6533b7d8fe1ef96bd126afc7

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Naturally processed and HLA-B8-presented HPV16 E7 epitope recognized by T cells from patients with cervical cancer.

subject

description

Several major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles have been reported to present peptides derived from the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein to T cells. We describe an overrepresentation of the HLA-B8 allele (28.44%) in cervical cancer patients as compared to the MHC class I allele frequency in a local healthy control population (18.80%) and the identification of an HLA-B8-binding peptide TLHEYMLDL (HPV16 E77–15), which is able to drive HPV16 E7-specific and MHC class I-restricted T-cell responses in peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals. TLHEYMLDLspecific T cells recognize the naturally processed and presented peptide on HPV16 cervical cancer cells transfected with the HLA-B8 gene defined by IFN- production. This peptide epitope is also recognized by freshly harvested tumor-infiltrating T cells or T cells from tumor-draining lymph nodes from patients with cervical cancer determined by flow cytometry as well as by tetramer in situ staining. HLA-B8-restricted HPV E77–15-specific T cells reside predominantly in the CD8 CD45RA CCR7 precursor or in the differentiated CD8 CD45RA CCR7 T-cell population. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.