Comprehensive analysis of HLA-DR- and HLA-DP4-restricted CD4+ T cell response specific for the tumor-shared antigen survivin in healthy donors and cancer patients

J Immunol. 2008 Jul 1;181(1):431-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.1.431.

Abstract

Because of the wide distribution of the survivin Ag in a variety of tumors, we have investigated the survivin-specific CD4+ T cell response in healthy donors and cancer patients. Screening of the entire sequence of survivin for HLA class II binding led to the identification of seven HLA-DR promiscuous peptides, including four HLA-DP4 peptides. All of the peptides were able to prime in vitro CD4+ T cells of eight different healthy donors. The peptide-specific T cell lines were stimulated by dendritic cells loaded with the recombinant protein or with the lysates of tumor cells. The high frequency of responders (i.e., immunoprevalence) was provided by a wide reactivity of multiple peptides. Six peptides were T cell stimulating in at least half of the donors and were close to CD8+ T cell epitopes. HLA-DR molecules were more frequently involved in T cell stimulation than were HLA-DP4 molecules, and hence immunoprevalence relies mainly on HLA-DR promiscuity in the survivin Ag. In two cancer patients a spontaneous CD4+ T cell response specific for one of these peptides was also observed. Based on these observations, the tumor-shared survivin does not appear to be the target of immune tolerance in healthy donors and cancer patients and is a relevant candidate for cancer vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • HLA-DP Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains
  • HLA-DR Antigens / immunology*
  • Health*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / immunology*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Survivin

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • HLA-DP Antigens
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains
  • HLA-DPw4 antigen
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Survivin