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McDaid WJ, Lissin N, Pollheimer E, Greene M, Leach A, Smyth P, Bossi G, Longley D, Cole DK, Scott CJ. Enhanced target-specific delivery of docetaxel-loaded nanoparticles using engineered T cell receptors. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:15010-15020. [PMID: 34533174 PMCID: PMC8447836 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04001d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
For effective targeted therapy of cancer with chemotherapy-loaded nanoparticles (NPs), antigens that are selective for cancer cells should be targeted to minimise off-tumour toxicity. Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are attractive cancer targets as they can present peptides from tumour-selective proteins on the cell surface, which can be recognised by T cells via T cell receptors (TCRs). In this study, docetaxel-loaded polymeric NPs were conjugated to recombinant affinity-enhanced TCRs to target breast cancer cells presenting a tumour-selective peptide-HLA complex. The TCR-conjugated nanoparticles enabled enhanced delivery of docetaxel and induced cell death through tumour-specific peptide-HLA targeting. These in vitro data demonstrate the potential of targeting tumour-restricted peptide-HLA epitopes using high affinity TCR-conjugated nanoparticles, representing a novel treatment strategy to deliver therapeutic drugs specifically to cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J McDaid
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Alderley Park, Congleton Rd, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield, UK, SK10 4TG
| | - Nikolai Lissin
- Immunocore Ltd, 101 Park Dr, Milton, Abingdon, United Kingdom OX14 4RY
| | - Ellen Pollheimer
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - Michelle Greene
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - Adam Leach
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
- Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Rd, Sutton, London, SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Peter Smyth
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - Giovanna Bossi
- Immunocore Ltd, 101 Park Dr, Milton, Abingdon, United Kingdom OX14 4RY
| | - Daniel Longley
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - David K Cole
- Immunocore Ltd, 101 Park Dr, Milton, Abingdon, United Kingdom OX14 4RY
| | - Christopher J Scott
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
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2
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Dong N, Moreno-Manuel A, Calabuig-Fariñas S, Gallach S, Zhang F, Blasco A, Aparisi F, Meri-Abad M, Guijarro R, Sirera R, Camps C, Jantus-Lewintre E. Characterization of Circulating T Cell Receptor Repertoire Provides Information about Clinical Outcome after PD-1 Blockade in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122950. [PMID: 34204662 PMCID: PMC8231221 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have demonstrated durable anti-tumor responses in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite progress in development of new predictive biomarkers, such as PD-L1 expression, TMB, or MSI, there is still an urge for a better selection of patients that will benefit from the blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 axis. In this study, peripheral blood T cell receptor beta chain (TCR-β) repertoire, at baseline (PRE) and first response (FR) assessment, was analyzed with high-throughput sequencing in a cohort of advanced NSCLC patients receiving first-line pembrolizumab. Our results suggest that measuring TCR-β features in peripheral blood may be a potential tool to assess patients’ immune response. Furthermore, the usage of the TRBV20-1 segment highly predicts host response and survival in anti-PD-1 treated NSCLC patients. Abstract Despite the success of immunotherapies in lung cancer, development of new biomarkers for patient selection is urgently needed. This study aims to explore minimally invasive approaches to characterize circulating T cell receptor beta chain (TCR-β) repertoire in a cohort of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab. Peripheral blood samples were obtained at two time points: i) pretreatment (PRE) and ii) first response assessment (FR). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to analyze the hypervariable complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of TCR-β chain. Richness, evenness, convergence, and Jaccard similarity indexes plus variable (V) and joining (J)-gene usage were studied. Our results revealed that increased richness during treatment was associated with durable clinical benefit (DCB; p = 0.046), longer progression-free survival (PFS; p = 0.007) and overall survival (OS; p = 0.05). Patients with Jaccard similarity index ≥0.0605 between PRE and FR samples showed improved PFS (p = 0.021). Higher TRBV20-1 PRE usage was associated with DCB (p = 0.027). TRBV20-1 levels ≥9.14% in PRE and ≥9.02% in FR significantly increased PFS (p = 0.025 and p = 0.016) and OS (p = 0.035 and p = 0.018). Overall, analysis of circulating TCR-β repertoire may provide information about the immune response in anti-PD-1 treated NSCLC patients; in this scenario, it can also offer important information about the clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Dong
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (N.D.); (A.M.-M.); (S.C.-F.); (S.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Andrea Moreno-Manuel
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (N.D.); (A.M.-M.); (S.C.-F.); (S.G.); (F.Z.)
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
| | - Silvia Calabuig-Fariñas
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (N.D.); (A.M.-M.); (S.C.-F.); (S.G.); (F.Z.)
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sandra Gallach
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (N.D.); (A.M.-M.); (S.C.-F.); (S.G.); (F.Z.)
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Feiyu Zhang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (N.D.); (A.M.-M.); (S.C.-F.); (S.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Ana Blasco
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Francisco Aparisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital General de Requena, 46340 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Marina Meri-Abad
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Ricardo Guijarro
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Surgery, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael Sirera
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Camps
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (N.D.); (A.M.-M.); (S.C.-F.); (S.G.); (F.Z.)
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain;
- Department of Medicine, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (E.J.-L.)
| | - Eloísa Jantus-Lewintre
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (N.D.); (A.M.-M.); (S.C.-F.); (S.G.); (F.Z.)
- Unidad Mixta TRIAL, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe—Fundación Investigación, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (A.B.); (R.G.); (R.S.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (E.J.-L.)
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3
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Razavi A, Hamblin MR, Rezaei N. COVID-19 in patients with cancer: Risks and precautions. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 48:357-360. [PMID: 33546958 PMCID: PMC7840397 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.01.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a member of the coronavirus family, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The phenotype of the disease varies from asymptomatic, to a mild phenotype, through to the severe form of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which often leads to death, especially in those with underlying diseases. It has been reported that those who suffer from cancer (especially lung cancer and hematological malignancies) are at higher risk of serious complications and death from COVID-19. Some cancer treatments such as CAR T cell therapy can produce a cytokine storm, which is also a hallmark of severe COVID-19. Therefore, patients receiving CAR T cells are at higher risk if they become infected with COVID-19, and could be treated with anti-cytokine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- AzadehSadat Razavi
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology Sciences, University of Kharazmi, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Cancer Immunology Project (CIP), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Doornfontein, South Africa
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
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4
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Pan X, Zheng L. Epigenetics in modulating immune functions of stromal and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 17:940-953. [PMID: 32699350 PMCID: PMC7609272 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0505-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression in cancer cells has been extensively studied in recent decades, resulting in the FDA approval of multiple epigenetic agents for treating different cancer types. Recent studies have revealed novel roles of epigenetic dysregulation in altering the phenotypes of immune cells and tumor-associated stromal cells, including fibroblasts and endothelial cells. As a result, epigenetic dysregulation of these cells reshapes the tumor microenvironment (TME), changing it from an antitumor environment to an immunosuppressive environment. Here, we review recent studies demonstrating how specific epigenetic mechanisms drive aspects of stromal and immune cell differentiation with implications for the development of solid tumor therapeutics, focusing on the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) TME as a representative of solid tumors. Due to their unique ability to reprogram the TME into a more immunopermissive environment, epigenetic agents have great potential for sensitizing cancer immunotherapy to augment the antitumor response, as an immunopermissive TME is a prerequisite for the success of cancer immunotherapy but is often not developed with solid tumors. The idea of combining epigenetic agents with cancer immunotherapy has been tested both in preclinical settings and in multiple clinical trials. In this review, we highlight the basic biological mechanisms underlying the synergy between epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy and discuss current efforts to translate this knowledge into clinical benefits for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyi Pan
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Graduate Training Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Graduate Training Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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5
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Marijt KA, Blijleven L, Verdegaal EME, Kester MG, Kowalewski DJ, Rammensee HG, Stevanović S, Heemskerk MHM, van der Burg SH, van Hall T. Identification of non-mutated neoantigens presented by TAP-deficient tumors. J Exp Med 2018; 215:2325-2337. [PMID: 30115740 PMCID: PMC6122969 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20180577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A hybrid forward-reversed immunological screen is performed to identify 16 novel HLA-A2 presented cancer antigens. These peptides are selectively presented by immune-escaped cancer cells with defects in the peptide transporter TAP. In contrast to mutated neoantigens, these “self” neoantigens are universally presented across different cancer types. Most T cell–based immunotherapies of cancer depend on intact antigen presentation by HLA class I molecules (HLA-I). However, defects in the antigen-processing machinery can cause downregulation of HLA-I, rendering tumor cells resistant to CD8+ T cells. Previously, we demonstrated that a unique category of cancer antigens is selectively presented by tumor cells deficient for the peptide transporter TAP, enabling a specific attack of such tumors without causing immunopathology in mouse models. With a novel combinatorial screening approach, we now identify 16 antigens of this category in humans. These HLA-A*02:01 presented peptides do not derive from the mutanome of cancers, but are of “self” origin and therefore constitute universal neoantigens. Indeed, CD8+ T cells specific for the leader peptide of the ubiquitously expressed LRPAP1 protein recognized TAP-deficient, HLA-Ilow lymphomas, melanomas, and renal and colon carcinomas, but not healthy counterparts. In contrast to personalized mutanome-targeted therapies, these conserved neoantigens and their cognate receptors can be exploited for immune-escaped cancers across diverse histological origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen A Marijt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Laura Blijleven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Els M E Verdegaal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Michel G Kester
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Daniel J Kowalewski
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Rammensee
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Stevanović
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Thorbald van Hall
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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6
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Huang X, Karabudak A, Comber JD, Philip M, Morcol T, Philip R. A novel immunization approach for dengue infection based on conserved T cell epitopes formulated in calcium phosphate nanoparticles. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2017; 13:2612-2625. [PMID: 28933657 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1369639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DV) is the etiologic agent of dengue fever, the most significant mosquito-borne viral disease in humans. Most DV vaccine approaches are focused on generating antibody mediated responses; one such DV vaccine is approved for use in humans but its efficacy is limited. While it is clear that T cell responses play important role in DV infection and subsequent disease manifestations, fewer studies are aimed at developing vaccines that induce robust T cells responses. Potent T cell based vaccines require 2 critical components: the identification of specific T cell stimulating MHC associated peptides, and an optimized vaccine delivery vehicle capable of simultaneously delivering the antigens and any required adjuvants. We have previously identified and characterized DV specific HLA-A2 and -A24 binding DV serotypes conserved epitopes, and the feasibility of an epitope based vaccine for DV infection. In this study, we build on those previous studies and describe an investigational DV vaccine using T cell epitopes incorporated into a calcium phosphate nanoparticle (CaPNP) delivery system. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of functional immunogenicity of DV CaPNP/multipeptide formulations in vitro and in vivo and demonstrates the CaPNP/multipeptide vaccine is capable of inducing T cell responses against all 4 serotypes of DV. This synthetic vaccine is also cost effective, straightforward to manufacture, and stable at room temperature in a lyophilized form. This formulation may serve as an effective candidate DV vaccine that protects against all 4 serotypes as either a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tulin Morcol
- b Captivate Pharmaceuticals , Doylestown , PA , USA
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7
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Franzese O, Palermo B, Di Donna C, Sperduti I, Ferraresi V, Stabile H, Gismondi A, Santoni A, Nisticò P. Polyfunctional Melan-A-specific tumor-reactive CD8(+) T cells elicited by dacarbazine treatment before peptide-vaccination depends on AKT activation sustained by ICOS. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1114203. [PMID: 27467927 PMCID: PMC4910730 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1114203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of activation pathways linked to antitumor T-cell polyfunctionality in long surviving patients is of great relevance in the new era of immunotherapy. We have recently reported that dacarbazine (DTIC) injected one day before peptide-vaccination plus IFN-α improves the antitumor lytic activity and enlarges the repertoire of Melan-A-specific T-cell clones, as compared with vaccination alone, impacting the overall survival of melanoma patients. To identify the mechanisms responsible for this improvement of the immune response, we have analyzed the endogenous and treatment-induced antigen (Ag)-specific response in a panel of Melan-A-specific CD8+ T-cell clones in terms of differentiation phenotype, inhibitory receptor profile, polyfunctionality and AKT activation. Here, we show that Melan-A-specific CD8+ T cells isolated from patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy possess a late differentiated phenotype as defined by the absence of CD28 and CD27 co-stimulatory molecules and high levels of LAG-3, TIM-3 and PD-1 inhibitory receptors. Nevertheless, they show higher proliferative potential and an improved antitumor polyfunctional effector profile in terms of co-production of TNF-α, IFNγ and Granzyme-B (GrB) compared with cells derived from patients treated with vaccination alone. Polyfunctionality is dependent on an active AKT signaling related to the engagement of the co-stimulatory molecule ICOS. We suggest that this phenotypic and functional signature is dictated by a fine-tuned balance between TCR triggering, AKT activation, co-stimulatory and inhibitory signals induced by chemoimmunotherapy and may be associated with antitumor T cells able to protect patients from tumor recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Franzese
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata , Rome, Italy
| | - Belinda Palermo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza;" Rome, Italy; Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosmo Di Donna
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia Ferraresi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Medical Oncology 1, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Helena Stabile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza ;" Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Gismondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza ;" Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza ;" Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
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8
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Gerdes S, Newrzela S, Glauche I, von Laer D, Hansmann ML, Roeder I. Mathematical modeling of oncogenesis control in mature T-cell populations. Front Immunol 2013; 4:380. [PMID: 24409176 PMCID: PMC3836208 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 11/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell receptor (TCR) polyclonal mature T cells are surprisingly resistant to oncogenic transformation after retroviral insertion of T-cell oncogenes. In a mouse model, it has been shown that mature T-cell lymphoma/leukemia (MTCLL) is not induced upon transplantation of mature, TCR polyclonal wild-type (WT) T cells, transduced with gammaretroviral vectors encoding potent T-cell oncogenes, into RAG1-deficient recipients. However, further studies demonstrated that quasi-monoclonal T cells treated with the same protocol readily induced MTCLL in the recipient mice. It has been hypothesized that in the TCR polyclonal situation, outgrowth of preleukemic cells and subsequent conversion to overt malignancy is suppressed through regulation of clonal abundances on a per-clone basis due to interactions between TCRs and self-peptide-MHC-complexes (spMHCs), while these mechanisms fail in the quasi-monoclonal situation. To quantitatively study this hypothesis, we applied a mathematical modeling approach. In particular, we developed a novel ordinary differential equation model of T-cell homeostasis, in which T-cell fate depends on spMHC-TCR-interaction-triggered stimulatory signals from antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Based on our mathematical modeling approach, we identified parameter configurations of our model, which consistently explain the observed phenomena. Our results suggest that the preleukemic cells are less competent than healthy competitor cells in acquiring survival stimuli from APCs, but that proliferation of these preleukemic cells is less dependent on survival stimuli from APCs. These predictions now call for experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Gerdes
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus , Dresden , Germany
| | - Sebastian Newrzela
- Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Goethe-University Hospital Frankfurt , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Ingmar Glauche
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus , Dresden , Germany
| | - Dorothee von Laer
- Department of Hygiene, Medical University Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Martin-Leo Hansmann
- Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Goethe-University Hospital Frankfurt , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Ingo Roeder
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus , Dresden , Germany
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9
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EGFR T790M mutation as a possible target for immunotherapy; identification of HLA-A*0201-restricted T cell epitopes derived from the EGFR T790M mutation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78389. [PMID: 24223798 PMCID: PMC3818324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as gefitinib and erlotinib, has achieved high clinical response rates in patients with non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). However, over time, most tumors develop acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs, which is associated with the secondary EGFR T790M resistance mutation in about half the cases. Currently there are no effective treatment options for patients with this resistance mutation. Here we identified two novel HLA-A*0201 (A2)-restricted T cell epitopes containing the mutated methionine residue of the EGFR T790M mutation, T790M-5 (MQLMPFGCLL) and T790M-7 (LIMQLMPFGCL), as potential targets for EGFR-TKI-resistant patients. When peripheral blood cells were repeatedly stimulated in vitro with these two peptides and assessed by antigen-specific IFN-γ secretion, T cell lines responsive to T790M-5 and T790M-7 were established in 5 of 6 (83%) and 3 of 6 (50%) healthy donors, respectively. Additionally, the T790M-5- and T790M-7-specific T cell lines displayed an MHC class I-restricted reactivity against NSCLC cell lines expressing both HLA-A2 and the T790M mutation. Interestingly, the NSCLC patients with antigen-specific T cell responses to these epitopes showed a significantly less frequency of EGFR-T790M mutation than those without them [1 of 7 (14%) vs 9 of 15 (60%); chi-squared test, p = 0.0449], indicating the negative correlation between the immune responses to the EGFR-T790M-derived epitopes and the presence of EGFR-T790M mutation in NSCLC patients. This finding could possibly be explained by the hypothesis that immune responses to the mutated neo-antigens derived from T790M might prevent the emergence of tumor cell variants with the T790M resistance mutation in NSCLC patients during EGFR-TKI treatment. Together, our results suggest that the identified T cell epitopes might provide a novel immunotherapeutic approach for prevention and/or treatment of EGFR-TKI resistance with the secondary EGFR T790M resistance mutation in NSCLC patients.
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10
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Tada Y, Yoshikawa T, Shimomura M, Sawada Y, Sakai M, Shirakawa H, Nobuoka D, Nakatsura T. Analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocytes from a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who showed a clinical response to vaccination with a glypican‑3‑derived peptide. Int J Oncol 2013; 43:1019-26. [PMID: 23903757 PMCID: PMC3829797 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2013.2044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3), which is a carcinoembryonic antigen, is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, we performed a phase I clinical trial of GPC3-derived peptide vaccination in patients with advanced HCC, and reported that GPC3 peptide vaccination is safe and has clinical efficacy. Moreover, we proposed that a peptide-specific CTL response is a predictive marker of overall survival in patients with HCC who receive peptide vaccination. In this study, we established GPC3-derived peptide-specific CTL clones from the PBMCs of an HLA-A
*
02:07-positive patient with HCC who was vaccinated with an HLA-A2-restricted GPC3 peptide vaccine and showed a clinical response in the phase I clinical trial. Established CTL clones were analyzed using the IFN-γ ELISPOT assay and a cytotoxicity assay. GPC3 peptide-specific CTL clones were established successfully from the PBMCs of the patient. One CTL clone showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines that expressed endogenously the GPC3 peptide. The results suggest that CTLs have high avidity, and that natural antigen-specific killing activity against tumor cells can be induced in a patient with HCC who shows a clinical response to vaccination with the GPC3
144–152
peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Tada
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba 277‑8577, Japan
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11
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Jensen SM, Twitty CG, Maston LD, Antony PA, Lim M, Hu HM, Petrausch U, Restifo NP, Fox BA. Increased frequency of suppressive regulatory T cells and T cell-mediated antigen loss results in murine melanoma recurrence. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 189:767-76. [PMID: 22723522 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic treatment of large established tumors using immunotherapy has yielded few promising results. We investigated whether adoptive transfer of tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells, together with tumor-specific CD4(+) T cells, would mediate regression of large established B16BL6-D5 melanomas in lymphopenic Rag1(-/-) recipients devoid of regulatory T cells. The combined adoptive transfer of subtherapeutic doses of both TRP1-specific TCR transgenic Rag1(-/-) CD4(+) T cells and gp100-specific TCR transgenic Rag1(-/-) CD8(+) T cells into lymphopenic recipients, who received vaccination, led to regression of large (100-400 mm(2)) melanomas. The same treatment strategy was ineffective in lymphoreplete wild-type mice. Twenty-five percent of mice (15/59) had tumors recur (15-180 d postregression). Recurrent tumors were depigmented and had decreased expression of gp100, the epitope targeted by the CD8(+) T cells. Mice with recurrent melanoma had increased CD4(+)Foxp3(+) TRP1-specific T cells compared with mice that did not show evidence of disease. Importantly, splenocytes from mice with recurrent tumor were able to suppress the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of splenocytes from tumor-free mice. These data demonstrate that large established tumors can be treated by a combination of tumor-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells. Additionally, recurrent tumors exhibited decreased Ag expression, which was accompanied by conversion of the therapeutic tumor-specific CD4(+) T cell population to a Foxp3(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn M Jensen
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA
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12
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Abstract
Immunotherapy with therapeutic idiotype vaccines offers promise for treatment of B-cell malignancies. However, identification of novel immunogenic lymphoma-associated antigens that are universally expressed is necessary to overcome the barriers of patient-specific idiotype vaccines. Here, we determined whether T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 (TCL1) oncoprotein encoded by the TCL1 gene could be a target for immunotherapy of B-cell malignancies. We show that TCL1 mRNA and protein are selectively expressed in normal B cells but markedly hyperexpressed in multiple human B-cell lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. We demonstrated that TCL1-specific CD8(+) T cells can be generated from HLA-A*0201 (HLA-A2)(+) normal donors and identified TCL1(71-78) (LLPIMWQL) as the minimal epitope recognized by these T cells. More importantly, TCL1(71-78) peptide-specific T cells were present in the peripheral blood and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of lymphoma patients, could be expanded in vitro, and lysed autologous tumor cells but not normal B cells in an HLA-A2-restricted manner. Our results suggest that TCL1 is naturally processed and presented on the surface of lymphoma cells for recognition by cytotoxic T cells and can serve as a novel target for development of immunotherapeutic strategies against common B-cell lymphomas.
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13
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Pasetto A, Frelin L, Brass A, Yasmeen A, Koh S, Lohmann V, Bartenschlager R, Magalhaes I, Maeurer M, Sällberg M, Chen M. Generation of T-cell receptors targeting a genetically stable and immunodominant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope within hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 3. J Gen Virol 2011; 93:247-258. [PMID: 22071510 PMCID: PMC3352347 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.037903-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of severe liver disease, and one major contributing factor is thought to involve a dysfunction of virus-specific T-cells. T-cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy with HCV-specific TCRs would increase the number of effector T-cells to promote virus clearance. We therefore took advantage of HLA-A2 transgenic mice to generate multiple TCR candidates against HCV using DNA vaccination followed by generation of stable T-cell–BW (T-BW) tumour hybrid cells. Using this approach, large numbers of non-structural protein 3 (NS3)-specific functional T-BW hybrids can be generated efficiently. These predominantly target the genetically stable HCV genotype 1 NS31073–1081 CTL epitope, frequently associated with clearance of HCV in humans. These T-BW hybrid clones recognized the NS31073 peptide with a high avidity. The hybridoma effectively recognized virus variants and targeted cells with low HLA-A2 expression, which has not been reported previously. Importantly, high-avidity murine TCRs effectively redirected human non-HCV-specific T-lymphocytes to recognize human hepatoma cells with HCV RNA replication driven by a subgenomic HCV replicon. Taken together, TCR candidates with a range of functional avidities, which can be used to study immune recognition of HCV-positive targets, have been generated. This has implications for TCR-related immunotherapy against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pasetto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anette Brass
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anila Yasmeen
- Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sarene Koh
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Volker Lohmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Isabelle Magalhaes
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet and Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Markus Maeurer
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet and Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Margaret Chen
- Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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14
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Al-Khami AA, Mehrotra S, Nishimura MI. Adoptive immunotherapy of cancer: Gene transfer of T cell specificity. SELF NONSELF 2011; 2:80-84. [PMID: 22299059 DOI: 10.4161/self.2.2.15832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of tumor-reactive T cells has emerged as a promising advance in tumor immunotherapy. Specifically, infusion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has led to long-term objective clinical responses for patients with metastatic melanoma. Donor lymphocyte infusion is also an effective treatment of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. However, adoptive T cell therapy has restrictions in the isolation and expansion of antigen-specific lymphocytes for a large group of patients. One approach to circumvent this limitation and extend adoptive immunotherapy to other cancer types is the genetic modification of T cells with antigen-specific receptors. In this article, we review strategies to redirect T cell specificity, including T cell receptor gene transfer and antibody receptor gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir A Al-Khami
- Division of General Surgery; Department of Surgery; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC USA
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15
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Linley AJ, Ahmad M, Rees RC. Tumour-associated antigens: considerations for their use in tumour immunotherapy. Int J Hematol 2011; 93:263-273. [DOI: 10.1007/s12185-011-0783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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16
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Palermo B, Del Bello D, Sottini A, Serana F, Ghidini C, Gualtieri N, Ferraresi V, Catricalà C, Belardelli F, Proietti E, Natali PG, Imberti L, Nisticò P. Dacarbazine Treatment before Peptide Vaccination Enlarges T-Cell Repertoire Diversity of Melan-A–Specific, Tumor-Reactive CTL in Melanoma Patients. Cancer Res 2010; 70:7084-92. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-1326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Relationship between CD8-dependent antigen recognition, T cell functional avidity, and tumor cell recognition. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2008; 58:719-28. [PMID: 18836717 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-008-0594-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2008] [Accepted: 09/08/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Effective immunotherapy using T cell receptor (TCR) gene-modified T cells requires an understanding of the relationship between TCR affinity and functional avidity of T cells. In this study, we evaluate the relative affinity of two TCRs isolated from HLA-A2-restricted, gp100-reactive T cell clones with extremely high functional avidity. Furthermore, one of these T cell clones, was CD4- CD8- indicating that antigen recognition by this clone was CD8 independent. However, when these TCRs were expressed in CD8- Jurkat cells, the resulting Jurkat cells recognized gp100:209-217 peptide loaded T2 cells and had high functional avidity, but could not recognize HLA-A2+ melanoma cells expressing gp100. Tumor cell recognition by Jurkat cells expressing these TCRs could not be induced by exogenously loading the tumor cells with the native gp100:209-217 peptide. These results indicate that functional avidity of a T cell does not necessarily correlate with TCR affinity and CD8-independent antigen recognition by a T cell does not always mean its TCR will transfer CD8-independence to other effector cells. The implications of these findings are that T cells can modulate their functional avidity independent of the affinity of their TCRs.
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18
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High pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and loss of high avidity cross-reactive cytotoxic T-cells during the course of secondary dengue virus infection. PLoS One 2007; 2:e1192. [PMID: 18060049 PMCID: PMC2092391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2007] [Accepted: 10/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dengue is one of the most important human diseases transmitted by an arthropod vector and the incidence of dengue virus infection has been increasing – over half the world's population now live in areas at risk of infection. Most infections are asymptomatic, but a subset of patients experience a potentially fatal shock syndrome characterised by plasma leakage. Severe forms of dengue are epidemiologically associated with repeated infection by more than one of the four dengue virus serotypes. Generally attributed to the phenomenon of antibody-dependent enhancement, recent observations indicate that T-cells may also influence disease phenotype. Methods and Findings Virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) showing high level cross reactivity between dengue serotypes could be expanded from blood samples taken during the acute phase of secondary dengue infection. These could not be detected in convalescence when only CTL populations demonstrating significant serotype specificity were identified. Dengue cross-reactive CTL clones derived from these patients were of higher avidity than serotype-specific clones and produced much higher levels of both type 1 and certain type 2 cytokines, many previously implicated in dengue pathogenesis. Conclusion Dengue serotype cross-reactive CTL clones showing high avidity for antigen produce higher levels of inflammatory cytokines than serotype-specific clones. That such cells cannot be expanded from convalescent samples suggests that they may be depleted, perhaps as a consequence of activation-induced cell death. Such high avidity cross-reactive memory CTL may produce inflammatory cytokines during the course of secondary infection, contributing to the pathogenesis of vascular leak. These cells appear to be subsequently deleted leaving a more serotype-specific memory CTL pool. Further studies are needed to relate these cellular observations to disease phenotype in a large group of patients. If confirmed they have significant implications for understanding the role of virus-specific CTL in pathogenesis of dengue disease.
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19
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Kudo-Saito C, Garnett CT, Wansley EK, Schlom J, Hodge JW. Intratumoral delivery of vector mediated IL-2 in combination with vaccine results in enhanced T cell avidity and anti-tumor activity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2007; 56:1897-910. [PMID: 17503041 PMCID: PMC11030948 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-007-0332-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2007] [Accepted: 04/16/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Systemic IL-2 is currently employed in the therapy of several tumor types, but at the price of often severe toxicities. Local vector mediated delivery of IL-2 at the tumor site may enhance local effector cell activity while reducing toxicity. To examine this, a model using CEA-transgenic mice bearing established CEA expressing tumors was employed. The vaccine regimen was a s.c. prime vaccination with recombinant vaccinia (rV) expressing transgenes for CEA and a triad of costimulatory molecules (TRICOM) followed by i.t. boosting with rF-CEA/TRICOM. The addition of intratumoral (i.t.) delivery of IL-2 via a recombinant fowlpox (rF) IL-2 vector greatly enhanced anti-tumor activity of a recombinant vaccine, resulting in complete tumor regression in 70-80% of mice. The anti-tumor activity was shown to be dependent on CD8(+) cells and NK1.1(+). Cellular immune assays revealed that the addition of rF-IL-2 to the vaccination therapy enhanced CEA-specific tetramer(+) cell numbers, cytokine release and CTL lysis of CEA(+) targets. Moreover, tumor-bearing mice vaccinated with the CEA/TRICOM displayed an antigen cascade, i.e., CD8(+) T cell responses to two other antigens expressed on the tumor and not the vaccine: wild-type p53 and endogenous retroviral antigen gp70. Mice receiving rF-IL-2 during vaccination demonstrated higher avidity CEA-specific, as well as higher avidity gp70-specific, CD8(+) T cells when compared with mice vaccinated without rF-IL-2. These studies demonstrate for the first time that the level and avidity of antigen specific CTL, as well as the therapeutic outcome can be improved with the use of i.t. rF-IL-2 with vaccine regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Kudo-Saito
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Charlie T. Garnett
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Elizabeth K. Wansley
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 8B09, MSC 1750, Bethesda, MD 20892-1750 USA
| | - James W. Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
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20
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Iero M, Squarcina P, Romero P, Guillaume P, Scarselli E, Cerino R, Carrabba M, Toutirais O, Parmiani G, Rivoltini L. Low TCR avidity and lack of tumor cell recognition in CD8(+) T cells primed with the CEA-analogue CAP1-6D peptide. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2007; 56:1979-91. [PMID: 17564703 PMCID: PMC11030693 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-007-0342-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2007] [Accepted: 05/17/2007] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of "altered peptide ligands" (APL), epitopes designed for exerting increased immunogenicity as compared with native determinants, represents nowadays one of the most utilized strategies for overcoming immune tolerance to self-antigens and boosting anti-tumor T cell-mediated immune responses. However, the actual ability of APL-primed T cells to cross-recognize natural epitopes expressed by tumor cells remains a crucial concern. In the present study, we show that CAP1-6D, a superagonist analogue of a carcinoembriyonic antigen (CEA)-derived HLA-A*0201-restricted epitope widely used in clinical setting, reproducibly promotes the generation of low-affinity CD8(+) T cells lacking the ability to recognized CEA-expressing colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells. Short-term T cell cultures, obtained by priming peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HLA-A*0201(+) healthy donors or CRC patients with CAP1-6D, were indeed found to heterogeneously cross-react with saturating concentrations of the native peptide CAP1, but to fail constantly lysing or recognizing through IFN- gamma release CEA(+)CRC cells. Characterization of anti-CAP1-6D T cell avidity, gained through peptide titration, CD8-dependency assay, and staining with mutated tetramers (D227K/T228A), revealed that anti-CAP1-6D T cells exerted a differential interaction with the two CEA epitopes, i.e., displaying high affinity/CD8-independency toward the APL and low affinity/CD8-dependency toward the native CAP1 peptide. Our data demonstrate that the efficient detection of self-antigen expressed by tumors could be a feature of high avidity CD8-independent T cells, and underline the need for extensive analysis of tumor cross-recognition prior to any clinical usage of APL as anti-cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Iero
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Squarcina
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Pedro Romero
- Division of Clinical Onco-Immunology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Guillaume
- Division of Clinical Onco-Immunology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elisa Scarselli
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, IRBM P. Angeletti, Pomezia, Italy
| | - Raffaele Cerino
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, IRBM P. Angeletti, Pomezia, Italy
| | - Matteo Carrabba
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Olivier Toutirais
- Laboratoire de Cytogénétique et de Biologie Cellulaire, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France
| | - Giorgio Parmiani
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Present Address: Unit of Immunobiotherapy of Solid Tumors, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Licia Rivoltini
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy
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21
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Kudo-Saito C, Wansley EK, Gruys ME, Wiltrout R, Schlom J, Hodge JW. Combination therapy of an orthotopic renal cell carcinoma model using intratumoral vector-mediated costimulation and systemic interleukin-2. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:1936-46. [PMID: 17363550 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-2398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Interleukin (IL)-2 therapy is currently used for therapy of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, it is only effective in approximately 10% to 15% of patients, showing a need for additional therapies. We have previously described a replication-defective fowlpox vector encoding three costimulatory molecules (B7-1, ICAM-1, and LFA-3), designated rF-TRICOM. Here, we show that intratumoral administration of rF-TRICOM in an orthotopic RCC model effectively enhances tumor immunogenicity and reduces tumor burden in mice and the combination of rF-TRICOM and IL-2 is more effective than either therapy alone. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN RCC cells were implanted under the capsule of the kidney, and mice were given rF-TRICOM intratumorally 14 days later. We compared the effect of rF-TRICOM, rF-granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and two doses of IL-2 and combinations of the above on antitumor efficacy and survival. Host CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses were also evaluated. RESULTS The results show that (a) systemic IL-2 therapy was moderately effective in the reduction of tumor burden in an orthotopic RCC model; (b) a single intratumoral injection of rF-TRICOM and rF-GM-CSF significantly reduced tumor burden; (c) the addition of systemic IL-2 to intratumoral rF-TRICOM/rF-GM-CSF administration resulted in further reduction of tumor burden, decrease in the incidence of metastasis, and extended survival in tumor-bearing mice above that seen with either treatment alone; and (d) CD8(+) T cells played a critical role in the antitumor effect seen with rF-TRICOM/rF-GM-CSF + IL-2 therapy. Finally, the addition of systemic recombinant IL-15 or intratumoral vector-delivered IL-15 to intratumoral rF-TRICOM/rF-GM-CSF administration resulted in substantially more tumor-free mice than either therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS These studies show that intratumoral administration of rF-TRICOM admixed with rF-GM-CSF is effective at reducing tumor burden in mice and the addition of IL-2 further contributes to this effect. These studies thus form the rationale for combination immunotherapy clinical trials in patients with RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Kudo-Saito
- Laboratories of Tumor Immunology and Biology and Experimental Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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22
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Karbach J, Gnjatic S, Pauligk C, Bender A, Maeurer M, Schultze JL, Nadler K, Wahle C, Knuth A, Old LJ, Jäger E. Tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cell clones in patients after NY-ESO-1 peptide vaccination. Int J Cancer 2007; 121:2042-2048. [PMID: 17640060 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A major objective of peptide vaccination is the induction of tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cells. We have shown that HLA-A2 positive cancer patients frequently develop an antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell response after vaccination with NY-ESO-1 peptides p157-165/p157-167. These T-cells are highly reactive with the peptides used for vaccination, but only rarely recognize HLA-matched, NY-ESO-1 expressing tumor cell lines. To address the apparent lack of tumor recognition of vaccine-induced CD8+ T-cell responses, we used autologous tumor cells for in vitro stimulation and expansion of pre- and postvaccine CD8+ T-cells. In contrast to standard presensitization methods with peptide-pulsed antigen-presenting cells, mixed lymphocyte tumor culture favored the selective expansion of low-frequency tumor-reactive T-cells. In four patients, we were able to demonstrate that antigen-specific and tumor-reactive T-cells are detectable and are indeed elicited as a result of NY-ESO-1 peptide vaccination. Further analyses of postvaccine antigen-specific T-cells at a clonal level show that vaccine-induced antigen-specific T-cells are heterogeneous in functional activity. These results suggest that the methods of immunomonitoring are critical to identify the proportion of tumor-reactive T-cells within the population of vaccine-induced antigen-specific effector cells. Our results show that immunization with NY-ESO-1 peptides leads to strong tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cell responses. Our findings suggest that approaches to peptide vaccination may be improved to induce higher numbers of antigen-specific T-cells and to selectively increase the proportion of CD8+ T-cells that have the capacity to recognize and eliminate tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Karbach
- II. Medizinische Klinik, Hämatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sacha Gnjatic
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY
| | - Claudia Pauligk
- II. Medizinische Klinik, Hämatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Armin Bender
- II. Medizinische Klinik, Hämatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Markus Maeurer
- Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center (MTC), Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Joachim L Schultze
- Molekulare Tumorbiologie und Tumorimmunologie, Klinik I für Innere Medizin, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln, Germany
| | - Kerstin Nadler
- II. Medizinische Klinik, Hämatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Claudia Wahle
- II. Medizinische Klinik, Hämatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alexander Knuth
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Onkologie, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lloyd J Old
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York Branch at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY
| | - Elke Jäger
- II. Medizinische Klinik, Hämatologie-Onkologie, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
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23
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Lodge A, Yu P, Nicholl MB, Brown IE, Jackson CCA, Schreiber K, Sugg SL, Schreiber H, Shilyansky J. CD40 ligation restores cytolytic T lymphocyte response and eliminates fibrosarcoma in the peritoneum of mice lacking CD4+ T cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2006; 55:1542-52. [PMID: 16491399 PMCID: PMC11031076 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-006-0147-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2005] [Accepted: 01/31/2006] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Absence of CD4(+) T cell help has been suggested as a mechanism for failed anti-tumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) response. We examined the requirement for CD4(+) T cells to eliminate an immunogenic murine fibrosarcoma (6132A) inoculated into the peritoneal cavity. Immunocompetent C3H mice eliminated both single and repeat intraperitoneal (IP) inoculums, and developed high frequency of 6132A-specific interferon-gamma (IFNgamma)-producing CTL in the peritoneal cavity. Adoptive transfer of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) isolated from control mice, protected SCID mice from challenge with 6132A. In contrast, CD4 depleted mice had diminished ability to eliminate tumor and succumbed to repeat IP challenges. Mice depleted of CD4(+) T cells lacked tumor-specific IFNgamma producing CTL in the peritoneal cavity. Adoptive transfer of PEC from CD4 depleted mice failed to protect SCID mice from 6132A. However, splenocytes isolated from same CD4 depleted mice prevented tumor growth in SCID mice, suggesting that 6132A-specific CTL response was generated, but was not sustained in the peritoneum. Treating CD4 depleted mice with agonist anti-CD40 antibody, starting on days 3 or 8 after initiating tumor challenge, led to persistence of 6132A-specific IFNgamma producing CTL in the peritoneum, and eliminated 6132A tumor. The findings suggest that CTL can be activated in the absence of CD4(+) T cells, but CD4(+) T cells are required for a persistent CTL response at the tumor site. Exogenous stimulation through CD40 can restore tumor-specific CTL activity to the peritoneum and promote tumor clearance in the absence of CD4(+) T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Lodge
