U.S. patent application number 11/404555 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-19 for peptide epitopes of vegfr-2/kdr that inhibit angiogenesis.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Gov. of the USA as represented by the Secretary of the Dept. of Health & Human Services. Invention is credited to Yujun Dong, Samir N. Khleif.
Application Number | 20060234941 11/404555 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37109277 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060234941 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Khleif; Samir N. ; et
al. |
October 19, 2006 |
Peptide epitopes of VEGFR-2/KDR that inhibit angiogenesis
Abstract
The disclosure provides antigenic peptides of Vascular
Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2(VEGFR-2)/KDR. Pharmaceutical
compositions including the peptides and/or antigen presenting cells
that exhibit the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides on their cell surface are
also provided. Methods for eliciting an immune response and for
inhibiting angiogenesis by administering such pharmaceutical
compositions are provided.
Inventors: |
Khleif; Samir N.;
(Silverspring, MD) ; Dong; Yujun; (Washington,
DC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLARQUIST SPARKMAN, LLP
121 S.W. SALMON STREET
SUITE #1600
PORTLAND
OR
97204-2988
US
|
Assignee: |
The Gov. of the USA as represented
by the Secretary of the Dept. of Health & Human
Services
|
Family ID: |
37109277 |
Appl. No.: |
11/404555 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60671867 |
Apr 15, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
514/6.9 ;
435/372; 514/13.3; 514/16.6; 514/17.9; 514/18.6; 514/19.8; 514/8.1;
530/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 35/00 20180101;
C07K 14/71 20130101; A61P 3/10 20180101; A61P 29/00 20180101; A61P
19/10 20180101; A61K 38/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/015 ;
530/328; 435/372 |
International
Class: |
A61K 38/10 20060101
A61K038/10; C07K 7/08 20060101 C07K007/08; C12N 5/08 20060101
C12N005/08 |
Claims
1. An isolated or synthetic peptide that binds to a Major
Histocompatibility (MHC) Class I molecule comprising a subsequence
of a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR-2).
2. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide consists of between
8 and 12 amino acids.
3. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide consists of 9 or 10
amino acids.
4. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide is a subsequence of
a murine VEGFR-2 comprising the sequence TNXI, where X is any amino
acid.
5. The peptide of claim 4, wherein the peptide comprises: (a) the
sequence VILTNPISM or FSNSTNDILI; or (b) a sequence of (a) with one
or more amino acid additions, deletions or substitutions.
6. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide is a subsequence of
a human VEGFR-2 comprising the sequence X-L/M-(X).sub.5 or
6-L/T/F/G, where X is any amino acid.
7. The peptide of claim 6, wherein the peptide comprises: (a) the
sequence VLLWEIFSL, ALIEGKNKT, AMFFWLLLV, VLLAVALWL, LMTKKNSTFV,
FLSTLTIDGV, or WLLLVIILRT; or (b) a sequence of (a) with one or
more amino acid additions, deletions or substitutions.
8. The peptide of claim 6, wherein the peptide binds to an HLA-A2
molecule.
9. An isolated antigen presenting cell (APC) that presents the
isolated peptide of claim 1 on a cell surface MHC Class I
molecule.
10. The APC of claim 9, comprising a dendritic cell.
11. The APC of claim 10, comprising a human dendritic cell.
12. The APC of claim 9, wherein the APC is contacted with the
peptide comprising a subsequence of a Vascular Endothelial Growth
Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR-2).
13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: (a) at least one
isolated or synthetic peptide that binds to a Major
Histocompatibility (MHC) Class I molecule comprising a subsequence
of a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR-2); or b)
an isolated antigen presenting cell (APC) that presents the at
least one peptide of (a) on a cell surface MHC Class I molecule;
and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
14. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13, comprising a
plurality of different peptides or an APC that presents a plurality
of different peptides.
15. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13, wherein the
pharmaceutical composition is an immunogenic composition.
16. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13, further comprising
an adjuvant.
17. A method of eliciting an immune response against a VEGFR-2
comprising: administering to a subject an immunologically effective
amount of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 13.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein eliciting an immune response
against VEGFR-2 inhibits angiogenesis
19. The method of claim 17, comprising administering the
pharmaceutical composition to a subject with a tumor.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tumor is a solid tumor or
metastasis thereof.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein administration of the
pharmaceutical composition elicits an immune response that prevents
or reduced neovascularization by the tumor or a metastasis
thereof.
22. The method of claim 17, further comprising administering at
least one chemotherapeutic agent to the subject.
23. The method of claim 17, further comprising administering at
least one cytokine or immunostimulatory agent to the subject.
24. The method of claim 17, wherein the pharmaceutical composition
further comprises an adjuvant.
25. The method of claim 17, comprising an autologous APC.
26. The method of claim 17, wherein the subject is a human.
27. A method of ameliorating an autoimmune disease, comprising:
administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of
the pharmaceutical composition of claim 13.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the autoimmune disease is
rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus
erythematosus, diabetes and/or an inflammatory skin disorder.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the pharmaceutical composition
further comprises an adjuvant.
30. The method of claim 27, comprising an autologous APC.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein the subject is a human.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional
application 60/671,867, filed Apr. 15, 2005, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to cancer immunotherapy. More
specifically, this disclosure relates to the use of immunogenic
peptides of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 to
elicit an anti-angiogenic immune response useful for the treatment
of cancer.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Angiogenesis, the formation of new capillary blood vessels,
is essential for the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. The
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) family of proteins is one
of the most potent and specific positive regulators of
angiogenesis. These proteins bind to three tyrosine-kinase
receptors, VEGFR-1 (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor
1/Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (KDR/Fetal liver kinase 1, Flk-1) and VEGFR-3
(Flt-4). Neuropilin-1 is the fourth receptor that can bind
specifically one of the VEGF isoforms: (VEGF165) and enhances its
binding to VEGFR-1 (Soker et al., Cell 92(6):735-45, 1998). In
general, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2/KDR are expressed on vascular
endothelial cells whereas VEGFR-3 is expressed on lymphatic
endothelial cells (Partanen et al., Cancer 86:2406, 1999; Kaipainen
et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:3566-70, 1995).
[0004] VEGFR-2/KDR is a major mediator of the mitogenic, angiogenic
and permeability-enhancing effects of VEGF (Ferrara et al., Nat
Med. 9(6):669-676, 2003), and VEGFR-2/KDR is involved in the
process of vascularization and angiogenesis. For example
VEGFR-2/KDR-null mice die in utero between days 8.5 and 9.5 without
any sign of vasculogenesis or organized blood vessels (Shalaby et
al. Nature 376:62-66, 1995), demonstrating that VEGFR-2/KDR has an
important role in the process of vascularization and
angiogenesis.
[0005] VEGFR-2/KDR is highly expressed in tumor associated
endothelial cells and contributes to tumor growth, invasion and
metastasis (Dias et al., J Clin Invest. 106(4):511-521, 2000;
Santos et al., Blood 103(10):3883-3889, 2004; St. Croix et al.,
Science 289:1197-1202, 2000). In addition, VEGFR-2/KDR is also
expressed on the surface of several tumor cells including: B cell
lymphoma and leukemia, multiple myeloma, urothelial bladder cancer,
breast cancer, and lung cancer, among others (El-Obeid et al., Leuk
Res. 28(2):133-137, 2004; Kumar et al., Leukemia 17(10):2025-2031,
2003; Gakiopoulou-Givalou et al., Histopathology 43(3):272-279,
2003; Kranz et al., Int J Cancer 84(3):293-298, 1999; Decaussin et
al., J Pathol. 188(4):369-377, 1999). The relatively high level of
expression on tumor cells relative to normal vascular endothelial
cells suggests that VEGFR-2/KDR is a suitable target of tumor
therapy.
[0006] Anti-angiogenic strategies targeting VEGFR-2/KDR have long
been sought. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting
VEGFR-2/KDR, such as SU5416 have been shown to be effective in
treating certain types of carcinomas in vitro and in vivo (Fong et
al., Cancer Res. 59(1):99-106, 1999; Zangari et al., Clin Cancer
Res. 10(1 Pt 1):88-95, 2004). Monoclonal antibodies against
VEGFR-2/KDR can inhibit tumor angiogenesis and growth of several
human and murine tumors (Prewett et al., Cancer Res.
59(20):5209-5218, 1999; Zhu et al., Cancer Res. 58(15):3209-3214,
1998). Wei et al., have shown that specific immune responses can be
induced by xenogeneic endothelial cells and can protect mice from
tumor challenge (Wei et al., Nat Med. (10):1160-1166, 2000).
Vaccine strategies against VEGFR-2/KDR have also been attempted.
Tumor growth can be successfully inhibited by immunotherapy
targeting VEGFR-2/KDR through a DNA vaccine encoding the
full-length VEGFR-2/KDR (Niethammer et al., Nat Med 8:1369-1375,
2002), or dendritic cells transfected with a full-length
VEGFR-2/KDR encoding construct (Nair et al., Blood 102(3):964-971,
2003), or pulsed with recombinant full-length VEGFR-2/KDR protein
(Li et al., J. Exp. Med 195(12):1575-1584, 2002). Some of these
strategies have attributed the anti-tumor effects elicited to CD8+
CTLs (Wei et al., Nat Med. (10):1160-1166, 2000; Niethammer et al.,
Nat Med 8:1369-1375, 2002; Yiwen et al., J. Exp. Med.
195:1575-1584, 2002), indicating that CTLs elicited by immunization
against VEGFR-2/KDR can destroy endothelial cells derived from
tumor associated vessels. To date, no human or murine VEGFR-2/KDR
CTL epitopes have been identified.
[0007] The present disclosure provides murine and human MHC Class I
epitopes of VEGFR-2/KDR, and demonstrates their efficacy as an
anti-angiogenic vaccine.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] The present disclosure provides antigenic peptides of
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2(VEGFR-2)/KDR. The
antigenic VEGFR-2/KDR peptides bind MHC Class I proteins and can
elicit an anti-angiogenic immune response following administration
to a subject. Pharmaceutical compositions including the peptides
and/or antigen presenting cells that exhibit the VEGFR-2/KDR
peptides on their cell surface are also described. Methods for
eliciting an immune response and methods for inhibiting
angiogenesis by administering such pharmaceutical compositions are
also disclosed.
[0009] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of a several embodiments which proceeds with reference
to the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1 is a line graph illustrating results of an RMA-S
binding assay. KDR2 and KDR3 bind efficiently to H-2Db molecules.
RMA-S cells were loaded with various peptides for 16 to 18 h at
37.degree. C. Levels of surface class I molecules were assessed by
flow cytometric analysis using mouse monoclonal antibodies specific
for H-2Db. FI=Fluoresce measurement after peptides
stimulation/Fluoresce measurement without peptide-1. .quadrature.:
KDR1, .DELTA.:KDR2, .quadrature.: KDR3, .smallcircle.: wild type
P53 264-272, .quadrature.: HPV 16 E7 49-57. HPV E7 49-57 and Human
P53 264-272 serve as positive and negative control respectively.
The results shown here are representative of three separate
experiments.
[0011] FIGS. 2A-C are bar graphs representing the results of
IFN-Eli spot assays. Four groups of mice (5 mice per group) were
vaccinated with different peptides (KDR1, KDR2, KDR3). Mice were
sacrificed, spleen or drained lymph nodes (DLN) cells prepared as
described in methods section served as effectors. Syngeneic EL4
cells (3,000 rads) pulsed with peptides or H5V cells after treated
with MMC served as stimulators. Irradiated EL4 without peptide or
MMC treated allogeneic bEND3 cells as control. Dot bar: EL4 pulsed
with irrelevant peptide as negative control; Solid bar: EL4 pulsed
with KDR2 or KDR3 respectively; Open bar: EL4 without any peptide;
A. Results of fresh spleen cells; B. Results of spleen cells after
1 week restimulation in vitro; C. Cells from fresh drained lymph
nodes stimulated with H5V or bEND3 cells.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a series of flow cytometry scatter plots
illustrating tetramer staining of CTLs. Plots are gated on 7-AAD
negative and CD8 positive cells: Panel A: Fresh isolated cells;
Panel B: spleen cells from naive mice after restimulated in vitro
with peptide KDR2 or KDR3 for 7 days; Panel C: splenocytes from
vaccinated mice and restimulated in vitro for 7 days with
vaccinated peptides. Left row: H-2Db-HPV16 E7 49-57 tetramer served
as irrelevant control, Middle row: H-2Db-KDR2 tetramer; Right row:
H-2Db-KDR3 tetramer.
[0013] FIGS. 4A-D are line graphs illustrating the results of
standard 4 hr .sup.51Cr release test. Three weeks after
immunization, spleen cells were prepared from immunized mice (4-5
mice per group) and restimulated with vaccinated peptides in a
24-well plate in the presence of RPMI 1640 (Invitrogen) with 10%
FCS. 10% T-stim was added 48 hours later into the culture media and
the cells were incubated for 5 days at 37.degree. C. The CTL
activity was tested in a 4-hour .sup.51Cr release assay. Target
cells include VEGFR-2/KDR+ H5V (H-2d) and bEND3 (H-2b) endothelial
cells, VEGFR-2/KDR-EL4 cells pulsed with peptides or EL4 alone. The
percentage of specific lysis was calculated using the formula:
(experimental release-spontaneous release)/(maximum
release-spontaneous release).times.100. Upper panel: effector cells
from mice immunized with KDR2, Lower panel: effectors from KDR3
immunized mice.
[0014] FIGS. 5A-C illustrate the results of a Matrigel Plug Assay
illustrating that angiogenesis can be inhibited by peptide
immunization. Mice (C57BL/6) were immunized three times with 4
weeks interval in the tails. 10 days after the last immunization,
mice were injected subcutaneously (right flanks) with 500 .mu.l of
a solution containing Matrigel, with or without 100 ng/ml murine
VEGF. Plugs were resected after 10 days and were shaken overnight
in 2 volumes water before 1 hr of incubation with an equal volume
of Drabkin reagent (Sigma) and colorimetric assessment at A540.
FIG. 5A illustrates representative digital images before the
Matrigel Plugs were resected: Left: plug with muVEGF in mice
immunized with IFA+GM-CSF+aCD40; Right: plug with muVEGF in mice
immunized with IFA+GM-CSF+aCD40+KDR2+KDR3. FIG. 5B illustrates
representative digital images of the Matrigel Plugs: (a):plug
without mu-VEGF as negative control; (b): plug with mu-VEGF as
positive control;(c) IFA+GM-CSF+anti-CD40; (d)
IFA+GM-CSF+anti-CD40+KDR2+KDR3. FIG. 5C is a graph indicating
hemoglobin content in the Matrigel plugs by Drabkin reagent. Gr1:
negative control, plugs without muVEGF (n=2); Gr2: positive
control, plugs with muVEGF(n=3) ; Gr3: plugs with muVEGF from mice
immunized with IFA+GM-CSF+aCD40 (n=7); Gr4: plugs with muVEGF from
mice immunized with IFA+GM-CSF+aCD40+KDR2+KDR3 (n=6).
[0015] P<0.05 relative to Gr3 by Student's t-test.indicates mean
of the group.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a line graph illustrating inhibition of MC-38
tumor growth by KDR2 and KDR3 immunization. 3.times.10.sup.4 MC38
colon cancer cells were injected s.c. into the right flanks of
C57BL/6 mice at day1, Mice were randomized into 3 groups (5 mice
each) at day 5 were immunized with PBS, adjuvants only or adjuvants
plus 100 .mu.g KDR2 and KDR3 peptides. Tumors were measured by
caliper twice a week till mice were sacrificed when tumor reach 2
millimeter in length. Error bars indicate standard deviation.
.smallcircle. mice injected with PBS served as control; .box-solid.
mice immunized with IFA+GM-CSF+ anti-CD40; .tangle-solidup. mice
vaccinated with IFA+ GM-CSF+ anti-CD40+ KDR2+KDR3. The results
shown that vaccination with KDR2 and KDR3 can inhibit MC38 tumor
growth.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a line graph illustrating binding of exemplary
human VEGFR-2/KDR peptides to HLA-A2 in a T2 binding assay.
[0018] FIGS. 8A and B are bar graphs illustrating production of
IFN-.gamma. secreting T cells in response to immunization with
exemplary human VEGFR-2/KDR peptides (KDR505, KDR775 and KDR1093).
(A) and (B) illustrate the production of IFN-.gamma. secreting T
cells stimulated in the presence and absence of C1R.A2 cells,
respectively.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0019] The nucleic and amino acid sequences listed in the
accompanying sequence listing are shown using standard letter
abbreviations for nucleotide bases, and three letter code for amino
acids, as defined in 37 C.F.R. 1.822. Only one strand of each
nucleic acid sequence is shown, but the complementary strand is
understood as included by any reference to the displayed strand. In
the accompanying sequence listing:
[0020] SEQ ID NO:1 is the amino acid sequence of the murine
VEGFR-2/KDR.
[0021] SEQ ID NO:2 is the amino acid sequence of the human
VEGFR-2/Flk-1.
[0022] SEQ ID NO:3 is the amino acid sequence of the peptide
(murine) KDR2.
[0023] SEQ ID NO:4 is the amino acid sequence of the peptide
(murine) KDR3.
[0024] SEQ ID NO:5 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0025] SEQ ID NO:6 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0026] SEQ ID NO:7 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0027] SEQ ID NO:8 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0028] SEQ ID NO:9 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0029] SEQ ID NO: 10 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0030] SEQ ID NO: 11 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0031] SEQ ID NO:12 is the amino acid sequence of a human
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide.
[0032] SEQ ID NO:13 is the amino acid sequence of the peptide
(murine) KDR1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I. Introduction
[0033] Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is an important
regulator of angiogenesis, including neovascularization of tumors.
The present disclosure provides peptide epitopes of the VEGFR-2/KDR
receptor which are useful as immunogenic compositions to elicit an
immune response that targets VEGFR-2/KDR expressing cells, such as
cells of tumor vascular endothelia. Because VEGFR-2/KDR is highly
expressed on the surface of endothelial cells undergoing abnormal
angiogenesis associated with tumor progression as compared to
normal vascular endothelial cells, such a targeted immune response
is an effective means of reducing tumor growth in vivo, either as
an independent therapy or in conjunction with surgical resection
and/or chemotherapy.
[0034] Targeting tumor vascular endothelia provides several
advantages as compared to targeting tumor cells directly. For
example, MHC molecules on the surface of endothelial cells are not
down-regulated as are MHC molecules on tumor cells. Effector cells
(such as T cells) and/or antibodies can reach endothelial cell
targets more easily (via the vasculature) than these effectors can
reach tumor cells. Because each blood vessel supplies hundreds (or
more) of tumor cells, targeting blood vessels efficiently targets
numerous tumor cells. In addition, treatment targeted against
endothelial cells is not limited on tumor type or tissue, and is
likely to impact at least four different types of cells: tumor
associated endothelial cells expressing VEGFR-2/KDR, tumor cells
expressing VEGFR-2/KDR, circulating endothelial progenitors (CEPs,
CD34+AC133+VEGFR-2/KDR+)(Yu et al., Blood 103:1373-1375, 2004) and
circulating endothelial cells (CECs, CD45-VEGFR-2/KDR+)(Schuh et
al., Cancer Res. 63:8345-8350, 2003). Thus, therapies targeting the
blood vessels that supply tumors are likely to be more efficient
and effective than targeting the tumor cells themselves.
[0035] To date, all of the attempts to elicit a therapeutically
relevant immune response against VEGFR-2/KDR have used full-length
protein. Compared to immunotherapies involving full-length protein,
peptide vaccine is much easier to synthesize, and can be produced
at significantly lower cost. The high purity of peptide vaccine is
another advantage because peptide vaccines do not have any of the
potential dangers associated with infection by recombinant viruses
or allergy due to an exogenous protein in the vaccine composition.
The present disclosure provides novel CD8+ T cell epitopes from
VEGFR-2/KDR, and demonstrates their efficacy as an anti-angiogenic
tumor therapy.
[0036] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to peptides
that bind to a Major Histocompatibility (MHC) Class I molecule.
These peptides are chains of amino acids (between 3 and 30 amino
acids in length) that are subsequences of the Vascular Endothelial
Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR-2/KDR). Typically, the VEGFR-2/KDR
MHC Class I binding peptides are at least 8 amino acids, and no
more than 12 amino acids in length. Usually, the peptides consist
of a subsequence of VEGFR-2/KDR of 9 amino acids or 10 amino acids
in length.
[0037] In one embodiment, the peptides are subsequences of the
murine (mouse) VEGFR-2/KDR. More particularly, the peptides are
subsequences of the murine VEGFR-2/KDR that include the sequence
T-N-X-I (TNXI), where X is any amino acid. For example, the
sequences VILTNPISM (KDR2: SEQ ID NO:3) and FSNSTNDILI (KDR3: SEQ
ID NO:4) are peptide subsequences of the murine VEGFR-2/KDR that
bind murine MHC Class I molecules (H-2D.sup.b) and elicit an
anti-angiogenic immune response following administration to a
subject. Alternatively, the peptides include at least one amino
acid addition, deletion or substitution relative to SEQ ID NO:3 or
SEQ ID NO:4. In embodiments including one or more amino acid
deletion, addition or substitution, the peptides nonetheless retain
the ability to bind MHC Class I and to elicit an anti-angiogenic
immune response.
[0038] In another embodiment, the peptide is a subsequence of a
human VEGFR-2/KDR. The peptides include the motif: X-L/M-(X).sub.5
or 6-L/T/F/G, where X is any amino acid. Thus, the peptide includes
any amino acid at position one (with respect to the N-terminus of
the peptide), a leucine or methionine at position two, any amino
acid at positions three through seven or eight, and a leucine,
threonine, phenylalanine or glycine at position eight or nine. For
example, VLLWEIFSL (SEQ ID NO:5), ALIEGKNKT (SEQ ID NO:6),
AMFFWLLLV (SEQ ID NO:7), VLLAVALWL (SEQ ID NO:8), LMTKKNSTFV (SEQ
ID NO:9), FLSTLTIDGV (SEQ ID NO:10), and WLLLVIILRT (SEQ ID NO:11)
are exemplary human VEGFR-2/KDR peptides that bind MHC Class I
(e.g., HLA-A2) and elicit an anti-angiogenic immune response
following administration to a subject. The peptides can optionally
include one or more amino acid addition, deletion or substitution
that does not impair the peptide's ability to bind MHC Class I or
substantially alter its antigenicity.
[0039] Typically, the anti-angiogenic immune response involves a
cytotoxic (CTL) response specific for cells that express
VEGFR-2/KDR. Such a response involves the proliferation and
activation of CD8+ T cells with T cell receptors (TCRs) that
specifically bind to or interact with an epitope of VEGFR-2/KDR. In
some cases, the immune response also results in the production of
antibodies that bind specifically to VEGFR-2/KDR.
[0040] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to isolated antigen
presenting cells (APCs) that present the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides on a
cell surface MHC Class I molecule. The APCs include dendritic
cells, macrophages and B cells. In some embodiments, the APCs are
human APCs, such as human dendritic cells. In some embodiments, the
APC is contacted with at least one VEGFR-2/KDR peptide by exposing
the external surface of the APC to the VEGFR-2/KDR peptide(s),
e.g., by culturing the APC in a medium containing the VEGFR-2/KDR
peptide(s).
[0041] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to pharmaceutical
compositions (medicaments) including the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides or
APCs (such as autologous APCs) that present the peptides on cell
surface MHC Class I molecules, and a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier or excipient. For example, the pharmaceutical compositions
described herein are immunogenic compositions. That is, the
pharmaceutical compositions or medicaments can be used to elicit an
immune response in a subject. The immune response typically
involves the proliferation and activation of T cells that have a
TCR that binds to an epitope of VEGFR-2/KDR. The immune response
can include a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response that targets
endothelial cells involved in tumor angiogenesis. Methods for
producing the medicaments are also disclosed.
[0042] The disclosure also provides methods for eliciting an immune
response against a VEGFR-2/KDR. Such an immune response is specific
for an antigen expressed on vascular endothelial cells. Such
methods involve administering an immunologically effective amount
of a pharmaceutical composition that includes at least one
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide as described herein, or at least one APC that
presents such a peptide. The immune responses elicited following
administration of an immunologically effective amount of these
pharmaceutical compositions reduces or inhibits angiogenesis (that
is, the immune response is an anti-angiogenic immune response). For
example, the immune response can inhibit or reduce tumor associated
angiogenesis or neovascularization associated with cancer. Thus,
the immune response inhibits or reduces angiogenesis associated
with tumor progression, metastasis and/or vascularization
associated with regrowth of a tumor following surgical resection or
chemotherapy. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions
described herein can be administered to a subject with a tumor,
e.g., to inhibit vascularization of the tumor, to inhibit growth or
progression of the tumor, to inhibit metastasis by the tumor, etc.
In some cases, the subject is a human subject. Optionally, the
pharmaceutical composition includes or is administered in
combination with a cytokine, an immunostimulatory agent (such as an
adjuvant) or a chemotherapeutic agent.
[0043] Additional technical details are provided under the specific
topic headings below.
II. Abbreviations
[0044] APC: antigen presenting cell
[0045] CEC; CEP: circulating endothelial cell; circulating
endothelial progenitor
[0046] CTL: cytotoxic T lymphocyte
[0047] DC: dendritic cell
[0048] FACS: Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (or scanning)
[0049] FBS: Fetal Bovine Serum
[0050] GM-CSF: granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor
[0051] H-2: murine (mouse) major histocompatibility complex
[0052] HLA: human major histocompatibility complex
[0053] IFA: Freund's incomplete adjuvant
[0054] IFN-.gamma.: Gamma interferon
[0055] MHC: Major Histocompatibility Complex
[0056] PBL: peripheral blood lymphocytes
[0057] PBMC: peripheral blood mononuclear cells
[0058] PBS: Phosphate buffered saline
[0059] TCR: T cell receptor
[0060] .mu.M: micromolar
[0061] VEGF: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
[0062] VEGFR-2/[VEGFR-2/KDR/Flk-1: VEGF Receptor 2
II. Terms
[0063] Unless otherwise explained, all technical and scientific
terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by
one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.
Definitions of common terms in molecular biology may be found in
Benjamin Lewin, Genes V, published by Oxford University Press, 1994
(ISBN 0-19-854287-9); Kendrew et al. (eds.), The Encyclopedia of
Molecular Biology, published by Blackwell Science Ltd., 1994 (ISBN
0-632-02182-9); and Robert A. Meyers (ed.), Molecular Biology and
Biotechnology: a Comprehensive Desk Reference, published by VCH
Publishers, Inc., 1995 (ISBN 1-56081-569-8).
[0064] The singular terms "a," "an," and "the" include plural
referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly,
the word "or" is intended to include "and" unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. It is further to be understood that
all base sizes or amino acid sizes, and all molecular weight or
molecular mass values, given for nucleic acids or polypeptides are
approximate, and are provided for description. Although methods and
materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be
used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable
methods and materials are described below. The term "comprises"
means "includes." The abbreviation, "e.g." is derived from the
Latin exempli gratia, and is used herein to indicate a non-limiting
example. Thus, the abbreviation "e.g." is synonymous with the term
"for example."
[0065] In order to facilitate review of the various embodiments of
this disclosure, the following explanations of specific terms are
provided:
[0066] Adjuvant: A vehicle used to enhance antigenicity; such as a
suspension of minerals (alum, aluminum hydroxide, or aluminum
phosphate) on which antigen is adsorbed; or water-in-oil (MF-59;
Freund's incomplete adjuvant) emulsion in which antigen solution is
emulsified in mineral oil, sometimes with the inclusion of killed
mycobacteria (Freund's complete adjuvant) to further enhance
antigenicity (inhibits degradation of antigen and/or causes influx
of macrophages). Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides (such as those
including a CpG motif) can also be used as adjuvants (for example
see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,194,388; 6,207,646; 6,214,806; 6,218,371;
6,239,116; 6,339,068; 6,406,705; and 6,429,199).
[0067] Anchor Amino Acid Residue or Anchor Residue: Binding of a
peptide epitope to an MHC molecule is determined in significant
part by the presence of anchor amino acid residues that correspond
to the recognition motif or "anchor motif" of the MHC molecule.
[0068] Antigen: A compound, composition, or substance that can
stimulate the production of antibodies or a T cell response in an
animal, including compositions that are injected or absorbed into
an animal. An antigen interacts with one or more products of
specific humoral or cellular immunity. "Epitope" or "antigenic
determinant" refers to a site on an antigen to which B cells (or
antibodies) and/or T cells bind. Epitopes can be formed both from
contiguous amino acids or noncontiguous amino acids juxtaposed by
tertiary folding of a protein. Epitopes formed from contiguous
amino acids are typically retained on exposure to denaturing
solvents whereas epitopes formed by tertiary folding are typically
lost on treatment with denaturing solvents. In some cases, T cells
bind to the epitope, when the epitope is bound to an MHC molecule.
An epitope can be as few as three amino acids. More commonly, an
epitope is composed of at least about 7 amino acids. For example,
an epitope presented in the context of an MHC molecule is usually
at least 8 amino acids in length. Usually such an epitope is no
longer than about 12 amino acids. For example, an epitope presented
by an MHC Class I molecule is typically about 9, or about 10 amino
acids in length. Thus, the epitopes presented by MHC molecules are
typically peptides.
[0069] Antigen Presenting Cell (APC): Antigen presenting cells are
cells that can process antigens and display the antigen peptide
fragments on the cell surface together with molecules involved in
lymphocyte activation. Antigen presenting cells include dendritic
cells (DCs), macrophages, and B cells.
[0070] Antibody: Immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically
active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, that is, molecules
that contain an antigen binding site that specifically binds
(immunoreacts with) an antigen.
[0071] A naturally occurring antibody (e.g., IgG, IgM, IgD)
includes four polypeptide chains, two heavy (H) chains and two
light (L) chains interconnected by disulfide bonds. As used herein,
the term antibody also includes recombinant antibodies produced by
expression of a nucleic acid that encodes one or more antibody
chains in a cell (e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,745,055; 4,444,487; WO
88/03565; EP 256,654; EP 120,694; EP 125,023; Faoulkner et al.,
Nature 298:286, 1982; Morrison, J. Immunol. 123:793, 1979; Morrison
et al., Ann Rev. Immunol 2:239, 1984).
[0072] The term antibody also includes an antigen binding fragment
of a naturally occurring or recombinant antibody. Specific,
non-limiting examples of binding fragments encompassed within the
term antibody include (i) a Fab fragment consisting of the V.sub.L,
V.sub.H, C.sub.L and C.sub.H1 domains; (ii) an F.sub.d fragment
consisting of the V.sub.H and C.sub.H1 domains; (iii) an Fv
fragment consisting of the VL and VH domains of a single arm of an
antibody, (iv) a dAb fragment (Ward et al., Nature 341:544-546,
1989) which consists of a V.sub.H domain; (v) an isolated
complementarity determining region (CDR); and (vi) a F(ab').sub.2
fragment, a bivalent fragment comprising two Fab fragments linked
by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region.
[0073] Cancer: A malignant neoplasm that has undergone
characteristic anaplasia with loss of differentiation, increased
rate of growth, invasion of surrounding tissue, and is capable of
metastasis. Residual cancer is cancer that remains in a subject
after any form of treatment given to the subject to reduce or
eradicate cancer. Metastatic cancer is a cancer at one or more
sites in the body other than the site of origin of the original
(primary) cancer from which the metastatic cancer is derived.
[0074] Chemotherapy; chemotherapeutic agents: As used herein, any
chemical agent with therapeutic usefulness in the treatment of
diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth. Such diseases
include tumors, neoplasms and cancer as well as diseases
characterized by hyperplastic growth such as psoriasis. In one
embodiment, a chemotherapeutic agent is an agent of use in treating
neoplasms such as solid tumors. In one embodiment, a
chemotherapeutic agent is a radioactive molecule. One of skill in
the art can readily identify a chemotherapeutic agent of use (e.g.,
see, Slapak and Kufe, Principles of Cancer Therapy, Chapter 86 in
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th edition; Perry et
al., Chemotherapy, Ch. 17 in Abeloff, Clinical Oncology 2.sup.nd
ed., 2000 Churchill Livingstone, Inc; Baltzer L, Berkery R (eds):
Oncology Pocket Guide to Chemotherapy, 2nd ed. St. Louis,
Mosby-Year Book, 1995; Fischer D S, Knobf M F, Durivage H J (eds):
The Cancer Chemotherapy Handbook, 4th ed. St. Louis, Mosby-Year
Book, 1993). The immunogenic VEGFR-2/KDR peptides disclosed herein
can be used in conjunction with additional chemotherapeutic
agents.
[0075] Dendritic cell (DC): Dendritic cells are the principal
antigen presenting cells (APCs) involved in primary immune
responses. Dendritic cells include plasmacytoid dendritic cells and
myeloid dendritic cells. Their major function is to obtain antigen
in tissues, migrate to lymphoid organs and present the antigen in
order to activate T cells. Immature dendritic cells originate in
the bone marrow and reside in the periphery as immature cells.
[0076] Epitope: An antigenic determinant. An epitope is the
particular chemical groups or peptide sequences on a molecule that
are antigenic, that is, that elicit a specific immune response. An
antibody specifically binds a particular antigenic epitope, e.g.,
on a polypeptide. Epitopes can be formed both from contiguous amino
acids or noncontiguous amino acids juxtaposed by tertiary folding
of a protein. Epitopes formed from contiguous amino acids are
typically retained on exposure to denaturing solvents whereas
epitopes formed by tertiary folding are typically lost on treatment
with denaturing solvents. An epitope typically includes at least 3,
and more usually, at least 5, about 9, or 8 to 10 amino acids in a
unique spatial conformation. Methods of determining spatial
conformation of epitopes include, for example, x-ray
crystallography and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. See,
e.g., "Epitope Mapping Protocols" in Methods in Molecular Biology,
Vol. 66, Glenn E. Morris, Ed (1996). In one embodiment, an epitope
binds an MHC molecule, such an HLA molecule or a DR molecule. These
molecules bind polypeptides having the correct anchor amino acids
separated by about eight to about ten amino acids, such as nine
amino acids.
[0077] Immune response: A response of a cell of the immune system,
such as a B cell, T cell, or monocyte, to a stimulus. In one
embodiment, the response is specific for a particular antigen (an
"antigen-specific response"). In one embodiment, an immune response
is a T cell response, such as a CD4+ response or a CD8+ response.
In another embodiment, the response is a B cell (or humoral immune)
response, and results in the production of specific antibodies,
that is, an antibody response.
[0078] Immunologically effective amount: An immunologically
effective amount of an antigen is an amount which elicits an immune
response following administration to a subject. For example, a
prophylactically effective amount, e.g., of a vaccine, elicits a
protective immune response that prevents or inhibits at least one
symptom of a disease upon administration to a subject. A
therapeutically effective amount elicits an immune response that
reduces at least one symptom of a disease or ameliorates at least
one condition associated with a disease. For example,
administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide is sufficient to elicit an immune response that
reduces, inhibits or prevents formation of blood vessels associated
with tumor progression or metastasis.
[0079] Inhibiting or treating a disease: Inhibiting a disease, such
as tumor growth, refers to inhibiting the full development of a
disease or to reducing or inhibiting a symptom of the disease.
"Treatment" refers to a therapeutic or prophylactic intervention
that ameliorates a sign or symptom of a disease or pathological
condition related to the disease, such as the tumor.
[0080] Isolated: An "isolated" biological component (such as a
protein) has been substantially separated or purified away from
other biological components in the cell of the organism in which
the component naturally occurs, i.e., chromosomal and
extra-chromosomal DNA and RNA, other proteins and organelles.
Proteins and peptides that have been "isolated" include proteins
and peptides purified by standard purification methods. The term
also includes proteins and peptides prepared by recombinant
expression in a host cell, as well as chemically synthesized
proteins and peptides.
[0081] Lymphocytes: A type of white blood cell that is involved in
the immune defenses of the body. There are two main types of
lymphocytes: B cells and T cells.
[0082] Major Histocompatibility (MHC) molecule: The Major
Histocompatibility molecules are proteins encoded by polymorphic
genes located on human chromosome 6 (HLA loci) and mouse chromosome
13 (H-2 loci) that present antigens to T cells, e.g., on the
surface of antigen presenting cells. T cells expressing CD8
interact with peptides presented by MHC Class I molecules, whereas
T cells expressing CD4 interact with peptides presented by MHC
Class II molecules.
[0083] Mammal: This term includes both human and non-human mammals.
Similarly, the term "subject" includes both human and veterinary
subjects.
[0084] Neoplasm: An abnormal cellular proliferation, which includes
benign and malignant tumors, as well as other proliferative
disorders.
[0085] Peptide: A chain of amino acids of between 3 and 30 amino
acids in length, (a chain of two amino acids is typically referred
to as a dipeptide). More commonly, a peptide is between 5 and 25
amino acids (e.g., between 7 and 15 amino acids). For example, a
peptide can be at least 5 amino acids, or at least about 7 amino
acids, or 8 amino acids, or 9 amino acids, or 10 amino acids, or up
to about 12 amino acids, e.g., 11 amino acids, 12 amino acids or 13
amino acids.
[0086] Protein Purification: Protein purification is the process by
which naturally occurring or synthetic polypeptides are isolated
from the materials with which they were associated during
synthesis. Similarly, purification of a peptide is the process by
which a peptide is isolated from the materials with which it was
associated during synthesis, e.g., artificially synthesized or
enzymatically produced by digestion of a polypeptide. The
VEGFR-2/KDR peptides disclosed herein can be purified (and/or
synthesized) by any of the means known in the art (see, e.g., Guide
to Protein Purification, ed. Deutscher, Meth. Enzymol. 185,
Academic Press, San Diego, 1990; and Scopes, Protein Purification:
Principles and Practice, Springer Verlag, New York, 1982).
Substantial purification denotes purification from other cellular
or synthetic components. A substantially purified protein is at
least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% pure. Thus, in one
specific, non-limiting example, a substantially purified peptide is
90% free of other synthetic components.
[0087] Purified: The term purified does not require absolute
purity; rather, it is intended as a relative term. Thus, for
example, a purified peptide is one in which the peptide is more
enriched than the peptide upon completion of artificial synthesis.
In one embodiment, a preparation is purified such that the peptide
represents at least about 60% (such as, but not limited to, 70%,
80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99%) of the total peptide or content of the
preparation.
[0088] Subject: Living multi-cellular vertebrate organisms, a
category that includes both human and veterinary subjects,
including human and non-human mammals.
[0089] Subsequence: A subsequence of a peptide, polypeptide or
nucleic acid (polynucleotide) is any portion of the reference
peptide, polypeptide or nucleic acid up to and including the entire
reference molecule.
[0090] T Cell: A white blood cell critical to the immune response.
T cells include, but are not limited to, CD4.sup.+ T cells and
CD8.sup.+ T cells. A CD4.sup.+ T lymphocyte is an immune cell that
carries a marker on its surface known as "cluster of
differentiation 4" (CD4). These cells, also known as helper T
cells, help orchestrate the immune response, including antibody
responses as well as killer T cell responses. CD8.sup.+ T cells
carry the "cluster of differentiation 8" (CD8) marker. In one
embodiment, a CD8 T cell is a cytotoxic T lymphocyte.
Immunogenic VEGFR-2 Peptides
[0091] Peptides corresponding to amino acid subsequences of
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR-2)/KDR that
include an antigenic epitope of the receptor, which binds to MHC
Class I, can be used as vaccines to generate an immune response
specific for VEGFR-2/KDR. These peptides are VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptides. VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides include
peptide subsequences of a mammalian VEGFR-2/KDR receptor. The
murine (mouse) VEGFR-2/KDR sequence is represented by SEQ ID NO:1,
and can be found in GENBANK.RTM. under accession no: P35918. The
human VEGFR-2/KDR sequence is represented by SEQ ID NO:2, and can
be found in GENBANK.RTM. under accession no: P35968. The mouse and
human VEGFR-2/KDR receptors are members of a genus of orthologues,
additional members of which can be identified by searching
GENBANK.RTM. or other electronic sequence databases.
[0092] In some embodiments, the immune response produced following
administration of VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides targets vascular
endothelial cells that express VEGFR-2/KDR, and inhibits their
proliferation. Because VEGFR-2/KDR is highly expressed by
endothelial cells during angiogenesis associated with tumor
progression and metastasis, the immune response produced following
administration of the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides preferentially targets
tumor associated angiogenesis.
[0093] Peptides presented in the context of MHC Class I molecules
of an antigen presenting cell (APC) are bound by T cell receptors
(TCRs) on the surface of CD8 expressing cells. Binding of the TCR
in conjunction with the interaction of CD8 and MHC Class I
initiates a signaling pathway that results in proliferation and
activation of VEGFR-2/KDR specific cytotoxic T cells. These
cytotoxic T cells subsequently bind to and kill target cells
expressing VEGFR-2/KDR, inhibiting tumor associated angiogenesis.
Thus, the disclosed VEGFR-2/KDR peptides can be used as
therapeutically and/or prophylactically as vaccines to induce an
anti-angiogenic immune response.
[0094] The amino acid sequence of the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides is such
that it contains an amino acid motif involved in binding to a MHC
Class I molecule. Such an amino acid motif can be referred to as a
Class I binding "anchor motif." For example, the human Class I
molecule HLA-A2 (0201) binds to the following anchor motif:
X[L/M]X.sub.5-7[L/V]. To simplify reference to amino acid
sequences, the following conventions are employed throughout this
specification. All amino acids are designated using International
Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry-International Union of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUPAC-IUB) nomenclature. Thus,
X is any (unspecified) amino acid, L is leucine, M is methionine
and V is valine. Where two amino acids are enclosed within brackets
[], and/or separated by a solidus (/), either amino acid can be
located at the specified position within the sequence. A numerical
subscript indicates a specified plurality of residues, thus X.sub.5
indicates five unspecified amino acids. X.sub.5-7 indicates 5 or 6
or 7 unspecified amino acids. For convenience, the specified amino
acids (indicated above within brackets), which are the predominant
determinants of Class I binding are designated "anchor
residues."
[0095] Immunogenic peptides can be identified using anchor motifs
or other methods, such as neural net or polynomial determinations,
known in the art, see, e.g., RANKPEP (available on the world wide
web at: mif.dfci.harvard.edu/Tools/rankpep.html); ProPredI
(available on the world wide web at:
imtech.res.in/raghava/propredI/index.html); Bimas (available on the
world wide web at:
www-bimas.dcrt.nih.gov/molbi/hla_bind/index.html); and SYFPEITH
(available on the world wide web at:
syfpeithi.bmi-heidelberg.com/scripts/MHCServer.dll/home.htm). For
example, algorithms are used to determine the "binding threshold"
of peptides, and to select those with scores that give them a high
probability of MHC or antibody binding at a certain affinity. The
algorithms are based either on the effects on MHC binding of a
particular amino acid at a particular position, the effects on
antibody binding of a particular amino acid at a particular
position, or the effects on binding of a particular substitution in
a motif-containing peptide. Within the context of an immunogenic
peptide, a "conserved residue" is one which appears in a
significantly higher frequency than would be expected by random
distribution at a particular position in a peptide. Anchor residues
are conserved residues that provide a contact point with the MHC
molecule.
[0096] Immunogenic peptides can also be identified by measuring
their binding to a specific MHC protein (e.g., HLA-A*0201) and by
their ability to stimulate CD8+ T cells when presented in the
context of the MHC protein.
[0097] Exemplary mouse VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides include
VILTNPISM (KDR2: SEQ ID NO:3) and FSNSTNDILI (KDR3: SEQ ID NO:4).
These exemplary peptides are indicative of a genus of MHC Class I
binding peptides characterized by the internal consensus sequence
"TNXI." As discussed below, substantially identical peptides that
maintain the internal TNXI consensus sequence are also predicted to
be immunogenic VEGFR-2/KDR peptides.
[0098] Exemplary human VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides include
VLLWEIFSL (SEQ ID NO:5), ALIEGKNKT (SEQ ID NO:6), AMFFWLLLV (SEQ ID
NO:7), VLLAVALWL (SEQ ID NO:8), LMTKKNSTFV (SEQ ID NO:9),
FLSTLTIDGV (SEQ ID NO:10), WLLLVIILRT (SEQ ID NO:11). These
immunogenic VEGFR-2/KDR peptides are representative of a genus of
peptides that share a common MHC Class I anchor motif represented
by the sequence: X[L/M]X.sub.5-7[L/V]. While these peptides share
an anchor motif that is predictive of binding to the HLA-A*0201
allele, certain of these peptides will also bind to different
HLA-A2 alleles and to different Class I molecules. These peptides
can be determined according to the methods outlined above.
[0099] In addition to the exemplary peptides set forth in SEQ ID
NOs:3-11, substantially identical peptides that include one or more
amino acid additions, deletions or substitutions (with respect to
any one of SEQ ID NOs:3-11), which maintain the capacity to bind to
MHC Class I molecules, and which elicit an immune response
involving T cells (and/or antibodies) that interact with
VEGFR-2/KDR are also included among the immunogenic peptides of
this disclosure.
[0100] A substantially identical peptide to one (or more than one)
of SEQ ID NOs: 3-11 is a peptide that shares substantial sequence
identity with the reference sequence. That is, the substantially
identical peptide consists of predominantly identical amino acid
residues. Sequence identity is frequently measured in terms of
percentage identity (or similarity); the higher the percentage, the
more similar the two sequences are. Variants of a VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptide possess a high degree of sequence identity when
aligned using standard methods.
[0101] Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well
known in the art. Various programs and alignment algorithms are
described in: Smith and Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482, 1981;
Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443, 1970; Higgins and
Sharp, Gene 73:237, 1988; Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS 5:151, 1989;
Corpet et al., Nucleic Acids Research 16:10881, 1988; and Pearson
and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444, 1988. Altschul et
al., Nature Genet. 6:119, 1994, presents a detailed consideration
of sequence alignment methods and homology calculations.
[0102] The NCBI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) (Altschul
et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403, 1990) is available from several
sources, including the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI, Bethesda, Md.) and on the internet, for use in
connection with the sequence analysis programs blastp, blastn,
blastx, tblastn and tblastx. A description of how to determine
sequence identity using this program is available on the NCBI
website on the internet.
[0103] A substantially identical variant of a VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptide is typically characterized by at least about
70%, for example at least about 80%, and usually at least about 90%
or more, sequence identity counted over the entire peptide
sequence. Such an alignment can be performed manually or with the
assistance of a sequence alignment program such as BLAST. Thus, a
substantially identical variant of one of SEQ ID NOs:3-11 can have
one amino acid addition, deletion or substitution. Some
substantially identical variants can have as many as two, and in
some cases, as many as three, amino acid additions, deletions or
substitution. Nonetheless, the peptides retain the MHC Class I
binding and antigenic properties of the exemplary VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptides. Methods for confirming MHC Class I binding
properties, and antigenicity are described below, e.g., in the
Examples section.
[0104] For example, a substantially identical variant of a
VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptide can have one, two (or as many as
three) conservative amino acid substitutions. A "conservative"
amino acid substitutions is a substitution that does not
substantially reduce the ability of the peptide to bind MHC or
alter the antigenicity of an epitope of VEGFR-2/KDR. Specific,
non-limiting examples of conservative substitutions include the
following examples provided in Table 1. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1
Blosum similarity matrix Amino Acid Conservative Substitutions G A,
S, N P E D S, K, Q, H, N, E E P, D, S, R, K, Q, H, N N G, D, E, T,
S, R, K, Q, H H D, E, N, M, R, Q Q D, E, N, H, M, S, R, K K D, E,
N, Q, R R E, N, H, Q, K S G, D, E, N, Q, A, T T N, S, V, A A G, S,
T, V M H, Q, Y, F, L, I, V V T, A, M, F, L, I I M, V, Y, F, L L M,
V, I, Y, F F M, V, I, L, W, Y Y H, M, I, L, F, W W F, Y C None
[0105] The term conservative variant also includes the use of a
substituted amino acid in place of an unsubstituted parent amino
acid, provided that antibodies raised to the substituted
polypeptide also immunoreact with the unsubstituted polypeptide.
Non-conservative substitutions are those that reduce MHC binding or
antigenicity.
[0106] Typically, any amino acid substitutions in an VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptide will occur in a position that is not involved
in MHC Class I binding. Nonetheless, so long as the anchor motif is
maintained, certain substitutions in the anchor residues are
predicted to preserve MHC Class I binding. For example,
substitution of leucine for methionine is a predicted conservative
mutation in the context of an HLA-A2 binding peptide. Thus, a
conservative variant of the peptide of SEQ ID NO:7 (AMFFWLLLV) can
have a leucine substituted for methionine at amino acid position
two. Similarly, a conservative variant of the peptide of SEQ ID
NO:9 includes a peptide with a leucine substituted for methionine
at position two. Likewise, a conservative variant of the peptide of
SEQ ID NO:9 includes a peptide with a leucine substituted for
phenylalanine at position nine. As indicated in these examples, a
conservative variant can have a single substituted amino acid
selected from groups of conservative amino acid substitutions given
in Table 1. A conservative variant can sometimes include more than
one amino acid substitution. For example, a conservative variant of
SEQ ID NO:9 can include two amino acid substitutions such as a
leucine for methionine substitution at position two and a leucine
for phenylalanine substitution at position nine. In all of the
preceding examples, the substituted amino acid are designated, the
remaining amino acids are identical to those of the reference
peptide sequence. Conservative variants can also include one (or
two, or rarely three) amino acid additions or deletions. Such
additions or deletions can be at the ends of the peptide sequence,
or can be internal, so long as the anchor residues are maintained.
For example, the peptide sequence VIAMFFWLL (SEQ ID NO:12) is a
variant that comprises a deletion of two amino acids at one end and
a concomitant addition of two amino acids at the other end,
relative to AMFFWLLLV (SEQ ID NO:7), maintains the anchor residues,
and thus, is substantially similar to the peptide of SEQ ID
NO:7.
[0107] Any of the peptides described above can be produced by
well-known chemical synthesis methods. Chemical synthesis of
peptides is described in the following publications: S. B. H. Kent,
Biomedical Polymers, eds. Goldberg and Nakajima, Academic Press,
New York, pp. 213-242, 1980; Mitchell et al., J. Org. Chem., 43,
2845-2852, 1978; Tam, et al., Tet. Letters, 4033-4036, 1979;
Mojsov, A. R. Mitchell, and R. B. Merrifield, J. Org. Chem., 45,
555-560, 1980; Tam et al., Tet. Letters, 2851-2854, 1981; and Kent
et al., Proceedings of the IV International Symposium on Methods of
Protein Sequence Analysis, (Brookhaven Press, Brookhaven, N.Y.,
1981. Alternatively, the peptides can be produced using recombinant
nucleic acid technology, for example, by expressing recombinant
nucleic acids that encode a fusion protein including the desired
peptide. Following expression in a suitable cell line, the peptide
can be isolated and cleaved from the fusion protein.
[0108] In addition to the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides of SEQ ID NOs:3-11,
analogs (non-peptide organic molecules), derivatives (chemically
functionalized peptide molecules obtained starting with the
disclosed peptide sequences) and variants (homologs) of these
peptides can be utilized in the methods described herein. Each
peptide of this disclosure is comprised of a sequence of amino
acids, which can be either L- and/or D-amino acids, naturally
occurring and otherwise.
[0109] Peptides can be modified by a variety of chemical techniques
to produce derivatives having essentially the same activity as the
unmodified peptides, and optionally having other desirable
properties. For example, carboxylic acid groups of the protein,
whether carboxyl-terminal or side chain, can be provided in the
form of a salt of a pharmaceutically-acceptable cation or
esterified to form a C.sub.1-C.sub.16 ester, or converted to an
amide of formula NR.sub.1R.sub.2 wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are
each independently H or C.sub.1-C.sub.16 alkyl, or combined to form
a heterocyclic ring, such as a 5- or 6-membered ring. Amino groups
of the peptide, whether amino-terminal or side chain, can be in the
form of a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt, such as
the HCl, HBr, acetic, benzoic, toluene sulfonic, maleic, tartaric
and other organic salts, or can be modified to C.sub.1-C.sub.16
alkyl or dialkyl amino or further converted to an amide.
[0110] Hydroxyl groups of the peptide side chains may be converted
to C.sub.1-C.sub.16 alkoxy or to a C.sub.1-C.sub.16 ester using
well-recognized techniques. Phenyl and phenolic rings of the
peptide side chains may be substituted with one or more halogen
atoms, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, or with
C.sub.1-C.sub.16 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.16 alkoxy, carboxylic acids
and esters thereof, or amides of such carboxylic acids. Methylene
groups of the peptide side chains can be extended to homologous
C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alkylenes. Thiols can be protected with any one of
a number of well-recognized protecting groups, such as acetamide
groups. Those skilled in the art will also recognize methods for
introducing cyclic structures into the peptides of this invention
to select and provide conformational constraints to the structure
that result in enhanced stability.
[0111] Peptidomimetic and organomimetic variants include compounds
in which the three-dimensional arrangement of the chemical
constituents of such peptido- and organomimetics mimics the
three-dimensional arrangement of the peptide backbone and component
amino acid side chains of a VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptide. These
are peptido- and organomimetics of an immunogenic VEGFR-2/KDR, and
can have measurable or enhanced ability to generate an immune
response. For computer modeling applications, a pharmacophore is an
idealized three-dimensional definition of the structural
requirements for biological activity. Peptido- and organomimetics
can be designed to fit each pharmacophore with current computer
modeling software (using computer assisted drug design or CADD).
See Walters, "Computer-Assisted Modeling of Drugs," in Klegerman
& Groves, eds., 1993, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Interpharm
Press: Buffalo Grove, Ill., pp. 165-174 and Principles of
Pharmacology, Munson (ed.) 1995, Ch. 102, for descriptions of
techniques used in CADD. Also included are mimetics prepared using
such techniques.
