BAGE: a new gene encoding an antigen recognized on human melanomas by cytolytic T lymphocytes.
Several tumor antigens are recognized by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) on human melanoma MZ2-MEL. Some of them are encoded by genes MAGE-1 and MAGE-3, which are not expressed in normal tissues except in testis. Here, we report the identification of a new gene that codes for another of these antigens. This gene, named BAGE, codes for a putative protein of 43 aa and seems to belong to a family of several genes. The antigen recognized by the autologous CTL consists of BAGE-encoded peptide AARAVFLAL bound to an HLA-Cw 1601 molecule. Gene BAGE is expressed in 22% of melanomas, 30% of infiltrating bladder carcinomas, 10% of mammary carcinomas, 8% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and 6% of non-small cell lung carcinomas. Like the MAGE genes, it is silent in normal tissues with the exception of testis. Because of its tumor-specific expression, the BAGE-encoded antigen may prove useful for cancer immunotherapy.
Boël
P
P
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Brussels Branch, Belgium.
Wildmann
C
C
Sensi
M L
ML
Brasseur
R
R
Renauld
J C
JC
Coulie
P
P
Boon
T
T
van der Bruggen
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C092706:BAGE protein, human; C490497:BAGE3 protein, human; C490496:BAGE4 protein, human; C490495:BAGE5 protein, human