title: Aurora-A kinase: a novel target of cellular immunotherapy for leukemia.
abstract: Aurora-A kinase (Aur-A) is a member of the serine/threonine kinase family that regulates the cell division process, and has recently been implicated in tumorigenesis. In this study, we identified an antigenic 9-amino-acid epitope (Aur-A(207-215): YLILEYAPL) derived from Aur-A capable of generating leukemia-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the context of HLA-A*0201. The synthetic peptide of this epitope appeared to be capable of binding to HLA-A*2402 as well as HLA-A*0201 molecules. Leukemia cell lines and freshly isolated leukemia cells, particularly chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells, appeared to express Aur-A abundantly. Aur-A-specific CTLs were able to lyse human leukemia cell lines and freshly isolated leukemia cells, but not normal cells, in an HLA-A*0201-restricted manner. Importantly, Aur-A-specific CTLs were able to lyse CD34+ CML progenitor cells but did not show any cytotoxicity against normal CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells. The tetramer assay revealed that the Aur-A(207-215) epitope-specific CTL precursors are present in peripheral blood of HLA-A*0201-positive and HLA-A*2402-positive patients with leukemia, but not in healthy individuals. Our results indicate that cellular immunotherapy targeting Aur-A is a promising strategy for treatment of leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioregulatory Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suemori
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yakushijin
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hato
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuzushima
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D008938:Mitosis; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000939:Epitopes; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; C435939:HLA-A*02:01 antigen; C438506:HLA-A*24:02 antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D059871:HLA-A24 Antigen; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases