Therapeutic Peptide Vaccine Research Articles

Prediction of HLA-A 2.1-restricted CTL epitopes from IGFBP7 antigen of lung carcinoma

Objective With the development of peptide-based cancer specific immunotherapy, the prediction of CTL epitopes from insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) is very important for some research about tumor metastasis. Because HLA-A2.1-expressing individuals cover >50% in the population of China, we aimed at identifying IGFBP7-encoded peptide presented by HLA-A2.1. Methods In our study, a HLA-A2.1 restricted CTL epitope was identified by using the following two-step procedure: (a) computer-based epitope prediction from the amino acid sequence of IGFBP7 antigen; (b) Validation with epitope molecular modeling. Results We obtained four epitopes with high immunogenicity scores by all of the three algorithms, i.e., BIMAS, SYFPEITHI and IMTECH. Each of the four candidates satisfied the criteria of the HLA-A2.1- restricted CTL epitopes in molecular modeling analysis. Conclusion The combination of BIMAS, SYFPEITHI and IMTECH method can improve the prediction efficiency and accuracy. Due to this research herein, this four epitopes have potential value for further studied, also have potential application in peptide-mediated immunotherapy. These epitopes may be useful in the design of therapeutic peptide vaccine for lung carcinoma and as immunotherapeutic strategies against lung carcinoma after identified by immunology experiment.

Adjuvant effect of anti-4-1BB mAb administration in adoptive T cell therapy of cancer

Administration of anti-4-1BB mAb has been found to be a potent adjuvant when combined with other therapeutic approaches, e.g. chemotherapy, cytokine therapies, anti-OX40 therapy, and peptide or DC vaccines. However, the adjuvant effect of anti-4-1BB mAb administration in adoptive T cell therapy of cancer has not been fully evaluated. In this report, effector T cells were generated in vitro by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 activation of tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells and used in an adoptive immunotherapy model. While T cells or anti-4-1BB alone showed no therapeutic efficacy in mice bearing macroscopic 10-day pulmonary metastases, T cells plus anti-4-1BB mediated significant tumor regression in an anti-4-1BB dose dependent manner. Mice bearing microscopic 3-day lung metastases treated with T cells alone demonstrated tumor regression which was significantly enhanced by anti-4-1BB administration. NK cell depletion abrogated the augmented therapeutic efficacy rendered by anti-4-1BB. Cell transfer between congenic hosts demonstrated that anti-4-1BB administration increased the survival of adoptively transferred TDLN cells. Using STAT4(-/-) mice, we found that modulated IFN gamma secretion in wt TDLN cells after anti-CD3/CD28/4-1BB activation in vitro was lost in similarly stimulated STAT4(-/-) TDLN cells. Additionally, anti-4-1BB administration failed to augment the therapeutic efficacy of T cell therapy in STAT4(-/-) mice. Together, these results indicate that administered anti-4-1BB mAb can serve as an effective adjuvant to augment the antitumor reactivity of adoptively transferred T cells by recruiting the host NK cells; increasing the persistence of infused effector T cells, and modulating the STAT4 molecular signaling pathway.

Peptide Vaccination of Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Therapeutic peptide vaccines for melanoma continue to only demonstrate anecdotal success. We set out to evaluate the impact of low-dose GM-CSF emulsified in Montanide ISA-51 on the immunogenicity of HLA-A2 restricted melanoma differentiation antigen peptide vaccines (MART-1, gp100 and tyrosinase) administered in separate subcutaneous injections. We conducted a randomized phase II clinical trial of HLA-A2+ patients with metastatic melanoma that were immunized every 3 weeks with one of the following vaccine preparations: (A) peptides + Montanide ISA-51; (B) peptides + Montanide ISA-51 + GM-CSF (10 microg); (C) peptides + Montanide ISA-51 + GM-CSF (50 microg). Immunization efficacy was determined by quantification of vaccine specific tetramer positive cytotoxic T cells in peripheral blood. Global assessment of immune competence was ascertained using DTH testing to common recall antigens as well as peripheral blood immunophenotyping. Twenty-five eligible patients were equally distributed across all 3 treatment groups. Only 9 patients demonstrated evidence of immunization. Most commonly, immune response was achieved to the gp100 peptide. The addition of low-dose GM-CSF did not impact immunization efficacy. DTH reactivity to Candida appeared predictive of successful immunization. Successful immunization with the peptide vaccines was associated with improved clinical outcomes. The addition of low dose GM-CSF to peptide vaccines did not enhance immunogenicity. Higher doses of GM-CSF may be needed to achieve this effect and this is a testable hypothesis. Likewise, better patient selection based on immunologic status (DTH reactivity) may be helpful to better understand the clinical impact of therapeutic cancer vaccines.

588 Optimization of schedule, route and adjuvant of therapeutic peptide vaccines against HCV

methods. We have recently produced a monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Stx1 and Stx2 using popliteal lymph nodes cells taken from the immunized animals and fused with Sp2/0 cells. For evaluating the inhibition of these toxins and the cytotoxic effects, we used the neutral red (NR) assay.We have used HeLa and Vero cells, toxins and MAbs or rabbit polyclonal serum. The bacteria used were obtained from clinical samples and they were designed as C7-88 (Stx1),1189 (Stx2) and 3003 (Stx1 and Stx2). The toxoid used for immunization was produced by formoldehyde treatment. The resultant toxoid containing no residual toxicity for Vero or Hella cells. Supernatants from the growing hybrids were screened by ELISA using plates coated with Stx1 or Stx2 and MAbs Stx1 or Stx2 (IgG1).It bound in a dose-dependent manner to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plates coated with 1Ag of Stx1 or Stx2. The subunit specificity of MAb Stx1 or Stx2 were analysed by immunoblot. A MAb specific to LPS of O:157:H7 was also produced. Capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of Stx1 and/or Stx2 in clinical samples were analysed in comparison to the Vero and Hella cells cytotoxicity neutralization test. Neutralization assays confirmed the wide spectrum of MAbs (Stx) activity, which could neutralize clinical variants toxins. Both tests are highly sensitive and are specific if correctly performed. Western blot analysis indicated that MAbs Stx1 and Stx2 bound to the subunit of the toxins. Toxin neutralization assay is a sensitive and specific technique as an alternative method to diagnose diarrhoeal infections caused by STEC.

Su.56. Optimization of Schedule, Route and Adjuvant of Therapeutic Peptide Vaccines Against Hcv

Su.56. Optimization of Schedule, Route and Adjuvant of Therapeutic Peptide Vaccines Against Hcv

Therapeutic vaccination with papillomavirus E6 and E7 long peptides results in the control of both established virus-induced lesions and latently infected sites in a pre-clinical cottontail rabbit papillomavirus model

This study was performed to test the therapeutic efficacy of overlapping long E6 and E7 peptides, containing both CD4+ T-helper and CD8+ CTL epitopes, on CRPV-induced lesions, which is an appropriate pre-clinical model for HPV diseases, including recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Therapeutic peptide vaccination was able to significantly control wart growth ( p < 0.01) and abrogate latent CRPV infection ( p = 0.0006) compared to controls. Vaccination was associated with a T H1 T cell response, as suggested by a strong DTH skin test, antigen-specific proliferation of PBMC and a minimal IgG antibody response. Thus, this study shows promise for treatment of RRP by vaccination with long peptides.

19 Induction of TH1/TC1 type immunity in chronic hepatitis C non-responder patients with the therapeutic peptide vaccine IC41

19 Induction of TH1/TC1 type immunity in chronic hepatitis C non-responder patients with the therapeutic peptide vaccine IC41

Prediction of HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitope specific to HCC by SYFPEITHI combined with polynomial method

To predict the HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitopes of tumor antigens associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MAGE-1, MAGE-3, MAGE-8, P53 and AFP were selected as objective antigens in this study for the close association with HCC. The HLA-A*0201 restricted CTL epitopes of objective tumor antigens were predicted by SYFPEITHI prediction method combined with the polynomial quantitative motifs method. The threshold of polynomial scores was set to -24. The SYFPEITHI prediction values of all possible nonamers of a given protein sequence were added together and the ten high-scoring peptides of each protein were chosen for further analysis in primary prediction. Thirty-five candidates of CTL epitopes (nonamers) derived from the primary prediction results were selected by analyzing with the polynomial method and compared with reported CTL epitopes. The combination of SYFPEITHI prediction method and polynomial method can improve the prediction efficiency and accuracy. These nonamers may be useful in the design of therapeutic peptide vaccine for HCC and as immunotherapeutic strategies against HCC after identified by immunology experiment.

Therapeutic polypeptides based on HBcAg(18-27) CTL epitope can induce antigen-specific CD(8)(+) CTL-mediated cytotoxicity in HLA-A2 transgenic mice.

To explore how to trigger an HLAI-restricted CD8(+) T cell response to exogenously synthesized polypeptides in vivo. Three mimetic therapeutic polypeptides based on the immunodominant CTL epitope of HBcAg, the B- epitope of HBV PreS(2) region and a common T helper sequence of tetanus toxoid were designed and synthesized with Merrifield's solid-phase peptide synthesis method. Their immunological properties of inducing T( H1) polarization, CD8(+) HBV-specific CTL expansion and CD8(+) T cell mediated cytotoxicity were investigated in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Results demonstrated that the mimetic polypeptides comprised of the immunodominant CTL, B-, and T helper epitopes could trigger specifically and effectively vigorous CD8(+) HBV-specific CTL-mediated cytotoxicity and T(H1) polarization of T cells in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. A designed universal T helper plus B-epitopes with short and flexible linkers could dramatically improve the immunogenicity of CTL epitopes in vivo. And that the mimetic therapeutic peptides based on the reasonable match of the above CTL, B- and T helper epitopes could be a promising therapeutic peptide vaccine candidate against HBV infection.

Dendritic cell KLH loading requirements for efficient CD4 + T-cell priming and help to peptide-specific cytotoxic T-cell response, in view of potential use in cancer vaccines

This study focuses on a Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) adjuvant strategy to augment efficacy of dendritic cell-based vaccines that use class I-restricted peptides. Requirements for loading dendritic cells (DC) with KLH were first determined in order to optimally prime CD4 + T cells. These KLH-loaded cells were pulsed with antigenic peptide and cultured with T cells to induce a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against the peptide. Such a concomitant presentation of KLH and peptide by the same DC strongly augmented the peptide-specific CTL response, as compared to the response induced by DC pulsed with the peptide alone. This adjuvant effect was more pronounced for poorly immunogenic antigens. The use of optimised peptide and KLH-loaded DC may improve the efficacy of therapeutic anti-tumour peptide vaccination.

Peptide therapy for Type I diabetes: the immunological homunculus and the rationale for vaccination.

The autoimmune process that produces Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus seems to respond favourably to therapeutic vaccination with a peptide of the 60 kDa heat shock protein. This article is a personal review of the observations and the thinking that gave rise to the idea of therapeutic peptide vaccination. The rationale for vaccination therapy is compared to other approaches aimed at specific immunological treatment for autoimmune disease.

T-cell epitope analysis of Mag 3, an important allergen from the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae

Here we describe the detection of T-cell epitope region on the house dust mite allergen Mag 3, which has been shown to trigger T-cell proliferation in mite-allergic asthmatic patients. We first examined murine T-cell epitope using T-cell fraction prepared from recombinant Mag 3 (r-Mag 3)-primed H-2 k mice. Initial proliferation assay with truncated r-Mag 3 indicated that N-terminal 113 amino acid region was required for triggering T-cell activation. Subsequent epitope scanning with synthetic overlapping peptides revealed that T-cell reactive region was assigned within amino acid range 56–75. We also explored human T-cell determinant using specific T-cells from mite-allergic patients. Intriguingly, we found that amino acid range 56–85, a portion partially overlapping with that identified in r-Mag 3-primed mice, was exclusively recognized by T-cells from different patients. Further investigation of unique T-cell epitope region found in this study would provide insight into the development of animal therapeutic model and/or peptide vaccine for asthma.

Preventive and therapeutic AIDS peptide vaccines.

Preventive and therapeutic AIDS peptide vaccines.