Identification of Vβ7.1_H3F7 as a therapeutic gene encoding TCR specific to hepatocellular carcinoma

Curr Gene Ther. 2014;14(5):389-99. doi: 10.2174/1566523214666140825124733.

Abstract

The feasibility of T-Cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy using a MART-1-specific TCR has been previously demonstrated in melanoma patients. However, it remains a challenge without a defined tumor-specific antigen in the therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, through the analysis of clonal expansion of TCR Vβ subfamily and DNA sequencing, we identified TCR Vβ7.1_H3F7 as a potential therapeutic gene specifically for the HCC patients. Peripheral blood monouclear cells (PBMC) transfected with TCRV β7.1_H3F7 gene were specifically cytotoxic against HCC cells in vitro. Adoptive transfer of this transfected PBMC resulted in a marked suppression of HCC tumor development in the animal model. These results demonstrated the value of TCRV β7.1_H3F7 as a therapeutic gene specifically for HCC. More importantly, it provides a novel strategy for screening tumor-specific TCR genes, which may pave the way for TCR gene therapy in cancer patients currently without the defined tumor-specific antigens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / transplantation*
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell