Identification of an immunogenic HLA-A*0201-binding T-cell epitope of the transcription factor PAX2

J Immunother. 2009 May;32(4):370-5. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e31819d4e09.

Abstract

PAX2 is a transcription factor and member of the highly conserved family of paired box genes. PAX2 is aberrantly expressed in a variety of solid and hematologic malignancies. PAX2 regulates the transcription factor Wilms tumor gene 1, which is a promising target of cancer immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to apply a modified reverse immunology strategy to identify immunogenic epitopes of PAX2 which could be useful for cancer immunotherapy. Thirteen potential HLA-A*0201 epitopes were predicted by a major histocompatibility complex binding algorithm (SYFPEITHI) and a proteasome cleavage algorithm (PAProC) and screened for recognition by T cells from HLA-A*02-positive cancer patients using intracellular cytokine cytometry. Epitope-specific T cells were generated from CD4CD25 regulatory T-cell-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cell. Nine of 20 colorectal cancer patients, 1 of 13 renal cell carcinoma patients, and 2 of 17 lymphoma patients had a spontaneous CD8 T-cell response toward at least 1 of 6 PAX2 peptide pools. None of the 20 healthy subjects showed reactivity toward PAX2. PAX2.337-345 (TLPGYPPHV)-specific T cells could repeatedly be generated, which specifically lysed the PAX2 expressing colorectal tumor cell line SW480. In this study, a modified reverse immunology strategy was employed to identify a first immunogenic HLA-A*0201 restricted T-cell epitope and natural ligand of the tumor antigen PAX2. Thus, PAX2 is another embryonic transcription factor, which is of potential interest as immunotherapy target antigen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • HLA-A Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA-A Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma / immunology
  • Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / immunology
  • PAX2 Transcription Factor / immunology*
  • PAX2 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • RNA Splicing Factors

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-A*02:01 antigen
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PAX2 Transcription Factor
  • PAX2 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • RNA Splicing Factors
  • WTAP protein, human