title: The HLA A*0201-restricted hTERT(540-548) peptide is not detected on tumor cells by a CTL clone or a high-affinity T-cell receptor.
abstract: Tumor-associated human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is expressed in >85% of human tumors but not in most normal cells. As a result, this antigen has received considerable attention from those interested in cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, there has been strong interest in MHC class I-associated peptides derived from hTERT because these are expressed on the cell surface and thus may enable the targeting of tumor cells. Much of this interest has focused on peptide 540-548, ILAKFLHWL, which was predicted to exhibit the strongest binding to the common HLA A*0201 presenting molecule. The hTERT(540-548) peptide is currently being assessed in therapeutic vaccination trials; however, there is controversy surrounding whether it is naturally processed and presented on the surface of neoplastic cells. Here, we generate two highly sensitive reagents to assess the presentation of hTERT(540-548) on tumor cells: (a) a CD8(+) CTL clone, and (b) a recombinant T-cell receptor (TCR) that binds with picomolar affinity and a half-life exceeding 14 h. This TCR enables the identification of individual HLA A2-hTERT(540-548) complexes on the cell surface. The use of both this TCR and the highly antigen-sensitive CTL clone shows that the hTERT(540-548) peptide cannot be detected on the surface of tumor cells, indicating that this peptide is not a naturally presented epitope. We propose that, in future, rigorous methods must be applied for the validation of peptide epitopes used for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Avidex Ltd., 57-59 Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Purbhoo
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Deborah H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Joanna E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gostick
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laugel
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moysey
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baston
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liddy
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ashfield
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milicic
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Brendan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Classon
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sewell
authors.forename: Bent K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002469:Cell Separation; D002999:Clone Cells; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; C435939:HLA-A*02:01 antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C437311:telomerase reverse transcriptase (540-548); D019098:Telomerase