Selection and characterization of MUC1-specific CD8+ T cells from MUC1 transgenic mice immunized with dendritic-carcinoma fusion cells

Immunology. 2000 Nov;101(3):316-24. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2000.00101.x.

Abstract

Mice transgenic for the human MUC1 carcinoma-associated antigen (MUC1.Tg) are tolerant to immunization with MUC1 antigen. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated that immunization of MUC1.Tg mice with fusions of MUC1-positive tumour and dendritic cells (FC/MUC1) reverses MUC1 unresponsiveness and results in rejection of established MUC1-positive pulmonary metastases. Here we demonstrate that lymph node cells from MUC1.Tg mice immunized with the FC/MUC1 fusion cells proliferate in response to MUC1 antigen by a mechanism dependent on the function of CD4, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, B7-1, B7-2, CD28, CD40 and CD40 ligand. The findings demonstrate that stimulation of lymph node cells with MUC1 results in selection of MUC1-specific CD8+ T cells. We show that the CD8+ T cells exhibit MUC1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity by recognition of MUC1 peptides presented in the context of MHC class I molecules Kb and Db. The MUC1-specific CD8+ T cells also exhibit antitumour activity against MUC1-positive metastases, but with no apparent reactivity against normal tissues. These results indicate that immunization of MUC1.Tg mice with FC/MUC1 reverses immunological unresponsiveness to MUC1 by presentation of MUC1 peptides in the presence of costimulatory signals and generates MHC-restricted MUC1-specific CD8+ T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Cell Division / immunology
  • Cell Fusion
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / analysis
  • Immunization
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mucin-1 / immunology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Mucin-1