title: Minor histocompatibility antigens--big in tumour therapy.
abstract: Technical advances combined with the deciphering of the human genome have facilitated the identification of the molecular nature of human minor histocompatibility (H) antigens. To date, it is believed that minor H antigens result from just any polymorphic protein, regardless of their functional properties. A closer look at the first series of autosomally encoded human minor H proteins reveals a striking functional relationship. Here, we propose that T cells generated after HLA-identical stem cell transplantation (SCT) for malignancies are likely to be directed towards peptides derived from minor H proteins involved in tumourigenesis. This novel insight has important consequences in the search for, and the use of, minor H antigens as immunotherapeutics in stem-cell-based immunotherapy of haematological malignancies and solid tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spierings
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wieles
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goulmy
mesh_terms: D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins; C085467:AKAP13 protein, human; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C096816:BCL2-related protein A1; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; C110615:HA-1 antigen; C080145:HA-2 antigen; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; C117270:HMHB1 protein, human; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; C479948:PUM3 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins