Melan-A/MART1 Analog Peptide Triggers Anti-myeloma T-cells Through Crossreactivity With HM1.24

The Melan-A(aa26-35) (EAAGIGILTV) peptide is a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-restricted T-cell epitope within the Melan-A/MART-1 tumor antigen expressed oil malignant melanoma cells. Melan-A and Melan-A analog (ELAGI-GILTV, Melan-A(aa26-35*A27L)) specific T-cells call be expanded reliably for immunotherapeutic approaches in vitro. We studied the ability of Melan-A analog (ELAGIGILTV, Melan-A(aa26-35*A27L)) specific T-cells to recognize the HM1.24(aa22-30) (LLLGIGILV) peptide within the HM1.24 antigen presented by normal and malignant plasma cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HLA-A2(+) healthy donors and HLA-A2(+) multiple myeloma (MM) patients were stimulated with Melan-A analog peptide-loaded autologous dendritic cells, and expanded in vitro. T-cell activation was assessed by interferon-gamma specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot and cytotoxicity by (51)Chromium-release-assays. The frequency of Melan-A analog specific CD8(+) T-cells was detected by using tetramers. Melan-A analog specific T-cells from HLA-A2(+) healthy donors and HLA-A2(+) MM patients showed a interferon-gamma secretion mediated by HM1.24(aa22-30) peptide-pulsed T2 cells and lysed the HLA-A2(+) HM1.24(+) U266 and XG-1 human myeloma derived cell-lines as well as the B-lymphoblastoid cell-line IM-9. Melan-A analog specific T-cells from MM patients specifically lysed autologous MM cells. The current data demonstrate that Melan-A analog specific T-cells crossreact with HM 1.24(aa22-30). They might be a tool for the future Use in immunotherapy against MM.