Open AccessIdentification of a novel NY‐ESO‐1 promiscuous helper epitope presented by multiple MHC class II molecules found frequently in the Japanese population
Author(s) -
Ohkuri Takayuki,
Sato Masayoshi,
Abe Hiroyuki,
Tsuji Keiko,
Yamagishi Yuka,
Ikeda Hiroaki,
Matsubara Naoki,
Kitamura Hidemitsu,
Nishimura Takashi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00501.x
Subject(s) - epitope , mhc class i , population , biology , human leukocyte antigen , major histocompatibility complex , mhc class ii , antigen , context (archaeology) , virology , cytotoxic t cell , immunology , genetics , medicine , in vitro , paleontology , environmental health
NY‐ESO‐1 is a cancer‐testis antigen that elicits strong cellular and humoral immune responses against NY‐ESO‐1‐expressing tumors. Although CD4 + T cells play a critical role in inducing antitumor immunity, little is known about MHC class II‐restricted helper epitopes of the NY‐ESO‐1 antigen compared with MHC class I‐restricted epitopes. Here, we searched for new NY‐ESO‐1 helper epitopes presented by MHC class II molecules, especially those found frequently in the Japanese population. We established five NY‐ESO‐1‐specific helper T‐cell lines from healthy Japanese donors using NY‐ESO‐1 recombinant protein and peptide. Using MHC class II‐specific antibodies and a panel of Epstein–Barr virus‐transformed B‐cell lines, it was demonstrated that four out of the five T‐cell lines recognized a region within NY‐ESO‐1 119–143 in the context of HLA‐DRB1*0802, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1502 or DRB1*0405/*0410. In addition, using a set of overlapping 15‐mer synthetic peptides, we found that NY‐ESO‐1 122–138 was a promiscuous region that bound to four distinct HLA‐DR molecules found in the Japanese population. These findings expand the usefulness of NY‐ESO‐1 as a tool for tumor vaccine therapy in eliciting NY‐ESO‐1‐specific helper T‐cell responses, especially in Japanese cancer patients. ( Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1092–1098)