Human CD4⁺ T Cells Specific for Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Localize to Merkel Cell Carcinomas and Target a Required Oncogenic Domain.

ABSTRACT: Although CD4⁺ T cells likely play key roles in antitumor immune responses, most immuno-oncology studies have been limited to CD8⁺ T-cell responses due to multiple technical barriers and a lack of shared antigens across patients. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) oncoproteins in 80% of cases. Because MCPyV oncoproteins are shared across most patients with MCC, it is unusually feasible to identify, characterize, and potentially augment tumor-specific CD4⁺ T cells. Here, we report the identification of CD4⁺ T-cell responses against six MCPyV epitopes, one of which included a conserved, essential viral oncogenic domain that binds/disables the cellular retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppress

SUBMITTER: Longino NV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6774871 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature