Enhancement of peptide immunogenicity by insertion of a cathepsin B cleavage site between determinants recognized by B and T cells

Res Immunol. 1993 May;144(4):257-62. doi: 10.1016/0923-2494(93)80102-5.

Abstract

The insertion of two lysine residues (cleavage sites of cathepsin B) at the boundary of a peptide recognized by B cells (BD) and a class-II- presentable sequence (TDh) enhanced the anti-BD antibody induction capacity of this type of peptide construct, as well as production of IL2. It is postulated that these lysines generate a neoprocessable site which helps in release of the TDh moiety from the construct, enabling its presentation to class II molecules, an essential step in clonal expansion of the antibody-producing B cell after internalization of the construct via the BD moiety.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / physiology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cathepsin B / pharmacology*
  • Epitopes*
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Cathepsin B