title: Gene transfer of AIMP1 and B7.1 into epitope-loaded, fibroblasts induces tumor-specific CTL immunity, and prolongs the survival period of tumor-bearing mice.
abstract: T helper type 1 (Th1) cell-mediated immune responses play various roles in cellular immunity, including inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and they have been shown to be crucial in cancer immunotherapy. Previously, we found that aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-interacting multifunctional protein 1 (AIMP1) stimulated antigen-presenting cells to secrete IL-12, leading to enhanced Th1 cell responses. In this study, as a way of enhancing antigen-specific Th1 responses, mouse fibroblasts (H-2(b)) were genetically modified to express an AIMP1 and a costimulatory B7.1 (Fb/AIMP1/B7.1). Fb/AIMP1/B7.1 cells were then loaded with an ovalbumin epitope as a model antigen (Fb/AIMP1/B7.1/OVA), and tested to determine if they induced OVA-specific CTLs in C57BL/6 mice (H-2(b)). Immunization with Fb/AIMP1/B7.1/OVA cells induced strong cytotoxic activities against OVA-expressing EG7 tumor cells, but not against other H-2(b) tumor cells. The levels of the cytotoxic response in the immunized mice with Fb/AIMP1/B7.1/OVA cells were significantly higher than the responses in mice immunized with other cell constructs. CD8(+) T cells were a major cell-type of OVA-specific antitumor immunity induced by Fb/AIMP1/B7.1/OVA cells. Furthermore, treatment with Fb/AIMP1/B7.1/OVA cells significantly prolonged the survival period of EG7 tumor-bearing mice. These results indicate that AIMP1-secreting, epitope-loaded fibroblasts efficiently induce antigen-specific CTL responses in mice.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. tskim@korea.ac.kr
authors.forename: Tae S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byeong C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Daeho
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C077219:small inducible cytokine subfamily E, member 1; D010047:Ovalbumin