Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is a widely expressed and potent tumor-associated antigen in multiple myeloma

Blood. 2007 Sep 1;110(5):1587-94. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-03-082529. Epub 2007 May 21.

Abstract

The identification of novel tumor-associated antigens, especially those shared among patients, is urgently needed to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we examined whether Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a protein that is not expressed in most normal tissues but is expressed by tumor cells from almost all patients with myeloma, could be a good candidate. We identified and synthesized DKK1 peptides for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201 and confirmed their immunogenicity by in vivo immunization in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice. We detected, using peptidetetramers, low frequencies of DKK1 peptide-specific CD8-positive (CD8(+)) T cells in patients with myeloma and generated peptide-specific T-cell lines and clones from HLA-A*0201-positive (HLA-A*0201(+)) blood donors and patients with myeloma. These T cells efficiently lysed peptide-pulsed but not unpulsed T2 or autologous dendritic cells, DKK1-positive (DKK1(+))/HLA-A*0201(+) myeloma cell lines U266 and IM-9, and, more importantly, HLA-A*0201(+) primary myeloma cells from patients. No killing was observed on DKK1(+)/HLA-A*0201-negative (HLA-A*0201(-)) myeloma cell lines and primary myeloma cells or HLA-A*0201(+) normal lymphocytes, including B cells. These results indicate that these T cells were potent cytotoxic T cells and recognized DKK1 peptides naturally presented by myeloma cells in the context of HLA-A*0201 molecules. Hence, our study identifies DKK1 as a potentially important antigen for immunotherapy in MM.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / drug effects
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / pharmacology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / immunology*
  • HLA-A Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / immunology*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / pharmacology
  • K562 Cells
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Multiple Myeloma / immunology*
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • DKK1 protein, human
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-A*02:01 antigen
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptides