恶性疟原虫CTL抗原微表位基因重组疫苗的构建和免疫原性预测

选用中国人群常见的MHCⅠ类分子HLA-A2.1和HLA-B51限制性恶性疟CTL抗原表位, 构建了单表位重组疫苗pcDNA3.1/tr和pcDNA3.1/sh,再将上述表位DNA序列串联,构建成双表位重组疫苗pcDNA3.1/ts.将3种重组疫苗分别转染C1R/HLA-A2.1和K562/HLA-B51细胞后均证实表达.单表位重组疫苗pcDNA3.1/tr和pcDNA3.1/sh的表达分别促进细胞表面HLA-A2.1和HLA-B51的稳定性.免疫共沉淀实验证实上述表位促进细胞表面HLAⅠ类分子组装,并提示特异性表位在细胞表面的递呈.双表位重组疫苗pcDNA3.1/ts在以上两个不同细胞系中的表达与两个单表位微型基因的表达结果相似,证明双表位肽的串联编码构型不影响肽链中不同表位的特异性抗原递呈.这一研究结果为进一步设计具有广泛覆盖率的多表位恶性疟重组CTL疫苗提供了理论和实验基础.与常规体外CTL实验不同,本研究观察微表位基因在表达特定MHCⅠ类分子的人细胞中进行内源性抗原递呈的过程,其方法更接近人体内环境,对于人类CTL抗原表位的确定和人重组CTL表位疫苗免疫原性的预测具有重要意义.     

Tetramer技术检测人乳头瘤病毒抗原特异性T细胞条件的优化

人乳头瘤病毒(human papillomavirus,HPV)感染是宫颈癌发生的首要因素。针对病毒早期蛋白E6的特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic Tlymphocyte,CTL)在清除HPV感染细胞和病毒转化形成的肿瘤细胞过程中发挥重要作用,因此检测体内抗原特异性CTL的频数和功能有助于了解病毒感染者或宫颈癌患者体内的特异性细胞免疫反应。利用加载HPV16 E6表位抗原肽(E6 133-142;HNIRGRWTGR)的HLA-A6801四聚体(Tetramer),即HPV16 E6 133-142/HLA-A6801-PE四聚体,通过检测混有HPV特异性CTL的PBMC标本,优化Tetramer染色的实验条件,探讨染色的最佳温度及Tetramer浓度。结果显示,染色温度(4℃、室温及37℃)对Tetramer与CTL的结合无明显影响。Tetramer稀释度为1∶1 600时,HPV特异性CTL荧光强度保持高水平,且非特异性染色少,为最佳染色浓度。研究结果为进一步检测HPV感染者或宫颈癌患者体内抗原特异性的CTL打下基础。     

体外制备和增殖烟曲霉特异性T细胞的研究

目的体外制备和增殖烟曲霉特异性T淋巴细胞。方法从健康志愿者外周抗凝血中分离并体外扩增DC,利用加热灭活的烟曲霉孢子作为抗原,体外共孵育制备烟曲霉孢子负载的DC,进一步将此成熟DC与源自同一个体的去除了DC细胞的外周血细胞共培养,体外诱导并扩增烟曲霉特异性T淋巴细胞。应用ELISPOT(酶联免疫斑点)技术检测活化T细胞IFN-γ的分泌情况,流式细胞仪检测细胞因子胞内合成情况,并分析功能细胞的类型和比例。结果 ELISPOT分析显示:PBMC+DC+Conidia实验组IFN-γ分泌(87.33±1.33/4.0×105)高于其他对照组,具有统计学意义(P0.05)。细胞因子流式细胞仪分析显示:PBMC+DC+Conidia组中,2.76%的细胞分泌IFN-γ,其中1.61%为CD4+T细胞,与各对照组相比具有统计学意义(P0.05)。获得的烟曲霉特异性T细胞可以在体外可进行大量增殖。结论本文结果显示烟曲霉孢子在体外可以作为变应原诱导产生烟曲霉特异性CD4+T细胞介导的Th1型免疫反应,为未来制备和扩增烟曲霉特异性T细胞及过继免疫治疗侵袭性曲霉病提供实验基础。     

