Prediction and identification of novel HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes from endocan

Gaohai Shao; Qingjun Liu; Ling Yang; Guibo Feng; Wang Zhao; Zhongyan Huang; Zhao Yang

doi:10.1186/s12950-020-00240-w

Prediction and identification of novel HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes from endocan

J Inflamm (Lond). 2020 Feb 19:17:10. doi: 10.1186/s12950-020-00240-w. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Gaohai Shao¹, Qingjun Liu², Ling Yang², Guibo Feng², Wang Zhao², Zhongyan Huang², Zhao Yang²

Affiliations

¹ 1Department of orthopedics, Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 402160 China.
² 2Department of Neurology and Chongqing key laboratory of cerebravascular disease, Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 402160 China.

Abstract

Background: Prediction and identification of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes from tumor associated antigens is a crucial step for the development of tumor immunotherapy strategy. Endocan has been identified as antigen overexpressed in various tumors.

Methods: In this experiment, we predicted and identified HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitopes from endocan by using the following procedures. Firstly, we predicted the epitopes from the amino acid sequence of endocan by computer-based methods; Secondly, we determined the affinity of the predicted peptide with HLA-A2.1 molecule by peptide-binding assay; Thirdly, we elicited the primary T cell response against the predicted peptides in vitro; Lastly, we tested the specific CTLs toward endocan and HLA-A2.1 positive target cells.

Results: These data demonstrated that peptides of endocan containing residues 4-12 and 9-17 could elicit specific CTLs producing interferon-γ and cytotoxicity.

Conclusions: Therefore, our findings suggested that the predicted peptides were novel HLA-A2.1-restricted CTL epitopes, and might provide promising target for tumor immunotherapy.

Keywords: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte; Endocan; Epitopes; HLA-A*0201.