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Irie H, Morita K, Matsuda M, Koizumi M, Mochizuki S. Tyrosinase-Related Protein2 Peptide with Replacement of N-Terminus Residue by Cysteine Binds to H-2K b and Induces Antigen-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes after Conjugation with CpG-DNA. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:433-442. [PMID: 36708315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown the potent efficacy of peptide-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Immunological performance is optimized through the co-delivery of adjuvant and antigenic peptide molecules to antigen-presenting cells simultaneously. In our previous study, we showed that a conjugate consisting of 40-mer CpG-DNA and an antigenic ovalbumin peptide through disulfide bonding could efficiently induce ovalbumin-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in vivo. In this study, based on the conjugation design, we prepared a conjugate consisting of 30-mer CpG-DNA (CpG30) and a cancer antigenic peptide of Tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2180-188) using a cysteine residue attached at the N-terminus of TRP2180-188. However, the immunization of mice with this conjugate did not induce efficient TRP2180-188-specific immune responses. It was thought that the resultant peptide (10-mer) cleaved from the conjugate might be too long to fit into the H-2Kb molecule because the optimal length for binding to it is 8-9 amino acids. We newly designed a conjugate consisting of CpG30 and the C-TRP2181-188 peptide (9-mer), in which the N-terminal serine residue of TRP2180-188 is replaced by a cysteine. By adjusting the peptide length, we succeeded in inducing strong TRP2180-188 peptide-specific CTL activity upon immunization with the CpG30-C-TRP2181-188 conjugate. Furthermore, various CpG30-C-TRP2181-188 conjugates having other CpG-DNA sequences or cysteine analogues also induced the same level of CTL activity. Therefore, CpG-C-peptide conjugates prepared by replacement of the amino acid residue at the N-terminus with a cysteine residue could be a new and effective platform for peptide vaccines for targeting specific antigens of cancers and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Irie
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan
| | - Koji Morita
- Modality Research Laboratories, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Miyu Matsuda
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan
| | - Makoto Koizumi
- Modality Research Laboratories, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Shinichi Mochizuki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Kitakyushu, 1-1 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan
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2
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Effects of Viral Peptide Presentation on CD4+ T Cell Responses to MHC Class II-Restricted Tumor Peptides. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER MANAGEMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.5812/ijcm.8174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Gupta SK, Jaitly T, Schmitz U, Schuler G, Wolkenhauer O, Vera J. Personalized cancer immunotherapy using Systems Medicine approaches. Brief Bioinform 2015; 17:453-67. [DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbv046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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Snyder A, Chan TA. Immunogenic peptide discovery in cancer genomes. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2015; 30:7-16. [PMID: 25588790 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
As immunotherapies to treat malignancy continue to diversify along with the tumor types amenable to treatment, it will become very important to predict which treatment is most likely to benefit a given patient. Tumor neoantigens, novel peptides resulting from somatic tumor mutations and recognized by the immune system as foreign, are likely to contribute significantly to the efficacy of immunotherapy. Multiple in silico methods have been developed to predict whether peptides, including tumor neoantigens, will be presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I or Class II, and interact with the T cell receptor (TCR). The methods for neoantigen prediction will be reviewed here, along with the most important examples of their use in the field of oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Snyder
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Timothy A Chan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States.
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Wimmers F, Schreibelt G, Sköld AE, Figdor CG, De Vries IJM. Paradigm Shift in Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy: From in vitro Generated Monocyte-Derived DCs to Naturally Circulating DC Subsets. Front Immunol 2014; 5:165. [PMID: 24782868 PMCID: PMC3990057 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy employs the patients’ immune system to fight neoplastic lesions spread over the entire body. This makes it an important therapy option for patients suffering from metastatic melanoma, which is often resistant to chemotherapy. However, conventional cellular vaccination approaches, based on monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs), only achieved modest response rates despite continued optimization of various vaccination parameters. In addition, the generation of moDCs requires extensive ex vivo culturing conceivably hampering the immunogenicity of the vaccine. Recent studies, thus, focused on vaccines that make use of primary DCs. Though rare in the blood, these naturally circulating DCs can be readily isolated and activated thereby circumventing lengthy ex vivo culture periods. The first clinical trials not only showed increased survival rates but also the induction of diversified anti-cancer immune responses. Upcoming treatment paradigms aim to include several primary DC subsets in a single vaccine as pre-clinical studies identified synergistic effects between various antigen-presenting cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Wimmers
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , Netherlands
| | - Gerty Schreibelt
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , Netherlands
| | - Annette E Sköld
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , Netherlands
| | - Carl G Figdor
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , Netherlands
| | - I Jolanda M De Vries
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , Netherlands ; Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , Netherlands
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Patronov A, Doytchinova I. T-cell epitope vaccine design by immunoinformatics. Open Biol 2013; 3:120139. [PMID: 23303307 PMCID: PMC3603454 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.120139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is generally considered to be the most effective method of preventing infectious diseases. All vaccinations work by presenting a foreign antigen to the immune system in order to evoke an immune response. The active agent of a vaccine may be intact but inactivated ('attenuated') forms of the causative pathogens (bacteria or viruses), or purified components of the pathogen that have been found to be highly immunogenic. The increased understanding of antigen recognition at molecular level has resulted in the development of rationally designed peptide vaccines. The concept of peptide vaccines is based on identification and chemical synthesis of B-cell and T-cell epitopes which are immunodominant and can induce specific immune responses. The accelerating growth of bioinformatics techniques and applications along with the substantial amount of experimental data has given rise to a new field, called immunoinformatics. Immunoinformatics is a branch of bioinformatics dealing with in silico analysis and modelling of immunological data and problems. Different sequence- and structure-based immunoinformatics methods are reviewed in the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irini Doytchinova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Aarntzen EH, De Vries IJM, Lesterhuis WJ, Schuurhuis D, Jacobs JF, Bol K, Schreibelt G, Mus R, De Wilt JH, Haanen JB, Schadendorf D, Croockewit A, Blokx WA, Van Rossum MM, Kwok WW, Adema GJ, Punt CJ, Figdor CG. Targeting CD4+ T-Helper Cells Improves the Induction of Antitumor Responses in Dendritic Cell–Based Vaccination. Cancer Res 2012; 73:19-29. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-1127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Durai M, Krueger C, Ye Z, Cheng L, Mackensen A, Oelke M, Schneck JP. In vivo functional efficacy of tumor-specific T cells expanded using HLA-Ig based artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPC). Cancer Immunol Immunother 2008; 58:209-20. [PMID: 18563409 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-008-0542-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2008] [Accepted: 05/27/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy for treatment of cancers and infectious diseases is often hampered by a high degree of variability in the final T cell product and in the limited in vivo function and survival of ex vivo expanded antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL). This has stimulated interest in development of standardized artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPC) to reliably expand antigen specific CTL. However, for successful immunotherapy the aAPC ex vivo generated CTL must have anti-tumor activity in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that HLA-Ig based aAPC stimulated tumor-specific CTL from human peripheral blood T lymphocytes showed robust expansion and functional activity in a human/SCID mouse melanoma model. HLA-Ig based aAPC expanded CTL were detected in the peripheral blood up to 15 days after transfer. Non-invasive bioluminescence imaging of tumor bearing mice demonstrated antigen dependent localization of transferred CTL to the tumor site. Moreover, adoptive transfer of HLA-Ig based aAPC generated CTL inhibited the tumor growth both in prevention and treatment modes of therapy and was comparable to that achieved by dendritic cell expanded CTL. Thus, our data demonstrate potential therapeutic in vivo activity of HLA-Ig based aAPC expanded CTL to control tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malarvizhi Durai
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Ross 664G, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Somvanshi P, Singh V, Seth P. Prediction of Epitopes in Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase Proteins of Influenza A Virus H5N1 Strain: A Clue for Diagnostic and Vaccine Development. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2008; 12:61-9. [DOI: 10.1089/omi.2007.0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Somvanshi
- Biotech Park, Sector-G Jankipuram, Lucknow-226021, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vijay Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - P.K. Seth
- CEO, Biotech Park, Sector-G Jankipuram, Lucknow-226021, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Kozutsumi D, Tsunematsu M, Yamaji T, Murakami R, Yokoyama M, Kino K. Cry-consensus peptide, a novel peptide for immunotherapy of Japanese cedar pollinosis, induces Th1-predominant response in Cry j 1-sensitized B10.S mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2007; 29:2506-9. [PMID: 17142991 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.29.2506] [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: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cry-consensus peptide (CCP) is a newly designed peptide for peptide-based immunotherapy of Japanese cedar pollinosis but its mechanism of efficacy is unknown. We investigated the effect of CCP on Cry j 1-specific Th1/Th2 response in a mice model. Subcutaneous injection of CCP decreased Cry j 1-specific IgE and IgG1 in blood slightly, but the IgG2a level was increased significantly in a dose dependent manner. Splenocytes from these mice were stimulated with Cry j 1 in vitro. This inhibited IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 secretion significantly, but IFN-gamma secretion was increased. In vitro CCP stimulation of splenocytes from Cry j 1-sensitized mice induced more marked Th1-predominancy of cytokine production than native allergen stimulation. Taken together, these data suggest that one of the mechanisms of CCP is dependent on the modulation of the antigen-specific Th1/Th2 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Kozutsumi
- Research and Development Section, Pharmaceuticals Development Department, Meiji Dairies Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan.
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Kangueane P, Sakharkar MK. HLA-peptide binding prediction using structural and modeling principles. Methods Mol Biol 2007; 409:293-299. [PMID: 18450009 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-118-9_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Short peptides binding to specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles elicit immune response. These candidate peptides have potential utility in peptide vaccine design and development. The binding of peptides to allele-specific HLA molecule is estimated using competitive binding assay and biochemical binding constants. Application of this method for proteome-wide screening in parasites, viruses, and virulent bacterial strains is laborious and expensive. However, short listing of candidate peptides using prediction approaches have been realized lately. Prediction of peptide binding to HLA alleles using structural and modeling principles has gained momentum in recent years. Here, we discuss the current status of such prediction.
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Fonseca SG, Coutinho-Silva A, Fonseca LAM, Segurado AC, Moraes SL, Rodrigues H, Hammer J, Kallás EG, Sidney J, Sette A, Kalil J, Cunha-Neto E. Identification of novel consensus CD4 T-cell epitopes from clade B HIV-1 whole genome that are frequently recognized by HIV-1 infected patients. AIDS 2006; 20:2263-73. [PMID: 17117012 DOI: 10.1097/01.aids.0000253353.48331.5f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify promiscuous and potentially protective human CD4 T-cell epitopes in most conserved regions within the protein-coding genome of HIV-1 clade B consensus sequence. DESIGN We used the TEPITOPE algorithm to screen the most conserved regions of the whole genome of the HIV-1 subtype B consensus sequence to identify promiscuous human CD4 T-cell epitopes in HIV-1. The actual promiscuity of HLA binding of the 18 selected peptides was assessed by binding assays to nine prevalent HLA-DR molecules. Synthetic peptides were tested with interferon-gamma ELISPOT assays on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 38 HIV-1 infected patients and eight uninfected controls. RESULTS Most peptides bound to multiple HLA-DR molecules. PBMC from 91% of chronically HIV-1 infected patients recognized at least one of the promiscuous peptides, while none of the healthy controls recognized peptides. All 18 peptides were recognized, and each peptide was recognized by at least 18% of patients; 44% of the patients recognized five or more peptides. This response was not associated to particular HLA-DR alleles. Similar responses were obtained in CD8 T-cell-depleted PBMC. CONCLUSION In silico prediction of promiscuous epitopes led to the identification of naturally immunodominant CD4 T-cell epitopes recognized by PBMC from a significant proportion of a genetically heterogeneous patient population exposed to HIV-1. This combination of CD4 T-cell epitopes - 11 of them not described before - may have the potential for inclusion in a vaccine against HIV-1, allowing the immunization of genetically distinct populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone G Fonseca
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil
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Busson M, Castelli FA, Wang XF, Cohen WM, Charron D, Ménez A, Maillère B. Prediction of CD4(+) T cell epitopes restricted to HLA-DP4 molecules. J Immunol Methods 2006; 317:144-51. [PMID: 17107686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2006.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2006] [Revised: 06/26/2006] [Accepted: 10/04/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We have set up a method to predict peptide binding to HLA-DP4 molecules. These HLA II molecules are the most frequent worldwide and hence are an interesting target for epitope-based vaccines. The prediction is based on quantitative matrices built with binding data for peptides substituted at anchoring positions for HLA-DP4. A set of 98 peptides of various origins was used to compare the prediction with binding activity. At different prediction thresholds, the positive predictive value and the sensitivity of the prediction ranged from 50% to 80%, demonstrating its efficiency. This prediction method can be applied to the entire genomes of pathogens and large peptide sequences derived from tumor antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Busson
- INSERM U662, Hôpital St Louis, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
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Tarcha EJ, Basrur V, Hung CY, Gardner MJ, Cole GT. A recombinant aspartyl protease of Coccidioides posadasii induces protection against pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in mice. Infect Immun 2006; 74:516-27. [PMID: 16369008 PMCID: PMC1346669 DOI: 10.1128/iai.74.1.516-527.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a respiratory disease of humans caused by the desert soil-borne fungal pathogens Coccidioides spp. Recurrent epidemics of this mycosis in the southwestern United States have contributed significantly to escalated health care costs. Clinical and experimental studies indicate that prior symptomatic coccidioidomycosis induces immunity against subsequent infection, and activation of T cells is essential for containment of the pathogen and its clearance from host tissue. Development of a human vaccine against coccidioidomycosis has focused on recombinant T-cell-reactive antigens which elicit a durable protective immune response against pulmonary infection in mice. In this study we fractionated a protective multicomponent parasitic cell wall extract in an attempt to identify T-cell antigens. Immunoblots of electrophoretic separations of this extract identified patient seroreactive proteins which were subsequently excised from two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels, trypsin digested, and sequenced by tandem mass spectrometry. The full-length gene which encodes a dominant protein in the immunoblot was identified using established methods of bioinformatics. The gene was cloned and expressed, and the recombinant protein was shown to stimulate immune T cells in vitro. The deduced protein was predicted to contain epitopes that bind to human major histocompatibility complex class II molecules using a TEPITOPE-based algorithm. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the predicted T-cell epitopes induced gamma interferon production by immune T lymphocytes. The T-cell-reactive antigen, which is homologous to secreted fungal aspartyl proteases, protected mice against pulmonary infection with Coccidioides posadasii. We argue that this immunoproteomic/bioinformatic approach to the identification of candidate vaccines against coccidioidomycosis is both efficient and productive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Tarcha
- Department of Biology University of Texas at San Antonio, Margaret Batts Tobin Building, Rm. 1.308E, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
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Kallinteris NL, Wu S, Lu X, Humphreys RE, von Hofe E, Xu M. Enhanced CD4+ T-cell response in DR4-transgenic mice to a hybrid peptide linking the Ii-Key segment of the invariant chain to the melanoma gp100(48-58) MHC class II epitope. J Immunother 2005; 28:352-8. [PMID: 16000953 DOI: 10.1097/01.cji.0000170362.45456.00] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Linking the Ii-Key functional group LRMK, through a simple polymethylene linker, to the melanoma gp100(48-58) MHC class II epitope significantly enhances the vaccine response to that epitope in DR4-IE transgenic mice. A homologous series of Ii-Key/gp100(46-58) hybrids was synthesized to test the influence of spacer length (between Ii-Key and the gp100(48-58) epitope) on in vivo enhancement of gp100(48-58)-specific CD4+ T-lymphocyte responses. As measured by IFN-gamma and IL-4 ELISPOT cytokine assays, the most effective vaccine hybrid was the one with a shorter linker between Ii-Key and the epitope. Mechanistic reasons for this observation are considered. This structure-activity relationship was seen with bulk and CD4+ purified T cells, and both primary and secondary in vitro restimulation assays. CFA augmented the IFN-gamma response and to a lesser extent the IL-4 response. CpG enhanced a strong IFN-gamma response, with a negligible IL-4 response. The 3- to 5-times enhancement of the total ELISPOT responses (number of spots x mean spot area) observed after vaccination with peptides consisting of an MHC class II epitope engineered into an Ii-Key hybrid indicates a potent vaccine effect. Such constructs can be applied to many diagnostic and therapeutic uses.
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Carl PL, Temple BRS, Cohen PL. Most nuclear systemic autoantigens are extremely disordered proteins: implications for the etiology of systemic autoimmunity. Arthritis Res Ther 2005; 7:R1360-74. [PMID: 16277689 PMCID: PMC1297582 DOI: 10.1186/ar1832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2005] [Revised: 08/04/2005] [Accepted: 08/31/2005] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with systemic autoimmune diseases usually produce high levels of antibodies to self-antigens (autoantigens). The repertoire of common autoantigens is remarkably limited, yet no readily understandable shared thread links these apparently diverse proteins. Using computer prediction algorithms, we have found that most nuclear systemic autoantigens are predicted to contain long regions of extreme structural disorder. Such disordered regions would generally make poor B cell epitopes and are predicted to be under-represented as potential T cell epitopes. Consideration of the potential role of protein disorder may give novel insights into the possible role of molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. The recognition of extreme autoantigen protein disorder has led us to an explicit model of epitope spreading that explains many of the paradoxical aspects of autoimmunity - in particular, the difficulty in identifying autoantigen-specific helper T cells that might collaborate with the B cells activated in systemic autoimmunity. The model also explains the experimentally observed breakdown of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class specificity in peptides associated with the MHC II proteins of activated autoimmune B cells, and sheds light on the selection of particular T cell epitopes in autoimmunity. Finally, the model helps to rationalize the relative rarity of clinically significant autoimmunity despite the prevalence of low specificity/low avidity autoantibodies in normal individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip L Carl
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Brenda RS Temple
- R. L. Juliano Structural Bioinformatics Core Facility, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Philip L Cohen
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Deocaris CC, Taira K, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R. Mimotope-hormesis and mortalin/grp75/mthsp70: a new hypothesis on how infectious disease-associated epitope mimicry may explain low cancer burden in developing nations. FEBS Lett 2004; 579:586-90. [PMID: 15670812 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.11.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2004] [Revised: 11/25/2004] [Accepted: 11/29/2004] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
It is generally observed that countries with heavy infectious burden show lower cancer incidence as compared to more affluent nations. With the emerging paradigm on microbial heat shock proteins (hsps) as molecular link between infections and autoimmune diseases, we posit a new hypothesis, the "mimotope-hormesis", on the immunologic impact of infections on regional cancer prevention. According to this, assaults of infection during early adulthood could fortify the immune system to evoke more potent defenses against late-onset diseases, such as cancer, via autoimmunity. Interestingly, both experimental and clinical data support the beneficial role of autoimmunity in long-term cancer survivors. We illustrate this by a comprehensive in silico mimotope (epitope mimicry) analysis of human infectious pathogens against mortalin (mthsp70/PB74/GRP75), a type of hsp70 protein involved in control of cell proliferation, immortalization and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Custer C Deocaris
- Cell Proliferation Research Team, Gene Function Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba Science City 305-8562, Japan
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Bian H, Hammer J. Discovery of promiscuous HLA-II-restricted T cell epitopes with TEPITOPE. Methods 2004; 34:468-75. [PMID: 15542373 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2004.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
TEPITOPE is a prediction model that has been successfully applied to the in silico identification of T cell epitopes in the context of oncology, allergy, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Like most epitope prediction models, TEPITOPE's underlying algorithm is based on the prediction of HLA-II peptide binding, which constitutes a major bottleneck in the natural selection of epitopes. An important step in the design of subunit vaccines is the identification of promiscuous HLA-II ligands in sets of disease-specific gene products. TEPITOPE's user interface enables the systematic prediction of promiscuous peptide ligands for a broad range of HLA-binding specificity. We show how to apply the TEPITOPE prediction model to identify T cell epitopes, and provide both a road map and examples of its successful application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjin Bian
- Section of Bioinformatics, Genetics and Genomics, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, New Jersey, USA
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In Silico Prediction of Peptides Binding to Multiple HLA-DR Molecules Accurately Identifies Immunodominant Epitopes from gp43 of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Frequently Recognized in Primary Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Responses from Sensitized Individuals. Mol Med 2004. [DOI: 10.1007/bf03402131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Ruiz M, Kobayashi H, Lasarte JJ, Prieto J, Borrás-Cuesta F, Celis E, Sarobe P. Identification and characterization of a T-helper peptide from carcinoembryonic antigen. Clin Cancer Res 2004; 10:2860-7. [PMID: 15102695 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-03-0476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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
PURPOSE The purpose of this research was to identify promiscuous T-helper cell determinants (THd) from carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) to be used to prime T-cell help for cancer therapy. CEA was selected because this antigen is expressed in an important variety of carcinomas. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Potential promiscuous THd from CEA were predicted using available computer algorithms. Predicted peptides were synthesized and tested in binding experiments to different HLA-DR molecules. Binder peptides were then used to prime T-cell responses both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Twenty 15-mer peptides from CEA were predicted to bind to different HLA-DR molecules. The promiscuous character of these peptides was demonstrated in binding experiments. Fifteen of 20 peptides tested were able to bind to HLA-DR4, but only CEA (625-639) was shown to be presented after processing of recombinant CEA. CEA (625-639) was also found to be presented by HLA-DR53. Moreover, immunization of HLA-DR4 transgenic mice with CEA (625-639) in conjunction with class I epitope OVA (257-264), induced a CTL response specific of OVA (257-264). CONCLUSIONS CEA (625-639) might be a relevant promiscuous THd peptide for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ruiz
- Facultad de Medicina y Clínica Universitaria, Fundación para la Investigación Médica Aplicada , Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Roque-Navarro L, Mateo C, Lombardero J, Mustelier G, Fernández A, Sosa K, Morrison SL, Pérez R. Humanization of predicted T-cell epitopes reduces the immunogenicity of chimeric antibodies: new evidence supporting a simple method. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 22:245-57. [PMID: 14511570 DOI: 10.1089/153685903322328974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetic engineering has provided several approaches to reduce immunogenicity of murine antibodies. We described previously a new method based on the humanization of the linear epitopes presented to T cells. In brief, potential immunogenic epitopes in the variable region were identified and subjected to point mutations to make them human and/or to modify amphipatic motifs. The resulting recombinant antibody retained its antigen binding affinity and was less immunogenic in monkeys than their murine or chimeric predecessors are. The present study provides two new examples of this T-cell epitope humanization approach: ior-t1A murine monoclonal antibody (mMAb), which recognizes the human-CD6 molecule, and ior-C5 mMAb, which recognizes a novel glycoprotein expressed on the surface of malignant colorectal cells. Seven amino acids were substituted in ior-C5 and eleven residues in ior-t1A, by the corresponding residues from the highest homologous human sequences. Surprisingly, the homology between re-shaped chimeric antibody variable region frameworks and human sequences was 80-90%. Experiments in monkeys showed that T1AhT and C5hT "detopes" antibodies were less immunogenic than their chimeric analogues while they retained 30-50% of antigen binding affinities. The proposed method might be of general applicability to reduce immunogenicity of chimeric antibodies with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Roque-Navarro
- Research and Development Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, PO Box 16040, Havana 11600, Cuba.
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22
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Nichols SE, Harper DC, Berson JF, Marks MS. A novel splice variant of Pmel17 expressed by human melanocytes and melanoma cells lacking some of the internal repeats. J Invest Dermatol 2003; 121:821-30. [PMID: 14632201 PMCID: PMC2793674 DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12474.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Pmel17 is a approximately 100 kDa pigment cell specific glycoprotein that plays a crucial part in the morphogenesis of melanosome precursors. Anti-Pmel17 immunoprecipitates from metabolically pulse labeled melanoma cells and melanocytes contain, in addition to full-length Pmel17, a glycoprotein that migrates with a lower relative molecular weight. Here we show that this glycoprotein is encoded by an mRNA that results from alternative splicing of the human Pmel17 gene from which a cryptic intron is excised. Immunoprecipitation recapture experiments showed that this glycoprotein contained both the N- and C-termini of full-length Pmel17. Sequence analysis of cDNA corresponding to the alternatively spliced form reveals the loss of three of 10 imperfect direct repeats from the central region of the lumenal domain. The product of the splice variant is processed with similar kinetics to full-length Pmel17, and localizes similarly to late endosomes when expressed ectopically in nonpigment cells. We speculate that truncation of the repeat region within Pmel17 alters either fibrillogenic activity or the interaction of Pmel17 with melanin intermediates. The expression of an alternatively spliced product may furthermore affect the cohort of peptides generated for recognition of melanoma cells by tumor-directed T lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Nichols
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6082, USA
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23
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BenMohamed L, Bertrand G, McNamara CD, Gras-Masse H, Hammer J, Wechsler SL, Nesburn AB. Identification of novel immunodominant CD4+ Th1-type T-cell peptide epitopes from herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D that confer protective immunity. J Virol 2003; 77:9463-73. [PMID: 12915561 PMCID: PMC187395 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.77.17.9463-9473.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular characterization of the epitope repertoire on herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigens would greatly expand our knowledge of HSV immunity and improve immune interventions against herpesvirus infections. HSV glycoprotein D (gD) is an immunodominant viral coat protein and is considered an excellent vaccine candidate antigen. By using the TEPITOPE prediction algorithm, we have identified and characterized a total of 12 regions within the HSV type 1 (HSV-1) gD bearing potential CD4(+) T-cell epitopes, each 27 to 34 amino acids in length. Immunogenicity studies of the corresponding medium-sized peptides confirmed all previously known gD epitopes and additionally revealed four new immunodominant regions (gD(49-82), gD(146-179), gD(228-257), and gD(332-358)), each containing naturally processed epitopes. These epitopes elicited potent T-cell responses in mice of diverse major histocompatibility complex backgrounds. Each of the four new immunodominant peptide epitopes generated strong CD4(+) Th1 T cells that were biologically active against HSV-1-infected bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Importantly, immunization of H-2(d) mice with the four newly identified CD4(+) Th1 peptide epitopes but not with four CD4(+) Th2 peptide epitopes induced a robust protective immunity against lethal ocular HSV-1 challenge. These peptide epitopes may prove to be important components of an effective immunoprophylactic strategy against herpes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lbachir BenMohamed
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California-Irvine, College of Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
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24
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Krüger S, Schroers R, Rooney CM, Gahn B, Chen SY. Identification of a naturally processed HLA-DR-restricted T-helper epitope in Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen type 1. J Immunother 2003; 26:212-21. [PMID: 12806275 DOI: 10.1097/00002371-200305000-00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen type 1 (EBNA1), the only viral protein that is unequivocally expressed in all Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignant diseases, is essential for viral DNA replication and maintenance of the viral episome in infected cells. A glycine-alanine repeat domain inhibits antigen processing through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway for presentation on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules. EBNA1 is not protected from the HLA class II processing pathway, and CD4+ HLA class II-restricted T cells recognize the antigen. CD4+ T-helper (Th) cells play critical roles in initiating, regulating, and maintaining immune responses against viral infections and tumors, so that inclusion of EBNA1 as a target antigen may improve immunotherapy for EBV-associated cancers. In this study, the authors used the TEPITOPE software program to predict promiscuous class II epitope candidates. After several HLA-DR-restricted peptides were identified by in vitro analysis of the T-cell response to synthetic peptides, a T-cell clone was established that was specific for one of the peptides. Functional studies were performed with this clone. The CD4+ T helper cells specific for the HLA-DR15-restricted peptide EBNA1(482) (AEGLRALLARSHVER) recognized naturally processed EBNA1 protein. This epitope was presented by several HLA-DR alleles, including DR4, DR7, and DR11. The inclusion of the promiscuous, naturally processed EBNA1(482) epitope in vaccine constructs could enhance immune responses against EBV-positive cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Krüger
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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25
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Vordermeier M, Whelan AO, Hewinson RG. Recognition of mycobacterial epitopes by T cells across mammalian species and use of a program that predicts human HLA-DR binding peptides to predict bovine epitopes. Infect Immun 2003; 71:1980-7. [PMID: 12654816 PMCID: PMC152066 DOI: 10.1128/iai.71.4.1980-1987.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioinformatics tools have the potential to accelerate research into the design of vaccines and diagnostic tests by exploiting genome sequences. The aim of this study was to assess whether in silico analysis could be combined with in vitro screening methods to rapidly identify peptides that are immunogenic during Mycobacterium bovis infection of cattle. In the first instance the M. bovis-derived protein ESAT-6 was used as a model antigen to describe peptides containing T-cell epitopes that were frequently recognized across mammalian species, including natural hosts for tuberculosis (humans and cattle) and small-animal models of tuberculosis (mice and guinea pigs). Having demonstrated that some peptides could be recognized by T cells from a number of M. bovis-infected hosts, we tested whether a virtual-matrix-based human prediction program (ProPred) could identify peptides that were recognized by T cells from M. bovis-infected cattle. In this study, 73% of the experimentally defined peptides from 10 M. bovis antigens that were recognized by bovine T cells contained motifs predicted by ProPred. Finally, in validating this observation, we showed that three of five peptides from the mycobacterial antigen Rv3019c that were predicted to contain HLA-DR-restricted epitopes were recognized by T cells from M. bovis-infected cattle. The results obtained in this study support the approach of using bioinformatics to increase the efficiency of epitope screening and selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Vordermeier
- TB Research Group, Veterinary Laboratories Agency-Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
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26
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Hill JA, Wang D, Jevnikar AM, Cairns E, Bell DA. The relationship between predicted peptide-MHC class II affinity and T-cell activation in a HLA-DRbeta1*0401 transgenic mouse model. Arthritis Res Ther 2003; 5:R40-8. [PMID: 12716452 PMCID: PMC154425 DOI: 10.1186/ar605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2002] [Revised: 10/04/2002] [Accepted: 10/04/2002] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The HLA-DRB1*0401 MHC class II molecule (DR4) is genetically associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It has been proposed that this MHC class II molecule participates in disease pathogenesis by presenting arthritogenic endogenous or exogenous peptides to CD4+ T cells, leading to their activation and resulting in an inflammatory response within the synovium. In order to better understand DR4 restricted T cell activation, we analyzed the candidate arthritogenic antigens type II collagen, human aggrecan, and the hepatitis B surface antigen for T-cell epitopes using a predictive model for determining peptide-DR4 affinity. We also applied this model to determine whether cross-reactive T-cell epitopes can be predicted based on known MHC-peptide-TCR interactions. Using the HLA-DR4-IE transgenic mouse, we showed that both T-cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine production (IFN-gamma) correlate with the predicted affinity of a peptide for DR4. In addition, we provide evidence that TCR recognition of a peptide-DR4 complex is highly specific in that similar antigenic peptide sequences, containing identical amino acids at TCR contact positions, do not activate the same population of T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Hill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
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27
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Abstract
New approaches to drug discovery have come about in recent years as a result of important advances in genomics and bioinformatics. The availability of genome-scale sequence data, the development of new tools for high-throughput gene expression monitoring, and improvements in the ability to analyze large data sets have revolutionized the field. In this article, we discuss three applications of genomics data in the drug discovery process: target discovery, prodrug strategies, and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Reidhaar-Olson
- Department of Genomic and Information Sciences, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, New Jersey 07110-1199, USA.
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28
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Cochlovius B, Stassar MJJG, Schreurs MW, Benner A, Adema GJ. Oral DNA vaccination: antigen uptake and presentation by dendritic cells elicits protective immunity. Immunol Lett 2002; 80:89-96. [PMID: 11750039 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-2478(01)00313-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma differentiation antigens, such as glycoprotein 100 (gp100), have been shown to induce both cellular and humoral immune responses against melanoma in mouse and man. They are therefore considered as potential targets for melanoma immunotherapy. In this study, we have used the attenuated auxotrophic mutant strain SL7207 of Salmonella typhimurium as vehicle for a human gp100 (hgp100) DNA vaccine against melanoma. In vitro studies indicate that Salmonella/pCMV-hgp100 is efficiently scavenged by dendritic cells, resulting in the expression of the hgp100 transcription unit in the DC. In addition, oral administration of Salmonella/pCMV-hgp100 results in the expression of hgp100 RNA and protein by cells exhibiting DC-morphology in mesenteric lymph nodes as soon as 3 days after vaccination. Analysis of the efficacy of the Salmonella/pCMV-hgp100 vaccine in the B16/hgp100 model demonstrated the induction of strong anti-hgp100 CTL responses and protective immunity in 70% of the vaccinated mice, but not in control mice. Based on these data, we consider S. typhimurium as a useful vehicle for the design of recombinant DNA based anti-cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Cochlovius
- Division of Diagnostics and Experimental Therapy, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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29
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Kwok WW, Gebe JA, Liu A, Agar S, Ptacek N, Hammer J, Koelle DM, Nepom GT. Rapid epitope identification from complex class-II-restricted T-cell antigens. Trends Immunol 2001; 22:583-8. [PMID: 11698198 DOI: 10.1016/s1471-4906(01)02038-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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30
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Kierstead LS, Ranieri E, Olson W, Brusic V, Sidney J, Sette A, Kasamon YL, Slingluff CL, Kirkwood JM, Storkus WJ. gp100/pmel17 and tyrosinase encode multiple epitopes recognized by Th1-type CD4+T cells. Br J Cancer 2001; 85:1738-45. [PMID: 11742496 PMCID: PMC2363969 DOI: 10.1054/bjoc.2001.2160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells modulate the magnitude and durability of CTL responses in vivo, and may serve as effector cells in the tumour microenvironment. In order to identify the tumour epitopes recognized by tumour-reactive human CD4+ T cells, we combined the use of an HLA-DR4/peptide binding algorithm with an IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay. Two known and three novel CD4+ T cell epitopes derived from the gp 100/pmel17 and tyrosinase melanocyte-associated antigens were confirmed or identified. Of major interest, we determined that freshly-isolated PBMC frequencies of Th1-type CD4+ T recognizing these peptides are frequently elevated in HLA-DR4+ melanoma patients (but not normal donors) that are currently disease-free as a result of therapeutic intervention. Epitope-specific CD4+ T cells from normal DR4+ donors could be induced, however, after in vitro stimulation with autologous dendritic cell pulsed with antigens (peptides or antigen-positive melanoma lysates) or infected with recombinant vaccinia virus encoding the relevant antigen. Peptide-reactive CD4+ T cells also recognized HLA-DR4+ melanoma cell lines that constitutively express the relevant antigen. Based on these data, these epitopes may serve as potent vaccine components to promote clinically-relevant Th1-type CD4+ T cell effector function in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Kierstead
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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31
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Stassar MJ, Raddrizzani L, Hammer J, Zöller M. T-helper cell-response to MHC class II-binding peptides of the renal cell carcinoma-associated antigen RAGE-1. Immunobiology 2001; 203:743-55. [PMID: 11563674 DOI: 10.1016/s0171-2985(01)80003-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recently, epitope prediction software for HLA-DR binding sequences has become available. In view of the importance of T helper (Th) cell activation in immunotherapy of cancer and evidences supporting immunogenicity of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we have tested 4 peptides of RAGE-1 binding promiscuously to HLA-DR molecules for induction of an immune response. The peptides predicted by the TEPITOPE program using a stringent threshold were derived from the open reading frame 2 and 5 of RAGE-1. Induction of response was evaluated by culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the presence of peptide-loaded dendritic cells (DC) to determine proliferative activity and cytokine expression. Two out of 5 donors did not respond to any of the 4 peptides, 2 donors responded to one peptide and one donor responded to two other peptides. Notably, as revealed by blocking studies and T cell subtype definition, peptides bound to MHC class II molecules and peptide pulsed DC exclusively activated CD4+ T cells, which were of the Th1 subtype. With respect to clinical application it is important that (un)responsiveness of individual donors' PBMC was a very consistent feature. Though we have not tested explicitly whether these peptides correspond to naturally processed peptides, the possibility to define those patients whose Th might respond to in silico predicted peptides of RAGE-1, by an in vitro assay, could well be a helpful step towards setting up a RAGE-1 based immunotherapeutic protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Stassar
- Department of Tumor Progression and Immune Defense, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
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Weth R, Christ O, Stevanovic S, Zöller M. Gene delivery by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium: comparing the efficacy of helper versus cytotoxic T cell priming in tumor vaccination. Cancer Gene Ther 2001; 8:599-611. [PMID: 11571538 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2001] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Using the murine B16F1 melanoma, we compared a CTL- versus helper T cell (TH)-directed vaccination approach. Mice were either orally vaccinated with attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (SL) or subcutaneously with dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with gp100 peptides predicted to bind to H2-Kb/H2-Db molecules. SL were transformed with the murine gp100 cDNA (SL-gp100) or with a fusion construct of gp100 and a fragment of invariant chain cDNA (SL-gp100/Ii). Transcription of these genes in vivo has been readily observed in monocytes and DC. Retardation of B16F1 growth was more efficiently achieved by vaccination with SL-gp100 than with DC. Vaccination with SL-gp100/Ii aiming at preferential presentation by MHC II molecules provided some further improvement due to a stronger expansion of TH and CTL. The importance of help was further sustained by a prolongation of the survival time when mice concomitantly received IL2. Notably, prophylactic, compared to therapeutic, vaccination had no additional impact on survival time/rate. This was due to a striking decrease in frequencies of gp100-specific TH, CTL, and cytokine-expressing cells during tumor growth. Thus, the efficacy of vaccination was limited by tumor-induced immunosuppression. Our data demonstrate the oral route of vaccination via Salmonella as a most convenient transfer regimen and confirm the superiority of protocols aiming at preferential activation of TH.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Weth
- Department of Tumor Progression and Immune Defense, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
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