Identification of an epitope derived from the cancer testis antigen HOM-TES-14/SCP1 and presented by dendritic cells to circulating CD4+ T cells

F Neumann, C Wagner, KD Preuss, B Kubuschok… - Blood, 2005 - ashpublications.org
F Neumann, C Wagner, KD Preuss, B Kubuschok, C Schormann, S Stevanovic…
Blood, 2005ashpublications.org
Because of their frequent expression in a wide spectrum of malignant tumors but not in
normal tissue except testis, cancer testis antigens are promising targets. However, except for
HOM-TES-14/SCP1, their expression in malignant lymphomas is rare. SCP1 (synaptonemal
complex protein 1) has been shown to elicit antibody responses in the autologous host, but
no T-cell responses against HOM-TES-14/SCP1 have been reported. Using the SYFPEITHI
algorithm, we selected peptides with a high binding affinity to major histocompatibility …
Abstract
Because of their frequent expression in a wide spectrum of malignant tumors but not in normal tissue except testis, cancer testis antigens are promising targets. However, except for HOM-TES-14/SCP1, their expression in malignant lymphomas is rare. SCP1 (synaptonemal complex protein 1) has been shown to elicit antibody responses in the autologous host, but no T-cell responses against HOM-TES-14/SCP1 have been reported. Using the SYFPEITHI algorithm, we selected peptides with a high binding affinity to major histocompatibility complex class 2 (MHC 2) molecules. The pentadecamer epitope p635-649 induced specific CD4+ T-cell responses that were shown to be restricted by HLA-DRB1*1401. The responses could be blocked by preincubation of T cells with anti-CD4 and antigen-presenting cells with anti–HLA-DR, respectively, proving the HLA-DR–restricted presentation of p635-649 and a CD4+ T-cell–mediated effector response. Responding CD4+ cells did not secrete interleukin-5 (IL-5), indicating that they belong to the TH1 subtype. The natural processing and presentation of p635-649 were demonstrated by pulsing autologous and allogeneic dendritic cells with a protein fragment covering p635-649. Thus, p635-649 is the first HOM-TES-14/SCP1–derived epitope to fulfill all prerequisites for use as a peptide vaccine in patients with HOM-TES-14/SCP1–expressing tumors, which is the case in two thirds of peripheral T-cell lymphomas.
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