Tumour-specific MHC-class-II-restricted responses after in vitro sensitization to synthetic peptides corresponding to gp100 and Annexin II eluted from melanoma cells

Abstract

In a search for potentially tumour-specific MHC-class-II-restricted antigens, the immunogenicity of endogenous peptides that had been eluted from HLADR molecules of the human melanoma cell line FM3 (HLA-DRB1*02x, DRB1*0401) was tested in vitro. Two 16-mers representing gp100 positions 44- 59, and annexin II positions 208-223 bound well to isolated DRB1*0401 molecules and are discussed here. HLADR-matched normal donors' T cells were cultured with peptide-pulsed artificial antigen-presenting cells (CHO cells cotransfected with genes for HLA-DRB1*0401 and CD80 and coexpressing high levels of both human molecules). Specific sensitization was achieved against both peptides, as measured in assays ..