Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-9-14
pubmed:abstractText
The latent membrane protein 2 is an immunogenic antigen expressed in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated tumors and consequently it may represent a target for specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-based immunotherapies. However, the efficacy of such a therapy is limited by the poor immunogenicity of the protein that induces weak CTL responses directed to the CLGGLLTMV (CLG) epitope only in the minority of EBV-seropositive donors. We have now demonstrated that selective peptide stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes induced CLG-specific CTL in all donors, suggesting that this epitope can be a suitable target for specific immunotherapies. We found that the CLG peptide has a low affinity for HLA-A*0201 and does not produce stable complexes, both factors that are likely to determine the strength of CTL responses to this epitope. Therefore, we synthesized and tested CLG analogues carrying single or combined amino acid substitutions to increase HLA/peptide stability. Among the analogues tested we identified two peptides which, compared to the natural epitope, showed higher affinity for HLA-A*0201 molecules, and produced stable complexes. These peptides demonstrated a potent, specific stimulatory capacity and could be used for selective CTL-based therapies.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0014-2980
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
29
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2579-89
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
Selective amino acid substitutions of a subdominant Epstein-Barr virus LMP2-derived epitope increase HLA/peptide complex stability and immunogenicity: implications for immunotherapy of Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancies.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't