Project description:Characterisation of peptide ligands of Major histocompatibility class (MHC) I isolated by immunoaffinity purification from the C1R (Class I reduced) B-lymphoblastoid cell line, transfected with the MHC class I allele HLA-A*01:01, or HLA-A*02:01, HLA-A*24:02. In addition, public mass spectrometry (MS) datasets of HLA-I and HLA-II immunopeptidome derived from patients’ samples, PBMC or cell lines, and shotgun proteomics from trypsin/elastase digestion were analysed.
Project description:The immune response against tuberculosis relies, at least in part, on CD4+ T cells. Protective vaccines require the induction of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells via mycobacterial peptides presented by MHC class-II in infected macrophages. We have purified MHC class-I and MHC-II peptides and analysed them by mass spectrometry. We have successfully identified 97 mycobacterial peptides presented by MHC-II and 54 presented by MHC-I, from 76 and 41 antigens, respectively. The sequences of selected peptides were confirmed by spectral match validation and immunogenicity evaluated by IFN-gamma ELISpot against peripheral blood mononuclear cells from volunteers vaccinated with BCG, M.tb latently infected subjects or patients with tuberculosis disease. Three antigens were expressed in viral vectors, and evaluated as vaccine candidates alone or in combination in a murine aerosol M.tb challenge model. When delivered in combination, the three candidate vaccines conferred significant protection in the lungs and spleen compared with BCG alone, demonstrating proof-of-concept for this unbiased approach to identifying novel candidate antigens.
Project description:There is increasing recognition of the prognostic significance of tumor cell major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression in anti-cancer immunity. Relapse of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) has recently been linked to MHC class II silencing in leukemic blasts; however, the regulation of MHC class II expression remains incompletely understood. Utilizing unbiased CRISPR-Cas9 screens, we identify that the C-terminal binding protein (CtBP) complex transcriptionally represses MHC class II pathway genes, while the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex component FBXO11 mediates degradation of CIITA, the principal transcription factor regulating MHC class II expression. Targeting these repressive mechanisms selectively induces MHC class II upregulation across a range of AML cell lines. Functionally, MHC class II+ leukemic blasts stimulate antigen-dependent CD4+ T cell activation and potent anti-tumor immune responses, providing fundamental insights into the graft-versus-leukemia effect. These findings establish the rationale for therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring tumor-specific MHC class II expression to salvage AML relapse post-alloSCT and also potentially to enhance immunotherapy outcomes in non-myeloid malignancies.
Project description:Characterisation of peptide ligands of Major histocompatibility class (MHC) I isolated by immunoaffinity purification from the C1R (Class I reduced) B-lymphoblastoid cell line, transfected with the MHC class I allele HLA-B*58:01.
Project description:Characterisation of peptide ligands of Major histocompatibility class (MHC) I isolated by immunoaffinity purification from the C1R (Class I reduced) B-lymphoblastoid cell line, transfected with the MHC class I allele HLA-B*57:01.
Project description:Characterisation of peptide ligands of Major histocompatibility class (MHC) I isolated by immunoaffinity purification from the C1R (Class I reduced) B-lymphoblastoid cell line, transfected with the MHC class I allele HLA-B*57:03.