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

Blood. 2005 Nov 1;106(9):3105-13. doi: 10.1182/blood-2005-04-1487. Epub 2005 Jul 19.

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 T(H)1 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigen Presentation*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / chemistry
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins / immunology*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Epitopes
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SYCP1 protein, human