自身肽结合于HLA-A2分子上能够在体外诱导抗原肽特异性的同种T细胞

在同种反应性T细胞(同种T细胞)识别的配体中, 抗原肽的作用是免疫学长期争论的问题, 即同种T细胞识别是否具有抗原肽特异性. 为了证实通过长期混合淋巴细胞培养(LTMLC)方法能够诱生抗原肽/MHC复合物(pMHC)特异性的同种T细胞, 本研究利用仅表达HLA-A2, TAP缺陷的T2细胞, 将酪氨酸激酶来源的自身抗原肽(Tyr_369-377)和EB病毒来源的病毒抗原肽(LMP2A_426-434)分别加载到T2细胞上, 使T2细胞提呈单一的T细胞抗原识别表位, 并且选择4个HLA-A2阳性(HLA-A2+ve)与4个HLA-A2阴性(HLA-A2-ve)个体的PBL样本, 与加载上述抗原肽的T2细胞混合培养. 在此实验系统中, HLA-A2+ve PBL与加载病毒抗原肽的T2细胞(T2/LMP)混合培养代表T细胞对普通抗原的反应, 而HLA-A2-ve PBL与加载自身抗原肽的T2细胞(T2/Tyr)混合培养则为T细胞对同种抗原的反应. 利用特异性pMHC四聚体染色与特异性细胞毒试验检测LTMLC诱生CTL的特异性, 其中利用HIV抗原肽(Gag_77-85)作为对照. 结果显示: (ⅰ) T2/LMP与HLA-A2+ve个体的PBL混合培养产生CTL(CTL-T2/LMP), CTL-T2/LMP对T2/LMP的杀伤显著高于对照T2/HIV的杀伤(26.52%±3.72% vs 7.01%±0.87%, P<0.001); LMP四聚体对CTL-T2/LMP染色的阳性细胞数显著高于对照HIV四聚体 (0.98%±0.33% vs 0.05%±0.01%, P=0.0014); (ⅱ) 加载自身抗原肽的T2细胞(T2/Tyr)可诱导HLA-A2-ve个体的PBL产生CTL(CTL-T2/Tyr), CTL-T2/Tyr对T2/Tyr的杀伤显著高于对T2/HIV的杀伤(28.07%±2.58% vs 6.87±1.01%, P<0.001); Tyr四聚体对CTL-T2/Tyr染色的阳性细胞数显著高于HIV四聚体(0.88%±0.3% vs 0.06±0.03%, P=0.0018). 结果说明: 结合于自身MHC分子上的病毒抗原肽与结合于同种MHC分子上的自身抗原肽都能诱导产生抗原肽特异性的CTL; 在LTMLC诱生的同种CTL中, 有相当数量的CTL具有pMHC特异性, 这些同种CTL的识别机制与普通抗原反应性CTL一样, 识别的对象也是特异性的pMHC. 支持了同种抗原的pMHC种类繁多造成同种T细胞反应强度极高的假说. 利用LTMLC诱生抗原肽特异性同种T细胞方法对于T细胞过继治疗具有潜在的应用价值.     

HLA-A*2402-BSP在大肠杆菌中的优化表达及其四聚体的制备和鉴定

HLA-A*2402是中国人群中最常见的等位基因之一,为研究该基因型人群的人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)特异性细胞毒T细胞(CTL)免疫应答,需要制备负载相应抗原肽的HLA-A*2402四聚体。以RT-PCR方法克隆HLA-A*2402重链基因的cDNA,并构建了羧基端融合生物素化酶BirA底物肽(BSP)的HLA-A*2402重链胞外域融合蛋白(HLA-A*2402-BSP)的表达载体,但该载体不能在大肠杆菌(E.coli)中有效表达HLA-A*2402-BSP融合蛋白;通过对氨基端(N端)区域编码区的密码子进行优化,构建了同义突变的HLA-A*2402-BSP表达载体,融合蛋白在E.coli中获得了高效表达。进而制备了负载HLA-A*2402限制性HCMVpp65341-349抗原肽(QYDPVAALF,QYD)的可溶性HLA-A*2402-QYD单体分子和四聚体,获得的四聚体具有与HLA-A24 供者抗原特异性CTL的结合活性,特异性CTL的频率为总CD8 T细胞的0·09%～0·37%。这些结果为进一步研究HLA-A*2402限制性的特异性CTL免疫应答规律奠定基础。     

加载HCMV抗原肽的HLA-A*0201单体及其四聚体制备和鉴定

细胞毒T淋巴细胞(CTL)在控制病原体感染以及抗肿瘤过程中发挥重要作用,因而特异性CTL的检测相当重要;而过去检测CTL的方法都是间接的,最近发展起来的四聚体技术则是直接检测抗原特异性CTL的有效而特异的方法,成为目前研究T细胞免疫应答的关键技术。报道一种简化的四聚体制备程序,利用该程序成功制备加载人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)抗原肽的HLA-A2四聚体,具有特异性结合CTL活性。HLA-A*0201重链基因是通过RT-PCR方法从HLA-A2⁺供者白细胞中克隆,进而以PCR方法构建在羧基端融合生物素化酶BirA底物肽(BSP)的HLA-A*0201(A2)重链胞外区原核表达载体, A2重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中得到高表达,主要以包涵体形式存在。加载抗原肽的可溶性A2单体是A2胞外区在轻链β2微球蛋白和HLA-A2限制性HCMV pp65_495-503抗原肽(NLVPMVATV,NLV)存在时通过稀释法复性获得,以BirA对其进行生物素化,然后以阴离子交换树脂纯化,得到的纯化A2-NLV单体与Streptavidin_PE按4:08比例混合形成四聚体,结合程度在85％以上,流式细胞仪分析显示该四聚体具有与HLA-A2+供者的特异性CTL结合活性。总之,这种简化的四聚体制备程序,不仅有利于该技术的推广,为特异性T细胞免疫研究建立必要的技术平台,而且A2-NLV四聚体在临床监测CMV特异性CTL水平等方面也有应用价值。     

烟曲霉Asp f3和Asp f4线性B细胞抗原表位最小基序鉴定

烟曲霉(Aspergillus fumigatus)是一种广泛存在于自然界中的条件致病菌,其产生的分生孢子被易感人群吸入后定植于肺部,引起3种曲霉病:致咯血的曲霉肿、致肺纤维化的变应性支气管肺曲霉病、致较高死亡率的侵袭性曲霉病。目前临床上用于诊断烟曲霉感染的血清免疫学指标有半乳甘露聚糖和1,3-β-D-葡聚糖,但特异度和灵敏度方面存在一定的局限性。Asp f3和Asp f4为烟曲霉主要抗原,在感染者血清中存在相应的循环抗体。本研究分别用兔抗Asp f3和Asp f4抗血清对其进行抗原表位扫描,鉴定了8个Asp f3和6个Asp f4最小表位基序肽。用所鉴定的最小表位基序与烟曲霉其他抗原的最小表位基序构建嵌合肽,可能有助于提高烟曲霉感染诊断的特异度和灵敏度。     

HPV16 E7抗原CTL表位拟肽设计及活性评价

人乳头瘤病毒(human papillomavirus,HPV)早期基因E7是致癌的关键基因,其表达在宫颈癌细胞癌变进程及维持癌细胞恶性表型方面发挥重要作用,已成为宫颈癌治疗的理想靶标.目前,基于HPV16 E7抗原细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic lymphocyte,CTL)表位设计多肽疫苗是抗宫颈癌治疗发展的重要方向,但天然CTL表位肽普遍存在体内半衰期短、激发CTL反应效果不佳等缺点.因此,本研究基于前期HPV16 E7抗原CTL表位鉴定的基础,结合多肽酶解实验结果,进行分子动力学模拟及结合自由能计算,初步筛选了3条表位模拟肽.人工合成相关待测表位肽,并利用T2细胞株测定各肽与HLA-A2分子的结合力.研究结果表明,3条表位模拟肽体外抗酶解能力较天然HPV16 E7抗原CTL表位肽均有提高,以(d)RAHYNIVTF表位模拟肽的效果最为明显.此外,(d)RAHYNIVTF表位模拟肽与HLA-A2分子的结合力也有所提高(荧光系数为2.06).以上结果表明,基于HPV16 E7抗原CTL表位模拟肽进行结构修饰有望为宫颈癌治疗性疫苗的设计奠定基础.     

PEG10基因转染的树突状细胞疫苗对肝癌细胞的杀伤实验研究

目的:研究印记基因PEG10修饰的树突状细胞(DC)疫苗对肝癌细胞的杀伤效应,为肝癌的治疗提供新的策略。方法:将重组PEG10腺病毒rAd-PEG10感染HLA-A2阳性的人外周血来源的DC,制备PEG10基因修饰的DC疫苗,并在体外刺激HLA-A2阳性限制性的单个核细胞,酶联免疫斑点试验(Enzyme Linked Immunospot Assay, ELISPOT)和标准⁵¹Cr释放试验分别检测PEG10腺病毒感染的DC所诱导的特异性CTL活性,并检测对HLA-A2阳性的HepG2肝癌细胞的杀伤作用。结果:成功制备了PEG10基因修饰的树突状细胞(DC)疫苗,并在体外能有效诱导抗原特异性CTL效应,对HepG2肝癌细胞有明显的杀伤毒性。结论:PEG10基因修饰的树突状细胞能有效激发出特异性CTL应答,并对HepG2肝癌细胞有明显的杀伤毒性,为肝癌治疗提供了新思路。     

ELISPOT检测人乳头瘤病毒特异性的记忆T细胞

应用ELISPOT方法检测人乳头瘤病毒感染后自发清除者外周血中抗原特异性的记忆T细胞。收集人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染后自发清除者外周血（病毒清除后74个月）,分离外周血单个核细胞（peripheralblood mononuclear cells,PBMC）。体外应用已鉴定的表位肽刺激PBMC,10 d后计数细胞,去除表位肽,继续培养。第11天,ELISPOT方法检测PBMC中HPV抗原特异性的记忆T细胞。PBMC经表位肽刺激10 d后,细胞数量有明显增加,由最初的4.1×105增加为4.2×106。第11天,细胞数量增加为4.65×106,为抗原刺激前细胞数的11.3倍。ELISPOT结果显示,PBMC中的记忆T细胞活化后,能够识别抗原递呈细胞递呈的抗原肽,并分泌IFN-γ。此HPV自发清除者外周血中抗原特异性的记忆T细胞的频数为0.007%。人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染后自发清除者外周血存在抗原特异性记忆T细胞,抗原肽可激活记忆T细胞,使之数量增加,分泌IFN-γ。ELISPOT可用于检测外周血中HPV特异性的记忆T细胞。     

Identification of major epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis AG85B that are recognized by HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T cells in HLA-transgenic mice and humans

CD8(+) T cells are thought to play an important role in protective immunity to tuberculosis. Although several nonprotein ligands have been identified for CD1-restricted CD8(+) CTLs, epitopes for classical MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells, which most likely represent a majority among CD8(+) T cells, have remained ill defined. HLA-A*0201 is one of the most prevalent class I alleles, with a frequency of over 30% in most populations. HLA-A2/K(b) transgenic mice were shown to provide a powerful model for studying induction of HLA-A*0201-restricted immune responses in vivo. The Ag85 complex, a major component of secreted Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins, induces strong CD4(+) T cell responses in M. tuberculosis-infected individuals, and protection against tuberculosis in Ag85-DNA-immunized animals. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of HLA class I-restricted, CD8(+) T cells against Ag85B of M. tuberculosis in HLA-A2/K(b) transgenic mice and HLA-A*0201(+) humans. Moreover, two immunodominant Ag85 peptide epitopes for HLA-A*0201-restricted, M. tuberculosis-reactive CD8(+) CTLs were identified. These CD8(+) T cells produced IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and recognized Ag-pulsed or bacillus Calmette-Guérin-infected, HLA-A*0201-positive, but not HLA-A*0201-negative or uninfected human macrophages. This CTL-mediated killing was blocked by anti-CD8 or anti-HLA class I mAb. Using fluorescent peptide/HLA-A*0201 tetramers, Ag85-specific CD8(+) T cells could be visualized in bacillus Calmette-Guérin-responsive, HLA-A*0201(+) individuals. Collectively, our results demonstrate the presence of HLA class I-restricted CD8(+) CTL against a major Ag of M. tuberculosis and identify Ag85B epitopes that are strongly recognized by HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8(+) T cells in humans and mice. These epitopes thus represent potential subunit components for the design of vaccines against tuberculosis.     

HLA-A*0201 T-cell epitopes in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus nucleocapsid and spike proteins

The immunogenicity of HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) peptide in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) nuclear capsid (N) and spike (S) proteins was determined by testing the proteins' ability to elicit a specific cellular immune response after immunization of HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice and in vitro vaccination of HLA-A2.1 positive human peripheral blood mononuclearcytes (PBMCs). First, we screened SARS N and S amino acid sequences for allele-specific motif matching those in human HLA-A2.1 MHC-I molecules. From HLA peptide binding predictions (http://thr.cit.nih.gov/molbio/hla_bind/), ten each potential N- and S-specific HLA-A2.1-binding peptides were synthesized. The high affinity HLA-A2.1 peptides were validated by T2-cell stabilization assays, with immunogenicity assays revealing peptides N223-231, N227-235, and N317-325 to be the first identified HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes of SARS-CoV N protein. In addition, previous reports identified three HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes of S protein (S978-986, S1203-1211, and S1167-1175), here we found two novel peptides S787-795 and S1042-1050 as S-specific CTL epitopes. Moreover, our identified N317-325 and S1042-1050 CTL epitopes could induce recall responses when IFN-gamma stimulation of blood CD8+ T-cells revealed significant difference between normal healthy donors and SARS-recovered patients after those PBMCs were in vitro vaccinated with their cognate antigen. Our results would provide a new insight into the development of therapeutic vaccine in SARS.     

Hybrids of dendritic cells and tumor cells generated by electrofusion simultaneously present immunodominant epitopes from multiple human tumor-associated antigens in the context of MHC class I and class II molecules

Hybrid cells generated by fusing dendritic cells with tumor cells (DC-TC) are currently being evaluated as cancer vaccines in preclinical models and human immunization trials. In this study, we evaluated the production of human DC-TC hybrids using an electrofusion protocol previously defined for murine cells. Human DCs were electrically fused with allogeneic melanoma cells (888mel) and were subsequently analyzed for coexpression of unique DC and TC markers using FACS and fluorescence microscopy. Dually fluorescent cells were clearly observed using both techniques after staining with Abs against distinct surface molecules suggesting that true cell fusion had occurred. We also evaluated the ability of human DC-TC hybrids to present tumor-associated epitopes in the context of both MHC class I and class II molecules. Allogeneic DCs expressing HLA-A*0201, HLA-DR beta 1*0401, and HLA-DR beta 1*0701 were fused with 888mel cells that do not express any of these MHC molecules, but do express multiple melanoma-associated Ags. DC-888mel hybrids efficiently presented HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes from the melanoma Ags MART-1, gp100, tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related protein 2 as evaluated by specific cytokine secretion from six distinct CTL lines. In contrast, DCs could not cross-present MHC class I-restricted epitopes after exogenously loading with gp100 protein. DC-888mel hybrids also presented HLA-DR beta 1*0401- and HLA-DR beta 1*0701-restricted peptides from gp100 to CD4(+) T cell populations. Therefore, fusions of DCs and tumor cells express both MHC class I- and class II-restricted tumor-associated epitopes and may be useful for the induction of tumor-reactive CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells in vitro and in human vaccination trials.     

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to human papillomavirus type 16 E5 and E7 proteins and HLA-A*0201-restricted T-cell peptides in cervical cancer patients

Previously, we found that human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E5 protein is a tumor rejection antigen and can induce cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Therefore, in this study, human leukocyte antigen A*0201 (HLA-A*0201)-restricted human CTL epitopes of HPV-16 E5 protein were identified using a bioinformatics approach, and the abilities of these predicted peptides to induce an immune response in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice were confirmed by assaying E5-specific CTLs and in vitro-generated CTLs from normal peripheral blood T lymphocytes of HLA-A2-positive human donors. Second, the CTL responses to HLA-A*0201 CTL epitopes (E5 63-71 and E7 11-20) were examined in HPV-16-infected patients with HLA-A2. Third, the effect of HLA-A-type alleles on CTL activities in response to the entire E5 and E7 proteins was examined in cervical cancer patients. E5 and E7 peptides (but not the whole proteins) stimulated E5- and E7-specific CTL recall responses in HPV-16- and HLA-A2-positive cervical cancer patients, and HPV-16 E5 and E7 proteins stimulated na?ve T cells in HPV-16-negative cervical cancer patients with HLA-A11 and -A24 haplotypes. In summary, this is the first demonstration that E5 63-71 is an HLA-A*0201-restricted T-cell epitope of HPV-16 E5.     

Identification of three HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T cell epitopes in the cytomegalovirus protein pp65 that are conserved between eight strains of the virus.

The Ag specificity of the CTL response against CMV is directed almost entirely to a single CMV tegument protein, the phosphoprotein pp65. We report the identification of three peptides derived from the protein pp65 that displayed a high or intermediate binding to HLA-A*0201 molecules, which were also able to induce an in vitro CTL response in peripheral blood lymphocytes from CMV seropositive individuals. The peptide-specific CTLs generated were capable of recognizing the naturally processed pp65 either presented by CMV-infected cells or by cells infected with an adenovirus construct expressing pp65 in an HLA-A*0201-restricted manner. Thus, we were able to demonstrate responses to subdominant CTL epitopes in CMV-pp65 that were not detected in polyclonal cultures obtained by conventional stimulations. We also found that the amino acid sequences of the three peptides identified as HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes were conserved among different wild-type strains of CMV obtained from renal transplant patients, an AIDS patient, and a congenitally infected infant, as well as three laboratory strains of the virus (AD169, Towne and Davis). These observations suggest that these pp65 CTL peptide epitopes could potentially be used as synthetic peptide vaccines or for other therapeutic strategies aimed at HLA-A*0201-positive individuals, who represent approximately 40% of the European Caucasoid population. However, strain variation must be taken in consideration when the search for CTL epitopes is extended to other HLA class I alleles, because these mutations may span potential CTL epitopes for other HLA molecules, as it is described in this study.     

Identification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) 2a-derived epitope peptides having the capacity to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes in human leukocyte antigen-A24+ and HCV2a-infected patients

Since virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a critical role in preventing the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV), vaccine-based HCV-specific CTL induction could be a promising strategy to treat HCV-infected patients. In this study, we tried to identify HCV2a-derived epitopes, which can induce human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24-restricted and peptide-specific CTLs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HCV2a-infected patients or healthy donors were stimulated in vitro with HCV2a-derived peptides, which were prepared based on the HLA-A24 binding motif. As a result, three peptides (HCV2a 576-584, HCV2a 627-635, and HCV2a 1085-1094) efficiently induced peptide-specific CTLs from HLA-A24(+) HCV2a-infected patients as well as healthy donors. The cytotoxicity was exhibited by peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells in an HLA-A24-restricted manner. In addition, the HCV2a 627-635 peptide was frequently recognized by immunoglobulin G of HCV2a-infected patients. These results indicate that the identified three HCV2a peptides might be applicable to peptide-based immunotherapy for HLA-A24(+) HCV2a-infected patients.     

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes from human heparanase can elicit a potent anti-tumor immune response in mice

Heparanase is expressed in almost all advanced tumors, and therefore it may serve as a potential target for tumor therapy. Our previous study has shown that heparanase can serve as a potential universal tumor-associated antigen (TAA) for the immunotherapy of advanced tumors. Further study demonstrated that the HLA-A*0201-restricted Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes Hpa525 (PAFSYSFFV), Hpa277 (KMLKSFLKA) and Hpa405 (WLSLLFKKL) from human heparanase could induce a potent anti-tumor immune response in vitro. The present study was designed to investigate whether the above peptides could induce immune responses in mice. Our results demonstrated that the effectors from heparanase peptide-immunized mice could effectively lyse various tumor cells that were heparanase positive and HLA-A*0201 matched. We also found that these peptide-specific CTLs did not lyse autologous lymphocytes that had low heparanase activity. Further study revealed that Hpa525, Hpa277, and Hpa405 peptides increased the frequency of IFN-γ-producing T cells as compared to a negative peptide. These results suggest that Hpa525, Hpa277, and Hpa405 peptides are novel HLA-A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes capable of inducing heparanase-specific CTLs in mice. Because heparanase is expressed in most advanced malignant tumors, Hpa525, Hpa277, and Hpa405 peptide-based vaccines may be useful for the immunotherapy of patients with advanced tumors.     

New epitope peptides derived from hepatitis C virus (HCV) 2a which have the capacity to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes in HLA-A2+ HCV-infected patients

Because cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play an important role in the specific immunotherapy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a series of CTL epitopes has been defined from HCV genotype 1a or 1b protein. Here, we attempted to identify HCV2a-derived epitopes that are capable of inducing HLA-A2-restricted and peptide-specific CTLs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HLA-A2+ HCV2ainfected patients or healthy donors were stimulated in vitro with each of the HCV2a-derived peptides, which were prepared based on the HLA-A2-binding motif, and their peptide-specific and HLA-A2-restricted cytotoxicities were examined. The HCV2a 432-441, HCV2a 716-724, and HCV2a 2251-2260 peptides were found to efficiently induce peptide-specific CTLs from the PBMCs of HLA-A2+ HCV2ainfected patients. Cytotoxicity was mainly mediated by CD8+ T cells in a HLA class I-restricted manner. These results indicate that the HCV2a 432-441, HCV2a 716-724, and HCV2a 2251-2260 peptides might be applicable for peptide-based immunotherapy of HLA-A2+ HCV2a-infected patients.     

Coupling to the surface of liposomes alters the immunogenicity of hepatitis C virus-derived peptides and confers sterile immunity

We have previously demonstrated that antigens chemically coupled to the surface of liposomes consisting of unsaturated fatty acids were cross-presented by antigen presenting cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Liposomal form of immunodominant CTL epitope peptides derived from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus exhibited highly efficient antiviral CTL responses in immunized mice. In this study, we coupled 15 highly conserved immunodominant CTL epitope peptides derived from hepatitis C virus (HCV) to the surface of liposomes. We also emulsified the peptides in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant, and compared the immune responses of the two methods of presenting the peptides by cytotoxicity induction and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production by CD8⁺ T cells of the immunized mice. We noticed significant variations of the immunogenicity of each peptide between the two antigen delivery systems. In addition, the immunogenicity profiles of the peptides were also different from those observed in the mice infected with recombinant adenoviruses expressing HCV proteins as previously reported. Induction of anti-viral immunity by liposomal peptides was tested by the challenge experiments using recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing corresponding HCV epitopes. One D^b-restricted and three HLA-A^*0201-restricted HCV CTL epitope peptides on the surface of liposomes were found to confer complete protection to immunized mice with establishment of long-term memory. Interestingly, their protective efficacy seemed to correlate with the induction of IFN-γ producing cells rather than the cytotoxicity induction suggesting that the immunized mice were protected through non-cytolytic mechanisms. Thus, these liposomal peptides might be useful as HCV vaccines not only for prevention but also for therapeutic use.