Direct class I HLA antigen discovery to distinguish virus-infected and cancerous cells.
Class I human leukocyte antigen molecules are nature's proteome-scanning chips, presenting thousands of endogenously loaded peptides on the surface of virtually every cell in the body. Cytotoxic T cells survey the class I human leukocyte antigen peptide cargo presented, recognize peptides unique to unhealthy cells and destroy diseased cells. A precise understanding of how class I molecules distinguish diseased cells is positioned to drive immune-based diagnostics, therapies and vaccines. When identifying epitopes unique to unhealthy cells, the most experimentally direct approach is to examine the class I-presented peptides of infected/cancerous cells. Here we discuss the strategies adapted for protein production, protein/peptide purification, peptide separation and for maintaining experimental reproducibility during the direct characterization of class I human leukocyte antigen peptides.
Wahl
Angela
A
University of Oklahoma, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE, 10 Street, BRC Room 317, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. angela-gilb@ouhsc.edu
Weidanz
Jon
J
Hildebrand
William
W
D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D040901:Proteomics; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010455:Peptides