Tumor-specific antigens revisited: presentation to the immune system of fusion peptides resulting solely from tumor-specific chromosomal translocations.
Adaptive immune responses depend upon recognition by lymphocytes-T of short polypeptide sequences bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Since endogenous intracellular proteins can be presented to the immune system in this way, any tumor-specific structure may function as a potentially tumor-specific antigen. Fusion proteins arising as a result of chromosomal translocations provide good candidates for novel tumor-specific antigens recognizable by the host immune system. Recent molecular cloning data have demonstrated the existence of mRNAs encoding several different potential tumor-specific fusion proteins in both acute and chronic leukemias, and analysis of a number of these sequences suggests the presence of a newly defined amino acid motif associated with MHC-binding and T cell recognition. Preliminary data suggest the possibility of generating in vitro lymphocyte-T responses to synthetic peptides representing the chimeric sequences. It remains to be seen whether tumor cells themselves can be recognized by lymphocytes-T in vitro and in vivo, and, if so, how leukemia cells escape such immune surveillance in vivo.
Pawelec
G
G
Department of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany.
Kalbacher
H
H
Bruserud
O
O
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D010455:Peptides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins