Project description:Uveal melanoma (UM) with an inflammatory phenotype, characterized by infiltrating leukocytes and increased human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression, carry an increased risk of death due to metastases. These tumors shoud be ideal for T-cell based therapies, yet it is not clear why prognostically-infaust tumors have a high HLA expression. We set out to determine whether the level of HLA molecules in UM is associated with other genetic factors, HLA transcriptional regulators, or microenvironmental factors. 28 enucleated UM were used to study HLA class I and II expression, and several regulators of HLA by immunohistochemistry, PCR microarray, qPCR and chromosome SNP-array. Fresh tumor samples of eight primary UM and four metastases were compared to their corresponding xenograft in SCID mice, using a PCR microarray and SNP array. Increased expression levels of HLA class I and II showed no dosage effect of chromosome 6p, but, as expected, were associated with monosomy of chromosome 3. Increased HLA class I and II protein levels were positively associated with their gene expression and with raised levels of the peptide-loading gene TAP1, and HLA transcriptional regulators IRF1, IRF8, CIITA, and NLRC5, revealing a higher transcriptional activity in prognostically-bad tumors. Implantation of fresh human tumor samples into SCID mice led to a loss of infiltrating leukocytes, and to a decreased expression of HLA class I and II genes , and their regulators. Our data provides evidence for a proper functioning HLA regulatory system in UM, offering a target for T-cell based therapies. NB: Here we show the PCR microarray (Illumina array).
Project description:We interrogated the transcriptome from bulk-sorted T1D donor β-cells as compared to non-diabetic donors. We found β-cells also expressed mRNA for HLA Class II and Class II antigen presentation pathway components, but not a macrophage marker.
Project description:Gene expression analysis of molecules with known function in HLA class II antigen processing and presentation. Various hematopoietic cell types and (cytokine pre-treated) non-hematopoietic cells that are targeted in Graft-versus-Leukemia reactivity and Graft-versus-Host Disease were collected. Expression was compared between the different hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cell types for the Invariant chain, HLA-DMA, HLA-DMB, HLA-DOA and HLA-DOB genes. The data show that the Invariant chain, HLA-DMA, HLA-DMB and HLA-DOA genes are expressed in all or the majority of cell types with HLA class II surface expression, whereas expression of the HLA-DOB gene is restricted to professional antigen presenting B-cells and mature dendritic cells.
Project description:Gene expression analysis of molecules with known function in HLA class II antigen processing and presentation. Various hematopoietic cell types and (cytokine pre-treated) non-hematopoietic cells that are targeted in Graft-versus-Leukemia reactivity and Graft-versus-Host Disease were collected. Expression was compared between the different hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cell types for the Invariant chain, HLA-DMA, HLA-DMB, HLA-DOA and HLA-DOB genes. The data show that the Invariant chain, HLA-DMA, HLA-DMB and HLA-DOA genes are expressed in all or the majority of cell types with HLA class II surface expression, whereas expression of the HLA-DOB gene is restricted to professional antigen presenting B-cells and mature dendritic cells. Total RNA was isolated from various hematopoietic cell types isolated (and cultured) from (G-CSF mobilized) peripheral blood from five different individuals and from (IFN-g pre-treated) fibroblasts cultured from skin biopsies from four different patients transplanted with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells.
Project description:The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-bound-viral antigens, serve as an immunological signature that can be selectively recognized by T cells. As viruses evolve by acquiring mutations, it is essential to identify a range of viral presented antigens. Utilizing HLA-peptidomics we Identified SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides presented by highly prevalent HLA Class-I (HLA-I) molecules using infected cells as well as overexpression of SARS-CoV-2 genes. We found 26 HLA-I peptides and 36 HLA class-II (HLA-II) peptides, which are estimated to be presented by at least one HLA allele in 99% of the world population. Among the identified peptides were recurrently presented HLA-I peptides, peptides derived from out-of-frame-ORFs and presentation-hotspots. Seven of these peptides were previously shown to be immunogenic, and we identified two novel immuno-reactive peptides using HLA-multimer staining. These results may aid the development of the next generation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on viral-specific-presented antigens that span several of the viral genes.