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Expression of transporter associated with antigen processing 1 and 2 (TAP1/2) in malignant melanoma cell lines
Author(s) -
Thor Straten Per,
Kirkin Alexei F.,
Seremet Tina,
Zeuthen Jesper
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19970304)70:5<582::aid-ijc15>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - antigen processing , transporter associated with antigen processing , melanoma , human leukocyte antigen , cell culture , antigen presentation , biology , cancer research , antigen , mhc class i , immunology , immune system , t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , major histocompatibility complex , genetics
TAP1 and TAP2 molecules are involved in the transport of peptides prior to their association with class I molecules and are mandatory for efficient antigen presentation. To investigate whether loss of expression of TAP1 or TAP2 is a likely mechanism of immune escape in malignant melanoma, TAP1 and TAP2 mRNA was analyzed by RT‐PCR in 39 melanoma cell lines expressing at least 2 of the known melanoma‐associated antigens, tyrosinase, Melan‐A/MART‐1, gp100, MAGE‐1 and MAGE‐3. All 39 cell lines expressed both TAP1 and TAP2 at the mRNA level. To investigate other factors potentially involved in immune escape, the expression of LMP2, LMP7, HLA class I molecules, β 2 ‐microglobulin (β 2 m) and specific HLA‐A alleles was evaluated by RT‐PCR and FACS analyses. All 39 cell lines expressed LMP2, LMP7 and β 2 m. A single cell line (FM37) had lost the expression of class I molecules, and this same cell line showed loss of expression of the HLA‐A2 heavy chain. No cell lines showed loss of expression of the HLA‐A1 heavy chain. Based on our studies of in vitro established cell lines, loss of TAP1/2 or LMP2/7 expression does not appear to be a common mechanism of immune escape in malignant melanoma. Int. J. Cancer 70:582–586. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss Inc