Identification of a shared epitope recognized by melanoma-specific, HLA-A3-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Abstract

We previously established a melanoma-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line that recognizes multiple epitopes in the context of HLA-A3. To increase the number of peptides available for use in a vaccine for the treatment of melanoma, we identified one of these epitopes, SQNFPGSQK, through a combination of epitope reconstitution experiments and mass spectrometry. The SQNFPGSQK peptide was also found to be associated with HLA-A3 on an additional melanoma tumor line, thus indicating that the peptide is not unique to the melanoma tumor line from which it was isolated and thus, unlikely to arise through a mutational event. Although the protein origin of SQNFPGSQK has yet to be established, the shared nature of this epitope and the fact that it elicits a natural immune response indicates that it warrants further study to determine its usefulness as a vaccine component for the treatment of melanoma. The peptide may also be useful as a research tool for evaluating spontaneous anti-tumor immune responses in patients with melanoma.

• Authors: Kevin T Hogan, Michael A Coppola, Christine L Gatlin, Lee W Thompson, Jeffrey Shabanowitz, Donald F Hunt, Victor H Engelhard, Craig L Slingluff Jr, Mark M Ross
• Journal: Immunology letters (Immunol Lett) Vol. 90 Issue 2-3 Pg. 131-5 (Dec 15 2003) ISSN: 0165-2478 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 14687714 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Chromium Radioisotopes
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• HLA-A3 Antigen
• Peptides

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Chromium Radioisotopes
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (chemistry, genetics, immunology)
• HLA-A3 Antigen (immunology)
• Humans
• Mass Spectrometry
• Melanoma (immunology)
• Peptides (chemistry, genetics, immunology)
• Sequence Homology
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (immunology)