title: Genetic approaches for the induction of a CD4+ T cell response in cancer immunotherapy.
abstract: Recently, it has become more and more obvious that not only CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, but also CD4+ T helper cells are required for the induction of an optimal, long-lasting anti-tumor immune response. CD4+ T helper cells, and in particular IFN-gamma-secreting type 1 T helper cells, have been shown to fulfill a critical function in the mounting of a cancer-specific response. Consequently, targeting antigens into MHC class II molecules would greatly enhance the efficacy of an anti-cancer vaccine. The dissection of the MHC class II presentation pathway has paved the way for rational approaches to achieve this goal: novel systems have been developed to genetically manipulate the MHC class II presentation pathway. First, different genetic approaches have been used for the delivery of known epitopes into the MHC class II processing pathway or directly onto the peptide-binding groove of the MHC molecules. Second, several strategies exist for the targeting of whole tumor antigens, containing both MHC class I and class II restricted epitopes, to the MHC class II processing pathway. We review these data and describe how this knowledge is currently applied in vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Physiology-Immunology, Medical School of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103/E, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonehill
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heirman
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thielemans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II