Expanding the immunotherapeutic potential of minor histocompatibility antigens.
Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAgs) selectively expressed by cells or cell subsets of the hematopoietic system are targets of the T cell-mediated graft-versus-leukemia response that develops following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of hematological malignancies. This observation has served as the rationale for utilizing mHAg-specific immunotherapy for the treatment of particular patients. However, at present, only a select and small number of patients could potentially benefit from mHAg-based immunotherapy. A report from de Rijke et al. in this issue of the JCI describes a new hematopoietic lineage-specific HLA-B7-restricted mHAg associated with remission of chronic myeloid leukemia. This result represents another example of an mHAg-mediated graft-versus-leukemia response, thereby expanding the number of patients eligible for mHAg-based immunotherapy in the setting of HSCT.
Spierings
Eric
E
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Goulmy
Els
E
D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect; D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen / Q000737:chemistry; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000473:pathology; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens