Abstract
Although CD4+ helper T lymphocytes have been demonstrated to play an important role in antitumor immune response, only a few epitopes of tumor-associated antigens recognized by HLA class II-restricted CD4+ T lymphocytes have been identified. In the present study, we addressed the question of whether leukemia-associated fusion proteins are recognized by CD4+ T lymphocytes. Immature dendritic cells (DCs) were loaded with necrotic or apoptotic leukemia cells with t(6;9) or t(9;22) and then cocultured with the dek-can fusion peptide-specific or the bcr-abl fusion peptide-specific CD4+ T lymphocyte clone. The dek-can peptide-specific and bcr-abl peptide-specific CD4+ T lymphocyte clones produced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) when they were cocultured with HLA-DR-matched but not with mismatched DCs which had been loaded with apoptotic as well as necrotic leukemia cells with t(6;9) and t(9;22), respectively. IFN-γ production by CN4+T lymphocyte clones in response to stimulation with DCs loaded with leukemia cells was inhibited by the anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibody. These data indicate that the acute myelogenous leukemia-associated fusion protein, dek-can, and chronic myelogenous leukemia-associated fusion protein, bcr-abl, are both processed and presented by DCs to the fusion peptide-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2400-2407 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Leukemia |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 1 2002 |
Keywords
- CD T lymphocytes
- Dendritic cells
- Immunotherapy
- Leukemia
- Tumor-associated antigens
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Cancer Research