title: A retroviral peptide encoded by mutated env p15E gene is recognized by specific CD8+ T lymphocytes on drug-treated murine mastocytoma P815.
abstract: Highly immunogenic ("xenogenized") tumour variants appear after treatment of murine mastocytoma P815 with the triazene derivative DTIC, a phenomenon associated with the appearance of structurally abnormal p15E env proteins in the variant cells. In the present study, we have isolated and sequenced several p15E cDNA gene fragments amplified by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from parental (P815) and xenogenized (P815/DTIC) tumour cells. Compared to known p15E sequences in parental cells, one p15E sequence from xenogenized cells presented three distinct nucleotide changes, one of which was apparently unique to P815/DTIC DNA and cDNA upon single-nucleotide primer extension assay. One major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-binding peptide, corresponding to a putative mutation in the p15E sequence, was tested in parallel with the parental peptide for recognition by P815/DTIC-specific cytotoxic T cells in vitro. The results suggested that the amino acid substitution at the relevant position of the p15E protein may produce an antigenic T cell epitope. By skin test assay of mice primed with either the synthetic peptide or P815/DTIC cells, evidence was obtained that the mutated peptide is immunogenic in vivo, and that the neoepitope is expressed by P815/DTIC cells. In accordance with previous data in the L5178Y/DTIC tumour model system, these findings reinforce the notion that xenogenization of tumour cells may result in the expression of class I-binding mutated peptides of retroviral origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Belladonna
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fioretti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puccetti
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grohmann
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012515:Mast-Cell Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C489582:retroviral p15E-related protein, mouse; D003606:Dacarbazine