Expanding the immunotherapeutic potential of minor histocompatibility antigens

J Clin Invest. 2005 Dec;115(12):3397-400. doi: 10.1172/JCI27094.

Abstract

Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAgs) selectively expressed by cells or cell subsets of the hematopoietic system are targets of the T cell-mediated graft-versus-leukemia response that develops following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of hematological malignancies. This observation has served as the rationale for utilizing mHAg-specific immunotherapy for the treatment of particular patients. However, at present, only a select and small number of patients could potentially benefit from mHAg-based immunotherapy. A report from de Rijke et al. in this issue of the JCI describes a new hematopoietic lineage-specific HLA-B7-restricted mHAg associated with remission of chronic myeloid leukemia. This result represents another example of an mHAg-mediated graft-versus-leukemia response, thereby expanding the number of patients eligible for mHAg-based immunotherapy in the setting of HSCT.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Graft vs Leukemia Effect
  • HLA-B7 Antigen / chemistry
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / chemistry
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / physiology*
  • Phenotype
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / cytology
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • HLA-B7 Antigen
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens