Bcr-Abl fusion sequences do not induce immune responses in mice when administered in mouse polyomavirus based virus-like particles

Int J Oncol. 2009 Dec;35(6):1247-56. doi: 10.3892/ijo_00000441.

Abstract

Mouse polyomavirus-like particles (MPyV-VLPs) carrying inside a fragment of the Bcr-Abl hybrid protein containing the epitope of chronic myeloid leukemia fusion region were prepared. A sequence encoding 171 amino acids covering Bcr-Abl breakpoint was fused to the C-terminal part of VP3 minor protein connecting it to the VP1 capsomeres. Chimeric particles, the Bcr-Abl VLPs, were tested for their ability to induce Bcr-Abl specific immune response in mice after their intranasal (i.n.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration without any other adjuvants. Bcr-Abl VLPs induced strong anti-VP1 immune response in both i.n. and i.p. immunized mice. As expected, neither IgG nor IgM anti-Bcr-Abl specific antibodies were detected in the sera of immunized animals. Surprisingly, no specific CTL (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte) activity was proved using two different methods (in vitro cytotoxicity assay with CFSE-labeled target cells and highly sensitive cytotoxicity assay using MHC class I Bcr-Abl specific pentamers). In addition, no proliferative response of T-cells of i.n. immunized mice after in vitro restimulation with antigen-pulsed bone marrow-derived dendritic cells was observed. Taken together, Bcr-Abl breakpoint epitopes appeared to be weak immunogens and even MPyV-VLPs did not provide sufficient adjuvant ability to support induction of immune responses specific to Bcr-Abl fusion zone epitope.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Polyomavirus / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl