A MAGE-A3 peptide presented by HLA-DP4 is recognized on tumor cells by CD4+ cytolytic T lymphocytes

Cancer Res. 2000 Nov 15;60(22):6272-5.

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 approximately 76% of Caucasians. This new epitope may be useful both for therapeutic vaccination and for the evaluation of the immune response in cancer patients. Interest ingly, 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Baculoviridae / genetics
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Clone Cells
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • HLA-DP Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Neoplasm Proteins*
  • Spodoptera / metabolism
  • Spodoptera / virology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-DP Antigens
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains
  • HLA-DPw4 antigen
  • MAGEA3 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins