title: Analysis of individual specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes for two MAGE-3-derived epitopes presented by HLA-A24.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human MAGE-3 gene encodes tumor-specific antigens that are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and expressed in a high percentage of various malignant tumors. Of the five MAGE-3-derived CTL epitopes identified to date, two nonapeptides (TFPDLESEF and IMPKAGLLI, designated MAGE-3.A24a and MAGE-3.A24b, respectively) can be expressed on the tumor surface by binding to the HLA-A24 molecule, which is the most frequent HLA class I molecule in Asian populations. To compare the immunogenecities of the two peptides, individual specific CTL lines were generated for each peptide (MAGE-3.A24a and MAGE-3.A24b).
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from four HLA-A24+ healthy donors were stimulated in vitro with autologous dendritic cells pulsed with MAGE-3.A24a, MAGE-3.A24b or both and were subsequently cultivated with a cytokine combination including interleukin-2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We succeeded in generating peptide-specific CTL lines in two of the four donors. The two CTL lines showed similar cytolytic levels against three MAGE-3+/HLA-A24+ cancer cell lines and also target cells pulsed with the corresponding peptide. Cytolytic activities were blocked by either anti-CD8 or anti-HLA-A24 monoclonal antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that MAGE-3.A24a and MAGE-3.A24b peptides have equal potential in inducing MAGE-3-specific and HLA-A24-restricted CTLs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Katsura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chikamatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oiso
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yumoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D015870:Gene Expression; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000939:Epitopes; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins