Identification of a promiscuous HLA DR-restricted T-cell epitope derived from the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin

Hum Immunol. 2007 Jul;68(7):572-6. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2007.03.007. Epub 2007 Apr 11.

Abstract

The inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin is a promising tumor-associated antigen specifically recognized by CD8+ cytotoxic effector T-lymphocytes (CTL). To improve current vaccines that aim to induce survivin-specific CTL, it is necessary to study the role of CD4+ T-helper (TH) and CD4+ T-regulatory (Treg) cells. Because both TH and Treg cells recognize antigens in the context of HLA-class II molecules, identification of HLA class II-associated peptide epitopes from survivin is required. Here, we analyzed T-cell responses against survivin using synthetic peptides predicted to serve as HLA-DR-restricted epitopes. Six peptides were shown to induce CD4+ T-cell responses, restricted by HLA-DR molecules. For one peptide epitope, SVN10, T-cell clones were demonstrated to be capable of recognizing naturally processed antigen. SVN10-specific T cells could be stimulated from the blood of healthy individuals and cancer patients with multiple HLA-DR genotypes. Thus the identified SVN10 epitope can be used to study the role of CD4+ TH and Treg cells in immune responses and possibly be included in a multivalent peptide vaccine against survivin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Apoptosis
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • HLA-DR Antigens / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / chemistry
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / immunology*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Survivin
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Survivin