Processing and cross-presentation of individual HLA-A, -B, or -C epitopes from NY-ESO-1 or an HLA-A epitope for Melan-A differ according to the mode of antigen delivery

Blood. 2010 Jul 15;116(2):218-25. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-10-249458. Epub 2010 Apr 29.

Abstract

The ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to cross-present protein tumor antigens to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) underpins the success of therapeutic cancer vaccines. We studied cross-presentation of the cancer/testis antigen, NY-ESO-1, and the melanoma differentiation antigen, Melan-A by human DC subsets. Monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) efficiently cross-presented human leukocyte associated (HLA)-A2-restricted epitopes from either a formulated NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIX vaccine or when either antigen was mixed with ISCOMATRIX adjuvant. HLA-A2 epitope generation required endosomal acidification and was proteasome-independent for NY-ESO-1 and proteasome-dependent for Melan-A. Both MoDCs and CD1c(+) blood DCs cross-presented NY-ESO-1-specific HLA-A2(157-165)-, HLA-B7(60-72)-, and HLA-Cw3(92-100)-restricted epitopes when formulated as an NY-ESO-1/ISCOMATRIX vaccine, but this was limited when NY-ESO-1 and ISCOMATRIX adjuvant were added separately to the DC cultures. Finally, cross-presentation of NY-ESO-1(157-165)/HLA-A2, NY-ESO-1(60-72)/HLA-B7, and NY-ESO-1(92-100)/HLA-Cw3 epitopes was proteasome-dependent when formulated as immune complexes (ICs) but only proteasome-dependent for NY-ESO-1(60-72)/HLA-B7-restricted cross-presentation facilitated by ISCOMATRIX adjuvant. We demonstrate, for the first time, proteasome-dependent and independent cross-presentation of HLA-A-, B-, and C-restricted epitopes within the same full-length tumor antigen by human DCs. Our findings identify important differences in the capacities of human DC subsets to cross-present clinically relevant, full-length tumor antigens and how vaccine formulation impacts CTL responses in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cholesterol / immunology
  • Cross-Priming / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • HLA-A Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-B Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-C Antigens / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • MART-1 Antigen
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology*
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • Phospholipids / immunology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / immunology
  • Saponins / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Drug Combinations
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-B Antigens
  • HLA-C Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • ISCOMATRIX
  • MART-1 Antigen
  • MLANA protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Phospholipids
  • Saponins
  • peptide NY-ESO-1 157-165
  • Cholesterol
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex