A MAGE-A3 Peptide Presented by HLA-DP4 Is Recognized on Tumor Cells by CD4+ Cytolytic T Lymphocytes

ES Schultz, B Lethé, CL Cambiaso, J Van Snick… - Cancer research, 2000 - AACR
ES Schultz, B Lethé, CL Cambiaso, J Van Snick, P Chaux, J Corthals, C Heirman…
Cancer research, 2000AACR
Antigens encoded by MAGE-A3 and recognized by T cells are interesting targets for tumor
immunotherapy because they are strictly tumor specific and shared by many tumors of
various histological types. A number of MAGE-A3 antigenic peptides presented by HLA
class I molecules have been used in clinical trials, and regressions of melanoma metastasis
have been observed. We report here the identification of a MAGE-A3 epitope,
TQHFVQENYLEY, presented to CD4+ T lymphocytes by HLA-DP4 molecules, which are …
Abstract
Antigens encoded by MAGE-A3 and recognized by T cells are interesting targets for tumor immunotherapy because they are strictly tumor specific and shared by many tumors of various histological types. A number of MAGE-A3 antigenic peptides presented by HLA class I molecules have been used in clinical trials, and regressions of melanoma metastasis have been observed. We report here the identification of a MAGE-A3 epitope, TQHFVQENYLEY, presented to CD4+ T lymphocytes by HLA-DP4 molecules, which are expressed in ∼76% of Caucasians. This new epitope may be useful both for therapeutic vaccination and for the evaluation of the immune response in cancer patients. Interestingly, the CD4+ T cells lysed HLA-DP4 tumor cells expressing MAGE-A3,indicating that this epitope, in contrast to other class-II MAGE-A3 epitopes, is presented at the surface of tumor cells. The study of this disparity in the presentation of two epitopes from the same protein may lead to a better understanding of the endogenous class II presentation pathway.
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