title: Engineered promiscuous T helper peptides for the induction of immune responses.
abstract: Following recognition of antigens by T helper (Th) lymphocytes, T cell help is elicited to induce humoral and cellular immune responses. These antigens are presented as short peptides, T helper peptides (THP), bound to MHC class II molecules. Since both endogenous THP (from antigens of interest) or exogenous THP (not encompassed by the sequence of the antigen of interest) are able to elicit T cell help, we decided to engineer promiscuous exogenous THP capable of binding to several HLA-DR molecules, in order to cover an important proportion of the human population. Some of these exogenous THP were able to bind to all seven HLA-DR molecules tested and were immunogenic in vivo in HLA-DR4 transgenic mice. Among them, peptides p37, p62 and p45 elicited Th1 cytokine profiles in vivo, providing help for the induction of potent CTL responses. Finally, in vitro stimulation assays carried out using human cells, showed that these peptides could induce T cell responses using cells obtained from individuals with a broad spectrum of HLA-DR molecules. Thus, engineered exogenous THP may be a valuable tool for the induction of immune responses in a large proportion of human population.
authors.affiliation: University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Division of Hepatology and Gene Therapy, Pío XII 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Llopiz
authors.forename: Aintzane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zabaleta
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lasarte
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrás-Cuesta
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarobe
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D015202:Protein Engineering; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D010455:Peptides