Immune surveillance of acute myeloid leukemia is mediated by HLA-presented antigens on leukemia progenitor cells

ABSTRACT: Persistent therapy-resistant leukemic progenitor cells (LPC) are a main cause of disease relapse and recurrence in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Specific LPC-targeting therapies may thus improve treatment outcome of AML patients. We demonstrate that LPCs present human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted cancer antigens that induce T cell responses allowing for immune surveillance of AML. Using a mass spectrometry-based immunopeptidomics approach we characterized the antigenic landscape of patient LPCs and identify AML/LPC-associated HLA-presented antigens as well as mutation-derived and cryptic neoepitopes as prime targets for development of T cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches. We observed frequent spontaneous memory T cells targeting these AML/LPC-associated antigens in AML patients and showed that antigen-specific T cell recognition and HLA class II immunopeptidome diversity impacts clinical outcome. Our results pave the way for implementation of AML/LPC-associated antigens for T cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches to specifically target and eliminate residual LPCs in AML patients.

INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Fusion Lumos

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell

DISEASE(S): Acute Myeloid Leukemia

SUBMITTER: Annika Nelde  

LAB HEAD: Juliane S. Walz

PROVIDER: PXD038691 | Pride | 2023-08-23

REPOSITORIES: pride