Specific immunologic recognition of the tumor-specific E2A-PBX1 fusion-point antigen in t(1;19)-positive pre-B cells.
The t(1;19) translocation is the most commonly observed chromosomal translocation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Its presence among pre-B cell ALL cases, has been associated with a poor prognosis. Two genes, E2A and PBX1, are involved in this t(1;19) translocation. As a consequence, parts of the E2A and PBX1 genes are fused, resulting in a chimeric E2A-PBX1 gene, encoding chimeric E2A-PBX1 proteins. As such, the amino acid sequence at the fusion site represents a unique tumor-specific determinant. We report on the generation of a polyclonal antiserum, termed BP 1/19, raised against the tumor-specific E2A-PBX1 junction of E2A-PBX1 proteins. The specificity of antiserum BP 1/19 for the E2A-PBX1 fusion-point is demonstrated at the peptide and at the protein level. Furthermore, specific binding of antiserum BP 1/19 to t(1;19) positive cells was shown using immunofluorescence techniques. The study shows that: (1) the tumor-specific fusion-point epitope on E2A-PBX1 proteins is presented in an antigenic fashion, and (2) this particular fusion-point epitope can be used in immunological marker analysis using fluorescence microscopy.
Berendes
P
P
Department of Immunology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hoogeveen
A
A
van Dijk
M
M
van Denderen
J
J
van Ewijk
W
W
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D010455:Peptides; C089847:E2A-Pbx1 fusion protein