title: HLA class II antigen presentation by prostate cancer cells.
abstract: Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Recent evidence suggests that reduced expression of target protein antigens and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules is the predominant immune escape mechanism of malignant prostate tumor cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prospect of antigen specific immunotherapy against prostate cancer via the HLA class II pathway of immune recognition. Here, we show for the first time that prostate cancer cells express HLA class II proteins that are recognized by CD4+ T cells. Prostate tumor cells transduced with class II molecules efficiently presented tumor-associated antigens/peptides to CD4+ T cells. This data suggests that malignant prostate tumors can be targeted via the HLA class II pathway, and that class II-positive tumors could be employed for direct antigen presentation, and CD4+ T-cell mediated tumor immunotherapy.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2008) 11, 334-341; doi:10.1038/sj.pcan.4501021; published online 16 October 2007.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC29425, USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Younger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amria
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
authors.forename: A E M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mahdy
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haque
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II