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Chen X, Sandrine IK, Yang M, Tu J, Yuan X. MUC1 and MUC16: critical for immune modulation in cancer therapeutics. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356913. [PMID: 38361923 PMCID: PMC10867145 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The Mucin (MUC) family, a range of highly glycosylated macromolecules, is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian epithelial cells. Such molecules are pivotal in establishing protective mucosal barriers, serving as defenses against pathogenic assaults. Intriguingly, the aberrant expression of specific MUC proteins, notably Mucin 1 (MUC1) and Mucin 16 (MUC16), within tumor cells, is intimately associated with oncogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis. This association involves various mechanisms, including cellular proliferation, viability, apoptosis resistance, chemotherapeutic resilience, metabolic shifts, and immune surveillance evasion. Due to their distinctive biological roles and structural features in oncology, MUC proteins have attracted considerable attention as prospective targets and biomarkers in cancer therapy. The current review offers an exhaustive exploration of the roles of MUC1 and MUC16 in the context of cancer biomarkers, elucidating their critical contributions to the mechanisms of cellular signal transduction, regulation of immune responses, and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the article evaluates the latest advances in therapeutic strategies targeting these mucins, focusing on innovations in immunotherapies and targeted drugs, aiming to enhance customization and accuracy in cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jingyao Tu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xianglin Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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2
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Madsen CB, Petersen C, Lavrsen K, Harndahl M, Buus S, Clausen H, Pedersen AE, Wandall HH. Cancer associated aberrant protein O-glycosylation can modify antigen processing and immune response. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 23189185 PMCID: PMC3506546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant glycosylation of mucins and other extracellular proteins is an important event in carcinogenesis and the resulting cancer associated glycans have been suggested as targets in cancer immunotherapy. We assessed the role of O-linked GalNAc glycosylation on antigen uptake, processing, and presentation on MHC class I and II molecules. The effect of GalNAc O-glycosylation was monitored with a model system based on ovalbumin (OVA)-MUC1 fusion peptides (+/- glycosylation) loaded onto dendritic cells co-cultured with IL-2 secreting OVA peptide-specific T cell hybridomas. To evaluate the in vivo response to a cancer related tumor antigen, Balb/c or B6.Cg(CB)-Tg(HLA-A/H2-D)2Enge/J (HLA-A2 transgenic) mice were immunized with a non-glycosylated or GalNAc-glycosylated MUC1 derived peptide followed by comparison of T cell proliferation, IFN-γ release, and antibody induction. GalNAc-glycosylation promoted presentation of OVA-MUC1 fusion peptides by MHC class II molecules and the MUC1 antigen elicited specific Ab production and T cell proliferation in both Balb/c and HLA-A2 transgenic mice. In contrast, GalNAc-glycosylation inhibited the presentation of OVA-MUC1 fusion peptides by MHC class I and abolished MUC1 specific CD8+ T cell responses in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. GalNAc glycosylation of MUC1 antigen therefore facilitates uptake, MHC class II presentation, and antibody response but might block the antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline B. Madsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cecilie Petersen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirstine Lavrsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Harndahl
- Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Buus
- Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Clausen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders E. Pedersen
- Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail: (HHW); (AEP)
| | - Hans H. Wandall
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail: (HHW); (AEP)
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3
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Yang H, Cho NH, Seong SY. The Tat-conjugated N-terminal region of mucin antigen 1 (MUC1) induces protective immunity against MUC1-expressing tumours. Clin Exp Immunol 2009; 158:174-85. [PMID: 19737144 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.03997.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucin antigen 1 (MUC1) is overexpressed on various human adenocarcinomas and haematological malignancies and has long been used as a target antigen for cancer immunotherapy. Most of the preclinical and clinical studies using MUC1 have used the tandem repeat region of MUC1, which could be presented by only a limited set of major histocompatibility complex haplotypes. Here, we evaluated N-terminal region (2-147 amino acids) of MUC1 (MUC1-N) for dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer immunotherapy. We used Esherichia coli-derived MUC1-N that was fused to the protein transduction domain of human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein for three reasons. First, mature DCs do not phagocytose soluble protein antigens. Secondly, tumour cells express underglycosylated MUC1, which can generate epitopes repertoire that differs from normal cells, which express hyperglycosylated MUC1. Finally, aberrantly glycosylated MUC1 has been known to impair DC function. In our study, Tat-MUC1-N-loaded DCs induced type 1 T cell responses as well as cytotoxic T lymphocytes efficiently. Furthermore, they could break tolerance in the transgenic breast tumour mouse model, where MUC1-positive breast cancers grow spontaneously. Compared with DCs pulsed with unconjugated MUC1-N, DCs loaded with Tat-conjugated MUC1-N could delay tumour growth more effectively in the transgenic tumour model as well as in the tumour injection model. These results suggest that the recombinant N-terminal part of MUC1, which may provide a diverse epitope repertoire, could be utilized as an effective tumour antigen for DC-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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4
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Horn G, Gaziel A, Wreschner DH, Smorodinsky NI, Ehrlich M. ERK and PI3K regulate different aspects of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition of mammary tumor cells induced by truncated MUC1. Exp Cell Res 2009; 315:1490-504. [PMID: 19245809 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2009.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2008] [Revised: 01/26/2009] [Accepted: 02/11/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) integrates changes to cell morphology and signaling pathways resulting from modifications to the cell's transcriptional response. Different combinations of stimuli ignite this process in the contexts of development or tumor progression. The human MUC1 gene encodes multiple alternatively spliced forms of a polymorphic oncoprotein that is aberrantly expressed in epithelial malignancies. MUC1 is endowed with various signaling modules and has the potential to mediate proliferative and morphological changes characteristic of the progression of epithelial tumors. The tyrosine-rich cytoplasmic domain and the heavily glycosylated extracellular domain both play a role in MUC1-mediated signal transduction. However, the attribution of function to specific domains of MUC1 is difficult due to the concomitant presence of multiple forms of the protein, which stem from alternative splicing and proteolytic cleavage. Here we show that DA3 mouse mammary tumor cells stably transfected with a truncated genomic fragment of human MUC1 undergo EMT. In their EMT, these cells demonstrate altered [i] morphology, [ii] signaling pathways and [iii] expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Similarly to well characterized human breast cancer cell lines, cells transfected with truncated MUC1 show an ERK-dependent increased spreading on fibronectin, and a PI3K-dependent enhancement of their proliferative rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galit Horn
- Department of Cell Research and Immunology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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5
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Pudelko M, Kihlberg J, Elofsson M. Application of gel-phase19F NMR spectroscopy for optimization of solid-phase synthesis of a hydrophobic peptide from the signal sequence of the mucin MUC1. J Pept Sci 2007; 13:354-61. [PMID: 17436345 DOI: 10.1002/psc.850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the manual Fmoc/t-Bu solid-phase synthesis of a difficult nine-residue hydrophobic peptide LLLLTVLTV from one of the signal sequences that flank the tandem repeat of the mucin MUC1. Gel-phase 19F NMR spectroscopy was used as a straightforward method for optimization of the solid-phase synthesis. Different approaches were applied for comparative studies. The strategy based on modified solid-phase conditions using DIC/HOAt for coupling, DBU for Fmoc deprotection, and the incorporation of the pseudo proline dipeptide Fmoc-Leu-Thr(psiMe, Me pro)-OH as a backbone-protecting group was found to be superior according to gel-phase 19F NMR spectroscopy. Implementation of the optimized Fmoc protocol enabled an effective synthesis of signal peptide LLLLTVLTV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Pudelko
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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6
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Pisarev VM, Kinarsky L, Caffrey T, Hanisch FG, Sanderson S, Hollingsworth MA, Sherman S. T cells recognize PD(N/T)R motif common in a variable number of tandem repeat and degenerate repeat sequences of MUC1. Int Immunopharmacol 2005; 5:315-30. [PMID: 15652762 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2004.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2004] [Revised: 10/04/2004] [Accepted: 10/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The tumor-associated antigen MUC1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein, which is overexpressed in human carcinomas. Peptide epitopes, containing the PDTR fragment from the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) domains of MUC1 have been found to be immunodominant in T-cell and B-cell responses. However, little is known about the immunogenicity and specificity of T-cell epitopes from other regions of MUC1 that may also participate in immune responses against tumors. In this study, the combination of immunoinformatics, molecular modeling and a vaccine adjuvant strategy were used to predict and describe a novel T-cell epitope, SAPDNRPAL, located within the degenerate tandem repeat of MUC1. This peptide possesses structural similarity to both VNTR-derived SAPDTRPAP and Sendai virus peptide FAPGNYPAL, which are known to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). We found that SAPDNRPAL had a higher affinity for mouse H-D(b), H-2K(b) and human HLA-A2 molecules than SAPDTRPAP. A chimeric peptide (CP) containing SAPDNRPAL and an adjuvant C5a-derived decapeptide induced epitope-specific type 1 T cells in human MUC1 transgenic mice (ELISPOT). Mice that received dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with the CP or a 25-mer peptide containing the SAPDNRPAL sequence showed increased frequencies of SAPDNRPAL- and SAPDTRPAP-specific interferon-gamma producing T cells. PDTR-specific antibody 214D4 reacted with both SAPDNRPAL and SAPDTRPAP (ELISA). Altogether, our data suggest that the degenerate MUC1 repeat sequence contains the immunogenic T-cell epitope SAPDNRPAL, which is cross-reactive with the VNTR-derived peptide SAPDTRPAP. We suggest that the use of immunogenic PDNR-containing epitope(s) in vaccine strategies could be beneficial for developing increased, PD(N/T)R motif-specific T-cell responses against tumors expressing MUC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir M Pisarev
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, USA
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7
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Kohlgraf KG, Gawron AJ, Higashi M, VanLith ML, Shen X, Caffrey TC, Anderson JM, Hollingsworth MA. Tumor-specific immunity in MUC1.Tg mice induced by immunization with peptide vaccines from the cytoplasmic tail of CD227 (MUC1). Cancer Immunol Immunother 2004; 53:1068-84. [PMID: 15696607 PMCID: PMC11032883 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-004-0557-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2004] [Accepted: 04/21/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE CD227 (MUC1), a membrane-associated glycoprotein expressed by many types of ductal epithelia, including pancreas, breast, lung, and gastrointestinal tract, is overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated by malignant cells. We sought to define epitopes on MUC1 recognized by the different cell-mediated immune responses by an in vivo assay. Epitopes identified by this assay were evaluated for efficacy to protect mice transgenic for human MUC1 (MUC1.Tg) against MUC1-expressing tumor growth. METHODS We investigated contributions of the tandem repeat (TR) and the cytoplasmic tail (CT) of MUC1 to the MUC1-specific immunological rejection of tumor cells. MUC1 cDNA constructs, in which the TR region was deleted or the CT was truncated, were transfected into two different murine tumor cell lines (B16 and Panc02), which were used to challenge mice and evaluate immunological rejection of the tumors. We used tumor rejection in vivo to define epitopes on the TR and CT of MUC1 recognized by T cell-mediated immune responses in a preclinical murine model. RESULTS Our findings demonstrated that the TR and a portion of the MUC1 CT contributed to CD4+ T cell rejection of MUC1-expressing B16 tumor cells, but not rejection of MUC1-expressing Panc02 tumor cells. A separate epitope in the CT of MUC1 was necessary for CD8+ T cell rejection of Panc02 tumor cells. Based on these studies, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of immunizing mice transgenic for (and immunologically tolerant to) human MUC1 with peptides derived from the amino acid sequence of the CT of MUC1. Results showed that survival can be significantly prolonged in vaccinated MUC1.Tg mice challenged with MUC1-expressing tumor cells, without induction of autoimmune responses. CONCLUSIONS These studies demonstrated that MUC1 peptides may be utilized as an effective anticancer immunotherapeutic, and confirmed the importance of immunogenic epitopes outside of the TR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl G. Kohlgraf
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
| | - Andrew J. Gawron
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
| | - Michiyo Higashi
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
| | - Michelle L. VanLith
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
| | - XiaoLing Shen
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
| | - Thomas C. Caffrey
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
| | - Judy M. Anderson
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
| | - Michael A. Hollingsworth
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, and the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805 USA
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Herbert LM, Grosso JF, Dorsey M, Fu T, Keydar I, Cejas MA, Wreschner DH, Smorodinski N, Lopez DM. A unique mucin immunoenhancing peptide with antitumor properties. Cancer Res 2004; 64:8077-84. [PMID: 15520219 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-0853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Implantation of DA-3 mammary tumor cells into BALB/c mice results in tumor growth, metastatic lesions, and death. These cells were transfected with genes encoding for either the transmembrane (DA-3/TM) or secreted (DA-3/sec) form of human mucin 1 (MUC1). Although the gene for the secreted form lacks the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, the 5' sequences of these mucins are identical; however, the gene for the secreted mucin isoform ends with a sequence encoding for a unique 11 amino acid peptide. The DA-3/TM or DA-3 cells transfected with the neomycin vector only (DA-3/neo) have the same in vivo growth characteristics as the parent cell line. In contrast, DA-3/sec cells fail to grow when implanted in immunocompetent BALB/c animals. DA-3/sec cells implanted in nude mice resulted in tumor development verifying the tumorigenic potential of these cells. Pre-exposure of BALB/c mice to DA-3/sec cells afforded protection against challenge with DA-3/TM or DA-3/neo mammary tumors and the unrelated tumors K7, an osteosarcoma, and RENCA, a renal cell carcinoma. Partial protection against subsequent tumor challenges was also achieved by substituting the 11 amino acid peptide found only in the secreted MUC1 isoform, for the live DA-3/sec cells. Notably, the efficacy of this peptide is not strain restricted because it also retarded the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma cells in C57 BL/6 mice. These findings reveal that a unique peptide present in the secreted MUC1 has immunoenhancing properties and may be a potential agent for use in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn M Herbert
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA
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9
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Plunkett T, Graham R, Correa I, Sewell R, Miles D, Burchell J, Taylor-Papadimitriou J. Protection against MUC1 expressing mouse tumours by intra-muscular injection of MUC1 cDNA requires functional CD8+ and CD4+ T cells but does not require the MUC1 tandem repeat domain. Int J Cancer 2004; 109:691-7. [PMID: 14999776 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.20040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Using a C57Bl/6 mouse model system, where intramuscular (i.m.) injection of full length (FL) MUC1 cDNA protects against subsequent challenge with MUC1-expressing syngeneic tumour cells, we have investigated the importance of the tandem repeat (TR) domain in the induction of T cell-dependent tumour rejection. A MUC1 construct engineered to remove the TR domain (MUC1 0TR) was found to be as effective as the full length MUC1 cDNA in inhibiting the growth of RMA MUC1 cells in C57Bl/6 mice. Protection by i.m. injection of either the FL-MUC1 cDNA or the MUC1 0TR construct depended on the presence of functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Specific CD8+ T cell responses, however, could not be detected in vitro using mouse spleen cells taken after only cDNA injection, but only after challenge in vivo with MUC1-expressing tumour cells. To attempt to enhance the responses of CD4+ T cells, a cDNA construct was developed, where the extracellular domain of MUC1 was fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain of Lamp1 (MUC1/Lamp1). This construct was equally effective in inducing tumour rejection but did not induce MUC1-specific CTL in mice before challenge with MUC1-expressing tumour cells. Our results indicate that, in this model, T cell responses necessary for protection against MUC1-expressing tumours that are induced by IM injection of MUC1 cDNA are independent of the tandem repeat domain as well as the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. A low level of protection was seen with all constructs in BALB/c mice, which show a defect in Th1 responses. C57Bl/6xBALB/c hybrids were, however, well protected against both H2(d) and H2(b) expressing tumour challenge, emphasizing the importance of the host background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Plunkett
- Breast Cancer Biology Group, Cancer Research UK, 3rd Floor Thomas Guy House, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
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10
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Ercolini AM, Machiels JPH, Chen YC, Slansky JE, Giedlen M, Reilly RT, Jaffee EM. Identification and characterization of the immunodominant rat HER-2/neu MHC class I epitope presented by spontaneous mammary tumors from HER-2/neu-transgenic mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2003; 170:4273-80. [PMID: 12682262 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.170.8.4273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The HER-2/neu (neu-N)-transgenic mice are a clinically relevant model of breast cancer. They are derived from the parental FVB/N mouse strain and are transgenic for the rat form of the proto-oncogene HER-2/neu (neu). In this study, we report the identification of a MHC class I peptide in the neu protein that is recognized by CD8(+) T cells derived from vaccinated FVB/N mice. This 10-mer was recognized by all tumor-specific FVB/N T cells generated regardless of the TCR Vbeta region expressed by the T cell or the method of vaccination used, establishing it as the immunodominant MHC class I epitope in neu. T cells specific for this epitope were able to cure FVB/N mice of transplanted neu-expressing tumor cells, demonstrating that this is a naturally processed peptide. Altered peptide analogs of the epitope were analyzed for immunogenicity. Vaccination with dendritic cells pulsed with a heteroclitic peptide provided FVB/N and neu-N mice with increased protection against tumor challenge as compared with mice immunized with dendritic cells loaded with either wild-type or irrelevant peptide. Discovery of this epitope allows for better characterization of the CD8(+) T cell responses in the neu-N mouse model in which neu-specific tolerance must be overcome to produce effective antitumor immunity.
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MESH Headings
- 3T3 Cells
- Adoptive Transfer
- Animals
- Antigen Presentation/genetics
- Cell Line, Transformed
- Clone Cells
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/administration & dosage
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/biosynthesis
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Genes, erbB-2/immunology
- Graft Rejection/genetics
- Graft Rejection/immunology
- Growth Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Growth Inhibitors/biosynthesis
- Growth Inhibitors/genetics
- Growth Inhibitors/immunology
- H-2 Antigens/genetics
- H-2 Antigens/immunology
- H-2 Antigens/isolation & purification
- H-2 Antigens/metabolism
- Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D
- Humans
- Immunodominant Epitopes/genetics
- Immunodominant Epitopes/isolation & purification
- Immunodominant Epitopes/metabolism
- Injections, Intravenous
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/prevention & control
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Mice, Transgenic
- Peptide Fragments/administration & dosage
- Peptide Fragments/biosynthesis
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Peptide Mapping
- Proto-Oncogene Mas
- Rats
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/transplantation
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Ercolini
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Graduate Program in Immunology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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11
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Abstract
Over the past ten years significant advances have been made in the fields of gene therapy and tumour immunology, such that there now exists a considerable body of evidence validating the proof in the principle of gene therapy based cancer vaccines. While clinical benefit has so far been marginal, data from preclinical and early clinical trials of gene therapy combined with standard therapies are strongly suggestive of additional benefit. Many reasons have been proposed to explain the paucity of clinical responses to single agent vaccination strategies including the poor antigenicity of tumour cells and the development of tolerance through down-regulation of MHC, costimulatory, signal transduction, and other molecules essential for the generation of strong immune responses. In addition, there is now evidence from animal models that the growing tumour may actively inhibit the host immune response. Removal of the primary tumour prior to T cell transfer from the spleen of cancer bearing animals, led to effective tumour cell line specific immunity in the recipient mouse suggesting that there is an ongoing tumour-host interaction. This model also illustrates the potential difficulties of clinical vaccine trials in patients with advanced stage disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susy M Scholl
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, 26 rue D'ulm 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Silke Michaelis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, 26 rue D'ulm 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Ray McDermott
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, 26 rue D'ulm 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France
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12
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Taylor-Papadimitriou J, Burchell JM, Plunkett T, Graham R, Correa I, Miles D, Smith M. MUC1 and the immunobiology of cancer. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2002; 7:209-21. [PMID: 12463741 DOI: 10.1023/a:1020360121451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The membrane epithelial mucin MUC1 is expressed at the luminal surface of most simple epithelial cells, but expression is greatly increased at lactation and in most breast carcinomas. The increase in level of expression of MUC1 in breast cancer is accompanied by changes in the profile of glycosyl transferases involved in the synthesis of the O-glycans attached to the MUC1 core protein. The cancer-associated mucin is therefore structurally different from the normal mucin, and expresses novel B cell epitopes. MUC1 antibodies are used for in vivo targeting of breast and ovarian tumors, and there is considerable interest in MUC1 as a possible target antigen for the immunotherapy of breast cancer. The different glycoforms can affect cell interactions differently, depending on whether specific interactions with lectins occur. In the absence of such lectin interactions, the long sialylated and negatively charged molecule can inhibit intercellular interactions between other cell surface molecules. The potential role of the different components of the immune system in MUC1 responses are discussed within the framework of how to develop logical strategies for designing clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou
- Breast Cancer Biology Group, Cancer Research UK, Floor 3, Thomas Guy House, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
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