Identification of an HLA-A2-restricted epitope peptide derived from hypoxia-inducible protein 2 (HIG2)

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 8;9(1):e85267. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085267. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

We herein report the identification of an HLA-A2 supertype-restricted epitope peptide derived from hypoxia-inducible protein 2 (HIG2), which is known to be a diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for renal cell carcinoma. Among several candidate peptides predicted by the HLA-binding prediction algorithm, HIG2-9-4 peptide (VLNLYLLGV) was able to effectively induce peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The established HIG2-9-4 peptide-specific CTL clone produced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in response to HIG2-9-4 peptide-pulsed HLA-A*02:01-positive cells, as well as to cells in which HLA-A*02:01 and HIG2 were exogenously introduced. Moreover, the HIG2-9-4 peptide-specific CTL clone exerted cytotoxic activity against HIG2-expressing HLA-A*02:01-positive renal cancer cells, thus suggesting that the HIG2-9-4 peptide is naturally presented on HLA-A*02:01 of HIG-2-expressing cancer cells and is recognized by CTLs. Furthermore, we found that the HIG2-9-4 peptide could also induce CTLs under HLA-A*02:06 restriction. Taken together, these findings indicate that the HIG2-9-4 peptide is a novel HLA-A2 supertype-restricted epitope peptide that could be useful for peptide-based immunotherapy against cancer cells with HIG2 expression.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / chemistry
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Gene Expression / immunology
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / chemistry
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / genetics
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / genetics
  • Kidney Neoplasms / immunology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Epitopes
  • HILPDA protein, human
  • HLA-A*02:01 antigen
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Interferon-gamma

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.