Identification of tumor-associated, MHC class II-restricted phosphopeptides as targets for immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT: The activation and recruitment of CD4(+) T cells are critical for the development of efficient antitumor immunity and may allow for the optimization of current cancer immunotherapy strategies. Searching for more optimal and selective targets for CD4(+) T cells, we have investigated phosphopeptides, a new category of tumor-derived epitopes linked to proteins with vital cellular functions. Although MHC I-restricted phosphopeptides have been identified, it was previously unknown whether human MHC II molecules present phosphopeptides for specific CD4(+) T cell recognition. We first demonstrated the fine specificity of human CD4(+) T cells to discriminate a phosphoresidue by using cells raised against the candidate melanoma antigen mutant B-Raf or its phosphorylated counterpart. Then, we assess

SUBMITTER: Depontieu FR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2715484 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature