripts from squamous cell lung cancer and normal lung tissue using differential display analysis, and found a transcript that was overexpressed in malignant cells and was identical with the calcium-activated chloride channel 2 (CLCA2) gene. We have now selected HLA-A2-restricted peptides from CLCA2, and have generated T cell lines against the CLCA2-derived KLLGNCLPTV, LLGNCLPTV, and SLQALKVTV peptides using in vitro priming. Specificity of T cells was ascertained in ELISPOT assays. The primed T cells also recognized allogeneic tumor cells in an Ag-specific and HLA-restricted fashion. Moreover, peptide LLGNCLPTV was also independently recognized by CD8(+) T cells expanded from pancreatic carcinoma/T cell cocultures. CLCA2-specific CD8(+) T cells were absent from the peripheral blood of healthy donors. These data indicate that an immune response can be induced against CLCA2, which thus may become an important Ag for anti-tumor vaccination approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renate Konopitzky
- Division of Research and Development, Boehringer Ingelheim Austria, Vienna, Austria.
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Sette A, Newman M, Livingston B, McKinney D, Sidney J, Ishioka G, Tangri S, Alexander J, Fikes J, Chesnut R. Optimizing vaccine design for cellular processing, MHC binding and TCR recognition. TISSUE ANTIGENS 2002; 59:443-51. [PMID: 12445314 DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2002.590601.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In this review we describe the methods and processes that our group have developed while aiming to test and design multiepitope vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. Testing the performance of vaccines composed of epitopes restricted by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules is accomplished by in vitro antigenicity assays, as well as in vivo immunogenicity assays in HLA transgenics. The efficiency by which multiepitope vaccines are processed is optimized by spacer residues, which are designed to facilitate generation by natural processing of the various class I- and class II-restricted epitopes. Methods and strategies to test and optimize HLA binding affinity, patient coverage from the vaccine construct, and TCR recognition of HLA/epitope complexes are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sette
- Epimmune Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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44
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Abstract
This article reviews the newly released JenPep database and two new powerful techniques for T-cell epitope prediction: (i) the additive method; and (ii) a 3D-Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (3D-QSAR) method, based on Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA). The JenPep database is a family of relational databases supporting the growing need of immunoinformaticians for quantitative data on peptide binding to major histocompatibility complexes and to the Transporters associated with Antigen Processing (TAP). It also contains an annotated list of T-cell epitopes. The database is available free via the Internet (http://www.jenner.ac.uk/JenPep). The additive prediction method is based on the assumption that the binding affinity of a peptide depends on the contributions from each amino acid as well as on the interactions between the adjacent and every second side-chain. In the 3D-QSAR approach, the influence of five physicochemical properties (steric bulk, electrostatic potential, local hydrophobicity, hydrogen-bond donor and hydrogen-bond acceptor abilities) on the affinity of peptides binding to MHC molecules were considered. Both methods were exemplified through their application to the well-studied problem of peptides binding to the human class I MHC molecule HLA-A*0201.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irini A Doytchinova
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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45
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De Groot AS, Sbai H, Aubin CS, McMurry J, Martin W. Immuno-informatics: Mining genomes for vaccine components. Immunol Cell Biol 2002; 80:255-69. [PMID: 12067413 DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1711.2002.01092.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The complete genome sequences of more than 60 microbes have been completed in the past decade. Concurrently, a series of new informatics tools, designed to harness this new wealth of information, have been developed. Some of these new tools allow researchers to select regions of microbial genomes that trigger immune responses. These regions, termed epitopes, are ideal components of vaccines. When the new tools are used to search for epitopes, this search is usually coupled with in vitro screening methods; an approach that has been termed computational immunology or immuno-informatics. Researchers are now implementing these combined methods to scan genomic sequences for vaccine components. They are thereby expanding the number of different proteins that can be screened for vaccine development, while narrowing this search to those regions of the proteins that are extremely likely to induce an immune response. As the tools improve, it may soon be feasible to skip over many of the in vitro screening steps, moving directly from genome sequence to vaccine design. The present article reviews the work of several groups engaged in the development of immuno-informatics tools and illustrates the application of these tools to the process of vaccine discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne S De Groot
- TB/HIV Research Laboratory, Brown University,Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
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46
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Pisarev VM, Parajuli P, Mosley RL, Chavez J, Zimmerman D, Winship D, Talmadge JE. Flt3 ligand and conjugation to IL-1beta peptide as adjuvants for a type 1, T-cell response to an HIV p17 gag vaccine. Vaccine 2002; 20:2358-68. [PMID: 12009292 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(02)00096-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The adjuvant activity of Flt3 ligand (Flt3L) and conjugation to an interleukin (IL)-1beta bioactive fragment were compared, either alone or in combination, for their ability to induce T- and B-cell responses to the HGP-30 peptide sequence (amino acids 86-115 of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gag p17). The efficiency of HGP-30/IL-1beta conjugation, Flt3L administration or both as adjuvants was examined and all were found to augment similar levels of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. In contrast, significant antigen (Ag)-specific types 1 and 2 T-cell ELISPOT responses were induced only by the combination of adjuvants. Further, in vitro sensitization with HGP-30 selectively increased Ag-specific, type 1 T-cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to HGP-30-derived nonapeptide epitopes, while type 2 responses declined as measured in the ELISPOT assay. No serum antibodies to HGP-30 were induced unless HGP-30 was conjugated to keyhole-limpet hemocyanin. This suggests that a combination adjuvant strategy using Flt3L and conjugation to a biologically active IL-1beta fragment may be used to preferentially increase type 1 T-cell and CTL responses to HIV-1 gag antigenic epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir M Pisarev
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, Department of Pathology/Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-7660, USA.
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Adrian PEH, Rajaseger G, Mathura VS, Sakharkar MK, Kangueane P. Types of inter-atomic interactions at the MHC-peptide interface: identifying commonality from accumulated data. BMC STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2002; 2:2. [PMID: 12010576 PMCID: PMC113755 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6807-2-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2001] [Accepted: 05/13/2002] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantitative information on the types of inter-atomic interactions at the MHC-peptide interface will provide insights to backbone/sidechain atom preference during binding. Qualitative descriptions of such interactions in each complex have been documented by protein crystallographers. However, no comprehensive report is available to account for the common types of inter-atomic interactions in a set of MHC-peptide complexes characterized by variation in MHC allele and peptide sequence. The available x-ray crystallography data for these complexes in the Protein Databank (PDB) provides an opportunity to identify the prevalent types of such interactions at the binding interface. RESULTS We calculated the percentage distributions of four types of interactions at varying inter-atomic distances. The mean percentage distribution for these interactions and their standard deviation about the mean distribution is presented. The prevalence of SS and SB interactions at the MHC-peptide interface is shown in this study. SB is clearly dominant at an inter-atomic distance of 3A. CONCLUSION The prevalently dominant SB interactions at the interface suggest the importance of peptide backbone conformation during MHC-peptide binding. Currently, available algorithms are developed for protein sidechain prediction upon fixed backbone template. This study shows the preference of backbone atoms in MHC-peptide binding and hence emphasizes the need for accurate peptide backbone prediction in quantitative MHC-peptide binding calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Png Eak Hock Adrian
- National University of Singapore, Department of Microbiology, Medical Drive, Singapore.
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48
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Doytchinova IA, Blythe MJ, Flower DR. Additive method for the prediction of protein-peptide binding affinity. Application to the MHC class I molecule HLA-A*0201. J Proteome Res 2002; 1:263-72. [PMID: 12645903 DOI: 10.1021/pr015513z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A method has been developed for prediction of binding affinities between proteins and peptides. We exemplify the method through its application to binding predictions of peptides with affinity to major histocompatibility complex class I molecule HLA-A*0201. The method is named "additive" because it is based on the assumption that the binding affinity of a peptide could be presented as a sum of the contributions of the amino acids at each position and the interactions between them. The amino acid contributions and the contributions of the interactions between adjacent side chains and every second side chain were derived using a partial least squares (PLS) statistical methodology using a training set of 420 experimental IC50 values. The predictive power of the method was assessed using rigorous cross-validation and using an independent test set of 89 peptides. The mean value of the residuals between the experimental and predicted pIC50 values was 0.508 for this test set. The additive method was implemented in a program for rapid T-cell epitope search. It is universal and can be applied to any peptide-protein interaction where binding data is known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irini A Doytchinova
- Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Berkshire RG20 7NN, UK.
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Abstract
The concept of immunotherapy of cancer is more than a century old, but only recently have molecularly defined therapeutic approaches been developed. In this review, we focus on the most promising approach, active therapeutic vaccination. The identification of tumour antigens can now be accelerated by methods allowing the amplification of gene products selectively or preferentially transcribed in the tumour. However, determining the potential immunogenicity of such gene products remains a demanding task, since major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction of T cells implies that for any newly defined antigen, immunogenicity will have to be defined for any individual MHC haplotype. Tumour-derived peptides eluted from MHC molecules of tumour tissue are also a promising source of antigen. Tumour antigens are mostly of weak immunogenicity, because the vast majority are tumour-associated differentiation antigens already 'seen' by the patient's immune system. Effective therapeutic vaccination will thus require adjuvant support, possibly by new approaches to immunomodulation such as bispecific antibodies or antibody-cytokine fusion proteins. Tumour-specific antigens, which could be a more potent target for immunotherapy, mostly arise by point mutations and have the disadvantage of being not only tumour-specific, but also individual-specific. Therapeutic vaccination will probably focus on defined antigens offered as protein, peptide or nucleic acid. Irrespective of the form in which the antigen is applied, emphasis will be given to the activation of dendritic cells as professional antigen presenters. Dendritic cells may be loaded in vitro with antigen, or, alternatively, initiation of an immune response may be approached in vivo by vaccination with RNA or DNA, given as such or packed into attenuated bacteria. The importance of activation of T helper cells has only recently been taken into account in cancer vaccination. Activation of cytotoxic T cells is facilitated by the provision of T helper cell-derived cytokines. T helper cell-dependent recruitment of elements of non-adaptive defence, such as leucocytes, natural killer cells and monocytes, is of particular importance when the tumour has lost MHC class I expression. Barriers to successful therapeutic vaccination include: (i) the escape mechanisms developed by tumour cells in response to immune attack; (ii) tolerance or anergy of the evoked immune response; (iii) the theoretical possibility of provoking an autoimmune reaction by vaccination against tumour-associated antigens; and (iv) the advanced age of many patients, implying reduced responsiveness of the senescent immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Matzku
- Department of Oncology, Biomedical Research, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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50
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Tanaka K, Harashima N, Niiya F, Miyagi Y, Hida N, Ochi M, Imai N, Harada M, Itoh K, Shichijo S. Serine proteinase inhibitor 9 can be recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes of epithelial cancer patients. Jpn J Cancer Res 2002; 93:198-208. [PMID: 11856484 PMCID: PMC5926951 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2002.tb01259.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI-9) inhibits granzyme B-mediated apoptosis and interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme activity. In this study, we report that the PI-9 gene encodes antigenic epitopes recognized by the HLA-A24-restricted and tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) of epithelial cancer patients. Screening of an autologous cDNA library using a CTL line recognizing HLA-A24+ tumor cells resulted in the isolation of a cDNA, which had an identical coding region to the previously described PI-9 genes. PI-9 gene was expressed in approximately three-fourths of epithelial cancer cell lines and all leukemic cell lines tested. It was also expressed in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), but not in a normal fibroblast cell line. CTL sublines contained T cells capable of recognizing the PI-9(292-300) and PI-9(348-356) peptides among 13 different peptides having the HLA-A24 binding motifs. These two peptides were recognized by the CTL line in a dose-dependent and HLA class-I-restricted manner, and also possessed the ability to induce HLA class I-restricted and tumor-reactive CTLs in PBMCs from HLA-A24+ cancer patients. These results demonstrate that PI-9 is recognized by HLA class I-restricted and tumor-reactive CTLs of epithelial cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Tanaka
- Department of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
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