Immunogenicity of HLA-A1-restricted peptides derived from S100A4 (metastasin 1) in melanoma patients

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2009 Aug;58(8):1265-73. doi: 10.1007/s00262-008-0640-0. Epub 2009 Jan 13.

Abstract

S100A4 (metastasin 1) belongs to the S100 family of Ca(2+) binding proteins. While not present in most differentiated adult tissues, S100A4 is upregulated in the micromilieu of tumors. It is primarily expressed by tumor-associated macrophages, fibroblasts, and tumor endothelial cells. Due to its strong induction in tumors S100A4 is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. By reverse immunology, using epitope prediction programs, we identified 3 HLA-A1-restricted peptide epitopes (S100A4 A1-1, A1-2, and A1-3) which are subject to human T cell responses as detected in peripheral blood of melanoma patients by means of IFN-gamma ELISPOT and cytotoxicity assays. In addition, IFN-gamma responses to S100A4 A1-2 can not only be induced by stimulation of T cells with peptide-loaded DC but also by stimulation with S100A4 protein-loaded DC, indicating that this epitope is indeed generated by processing of the endogenously expressed protein. In addition, S100A4 A1-2 reactive T cells demonstrate lysis of HLA-A1(+) fibroblasts in comparison to HLA-A1(-) fibroblasts. In summary, this HLA-A1-restricted peptide epitope is a candidate for immunotherapeutical approaches targeting S100A4-expressing cells in the tumor stroma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Epitopes / metabolism
  • HLA-A1 Antigen / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Melanoma / immunology*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4
  • S100 Proteins / immunology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • HLA-A1 Antigen
  • Peptide Fragments
  • S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4
  • S100 Proteins
  • S100A4 protein, human
  • Interferon-gamma