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | - Ping Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | | | - Ian E. Brown
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | | | - Karin Schreiber
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Sonia L. Sugg
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | - Hans Schreiber
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Joel Shilyansky
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI USA
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, 999 N. 92nd street, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1997 USA
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Abstract
There is overwhelming evidence that the human immune system can keep in check the growth of autologous tumors. Yet, this phenomenon is rare and most often tumors survive striking a balance with the host's immune system. The well-documented coexistence of immune cells that can recognize cancer and their targets within the same host is reminiscent of chronic allograft rejection well-controlled by immune suppression or of a lingering tissue-specific autoimmune reaction. In this review, we argue that autologous tumor rejection represents a distinct form of tissue-specific rejection similar to acute allograft rejection or to flares of autoimmunity. Here we discuss similarities within the biology of these phenomena that may converge into a common immunological constant of rejection. The purpose is to simplify the basis of immune rejection to its bare bones critically dissecting the significance of those components proposed by experimental models as harbingers of this final outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ena Wang
- Immunogenetics Section, The Department of Transfusion Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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25
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Currier JR, Visawapoka U, Tovanabutra S, Mason CJ, Birx DL, McCutchan FE, Cox JH. CTL epitope distribution patterns in the Gag and Nef proteins of HIV-1 from subtype A infected subjects in Kenya: use of multiple peptide sets increases the detectable breadth of the CTL response. BMC Immunol 2006; 7:8. [PMID: 16620386 PMCID: PMC1464141 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2172-7-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2006] [Accepted: 04/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Subtype A is a major strain in the HIV-1 pandemic in eastern Europe, central Asia and in certain regions of east Africa, notably in rural Kenya. While considerable effort has been focused upon mapping and defining immunodominant CTL epitopes in HIV-1 subtype B and subtype C infections, few epitope mapping studies have focused upon subtype A. Results We have used the IFN-γ ELIspot assay and overlapping peptide pools to show that the pattern of CTL recognition of the Gag and Nef proteins in subtype A infection is similar to that seen in subtypes B and C. The p17 and p24 proteins of Gag and the central conserved region of Nef were targeted by CTL from HIV-1-infected Kenyans. Several epitope/HLA associations commonly seen in subtype B and C infection were also observed in subtype A infections. Notably, an immunodominant HLA-C restricted epitope (Gag 296–304; YL9) was observed, with 8/9 HLA-CW0304 subjects responding to this epitope. Screening the cohort with peptide sets representing subtypes A, C and D (the three most prevalent HIV-1 subtypes in east Africa), revealed that peptide sets based upon an homologous subtype (either isolate or consensus) only marginally improved the capacity to detect CTL responses. While the different peptide sets detected a similar number of responses (particularly in the Gag protein), each set was capable of detecting unique responses not identified with the other peptide sets. Conclusion Hence, screening with multiple peptide sets representing different sequences, and by extension different epitope variants, can increase the detectable breadth of the HIV-1-specific CTL response. Interpreting the true extent of cross-reactivity may be hampered by the use of 15-mer peptides at a single concentration and a lack of knowledge of the sequence that primed any given CTL response. Therefore, reagent choice and knowledge of the exact sequences that prime CTL responses will be important factors in experimentally defining cross-reactive CTL responses and their role in HIV-1 disease pathogenesis and validating vaccines aimed at generating broadly cross-reactive CTL responses.
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MESH Headings
- Base Sequence
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Gene Products, gag/chemistry
- Gene Products, gag/genetics
- Gene Products, gag/immunology
- Gene Products, nef/chemistry
- Gene Products, nef/genetics
- Gene Products, nef/immunology
- HIV Infections/immunology
- HIV-1/classification
- HIV-1/immunology
- HIV-1/isolation & purification
- HLA-C Antigens/metabolism
- Histocompatibility Testing
- Humans
- Immunodominant Epitopes/chemistry
- Immunodominant Epitopes/immunology
- Interferon-gamma/analysis
- Kenya
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Peptides/immunology
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Currier
- The US Military HIV Research Program, Suite 200, 13 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Unchalee Visawapoka
- The US Military HIV Research Program, Suite 200, 13 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Sodsai Tovanabutra
- The US Military HIV Research Program, Suite 200, 13 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Carl J Mason
- Department of Enteric Diseases, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Deborah L Birx
- The US Military HIV Research Program, Suite 200, 13 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Francine E McCutchan
- The US Military HIV Research Program, Suite 200, 13 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Josephine H Cox
- The US Military HIV Research Program, Suite 200, 13 Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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