[0112] The ability of any of the above described peptides to bind
MHC Class I can be confirmed using assays available in the art. For
example, the ability of a murine VEGFR-2/KDR peptide to bind a
mouse Class I molecule, such as H-2Db can be determined in a MHC
stabilization assay employing RMA-S cells as described in Lyman et
al., J. Virol. 76:3125-3134, 2002, and in the EXAMPLES Section
below. The ability of a human VEGFR-2/KDR peptide to bind a human
Class I molecule, such as an HLA-A2 protein can be evaluated in a
T2 MHC binding assay as described by Cerundolo et al., Nature
342:449-452, 1990. In brief, T2 cells are cultured in RPMI1640 with
10% FBS, and grown in 5% CO.sub.2 at 37.degree. C. Cells
(1.times.10.sup.5) in a volume of 100 .mu.l of RPMI 1640 (serum
free) are aliquoted into 96-well, U-bottomed plates and incubated
with peptide at a final concentration of 0.1-100 .mu.M plus 5 nM
.beta..sub.2 microglobulin (Cymbus Biotechnology Ltd., Chandlers
Ford, Hampshire, United Kingdom) for 18 h at 37.degree. C. in 5%
CO.sub.2. The level of stabilized HLA-A2 on the surface of the T2
cells is detected using the pan HLA class I monoclonal antibody
W6/32 (European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC), Porton
Down, Salisbury) that recognizes stabilized HLA-A2 complexes. The
primary monoclonal antibody can be labeled or can be detected
using, e.g., a labeled goat antimouse IgG (Cambridge Biosciences,
Cambridge, United Kingdom) as the second layer. Samples are fixed
in 1% paraformaldehyde in PBS prior to analysis and analyzed on a
Becton Dickinson FACSCAN.RTM..
[0113] The ability of a specific peptide to elicit an immune
response can be confirmed as described in the EXAMPLES. For
example, the ability of a peptide to stimulate the production of
interferon-.gamma. (IFN.gamma.) producing CTL can be evaluated
using an IFN-Elispot assay, which measures the frequency of IFN
producing T cells that respond to the peptide. Appropriate mouse
(as described in the Materials and Methods section) or human cells
are used to present the peptide. Following co-culture with
splenocytes or peripheral blood cells, IFN.gamma. producing cells
are quantitated. Confirmation that the IFN.gamma. response is due
to CD8+ CTL specific for the peptide can be obtained using a MHC
Class I tetramer assay, as described below.
[0114] In addition, the ability of the peptide elicited immune
response to inhibit angiogenesis can be ascertained using a
Matrigel plug assay. Details of the assay are provided below in the
Materials and Methods Section. This assay can be adapted to
evaluate human peptides simply by conducting the assay in a
transgenic mouse that expresses human HLA-A2 and human
VEGFR-2/KDR.
[0115] The ability of the peptide elicited immune response to
inhibit angiogenesis can also be evaluated in vivo, in a wound
healing assay. Two weeks after the vaccination with peptide(s),
transgenic mice carrying a human HLA A2 transgene and wild type
(C57BL/6) control mice are subject to punch biopsy under general
anesthetic (ketamine/xylazine, 75/10 mg/kg IP). One or more
circular wounds of approximately 3-mm diameter are inflicted on the
dorsal area using a sterile biopsy punch instrument. Typically
multiple wounds (for example, four) are inflicted on each animal to
increase observation points and reduce the number of animals
required. Time until wound closure is then evaluated.
Immunogenic Compositions
[0116] The VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides disclosed herein can be
administered to a subject to elicit an immune response. Such an
immune response can be a therapeutic (including a prophylactic
immune response), in particular, an anti-angiogenic and/or
anti-tumor immune response. An immune response elicited by
administration of the VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptide(s) typically
includes a T cell response, e.g., a cytotoxic T cell response that
targets cells expressing VEGFR-2/KDR. Accordingly, methods for
making a medicament or pharmaceutical composition containing the
VEGFR-2/KDR peptides described above are included herein. The
pharmaceutical compositions (medicaments) include at least one
isolated or synthetic MHC Class I-binding peptide that includes a
subsequence of VEGFR-2/KDR or one or more isolated antigen
presenting cells (APCs) that present the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides on a
cell surface MHC Class I molecule, in a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier or excipient.
[0117] In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions
include the peptides represented by SEQ ID NO:3 and/or SEQ ID NO:4,
or substantially identical peptides, as described above.
[0118] In other embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions
(medicaments) include one or more human VEGFR-2/KDR peptides. For
example, a pharmaceutical composition can contain an
immunologically effective amount of a human VEGFR-2/KDR peptide
that is capable of binding to a human MHC Class I protein and
eliciting an immune response. An immunogenic composition can thus
include, an immunologically effective amount of any of the peptides
VLLWEIFSL (SEQ ID NO:5), ALIEGKNKT (SEQ ID NO:6), AMFFWLLLV (SEQ ID
NO:7), VLLAVALWL (SEQ ID NO:8), LMTKKNSTFV (SEQ ID NO:9),
FLSTLTIDGV (SEQ ID NO:10), or WLLLVIILRT (SEQ ID NO:11).
Alternatively, an immunogenic composition can include a combination
of VEGFR-2/KDR peptides (for example, a plurality of SEQ ID NOs: 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and/or 11), in any combination. For example, in one
specific embodiment, the composition contains a combination of the
following peptides: VLLWEIFSL (SEQ ID NO:5), ALIEGKNKT (SEQ ID
NO:6), and AMFFWLLLV (SEQ ID NO:7). Alternatively or additionally,
the immunogenic compositions can include one or more substantially
identical immunogenic peptide, which include one or a small number
of amino acid additions, deletions or substitutions with respect to
any of SEQ ID NOs:5-11.
[0119] In one specific, non-limiting example the pharmaceutical
composition (medicament) includes about 0.1 .mu.g to about 1,000
.mu.g, for example, at least about 1 .mu.g, or at least about 10
.mu.g to about 100 .mu.g, or to about 500 .mu.g, of one or a
plurality of selected VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides (e.g., SEQ
ID NOs:3-11). The immunogenic TARP polypeptide can also be
administered with agents that promote dendritic cell maturation.
Specific, non-limiting examples of agents of use are interleukin-4
(IL-4) and granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor
(GM-CSF), or flt-3 ligand (flt-3L).
[0120] Typically, preparation of an pharmaceutical composition
(medicament) entails preparing a pharmaceutical composition that is
essentially free of pyrogens, as well as any other impurities that
could be harmful to humans or animals. Typically, the
pharmaceutical composition contains appropriate salts and buffers
to render the components of the composition stable and allow for
presentation of the peptides by antigen presenting cells.
[0121] Aqueous compositions typically include an effective amount
of the peptide dispersed (for example, dissolved or suspended) in a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or aqueous medium. The phrases
"pharmaceutically acceptable" or "pharmacologically acceptable"
refer to molecular entities and compositions that do not produce an
adverse, allergic or other undesirable reaction when administered
to a human or animal subject. As used herein, "pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier" includes any and all solvents, dispersion
media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and
absorption delaying agents and the like. The use of such media and
agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well known in the
art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is
incompatible with production of an immune response by a VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptide, its use in the immunogenic compositions is
contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients also can be
incorporated into the compositions. For example, certain
pharmaceutical compositions can include the peptides in water,
mixed with a suitable surfactant, such as hydroxypropylcellulose.
Dispersions also can be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene
glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary
conditions of storage and use, these preparations contain a
preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.
[0122] Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients are known
to those of ordinary skill in the described, e.g., in Remington's
Pharmaceutical Sciences, by E. W. Martin, Mack Publishing Co.,
Easton, Pa., 15th Edition (1975), describes compositions and
formulations suitable for pharmaceutical delivery of the fusion
proteins herein disclosed.
[0123] In general, the nature of the carrier will depend on the
particular mode of administration being employed. For instance,
parenteral formulations usually comprise injectable fluids that
include pharmaceutically and physiologically acceptable fluids such
as water, physiological saline, balanced salt solutions, aqueous
dextrose, glycerol or the like as a vehicle. For solid compositions
(e.g., powder, pill, tablet, or capsule forms), conventional
non-toxic solid carriers can include, for example, pharmaceutical
grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, or magnesium stearate. In
addition to biologically neutral carriers, pharmaceutical
compositions to be administered can contain minor amounts of
non-toxic auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying
agents, preservatives, and pH buffering agents and the like, for
example sodium acetate or sorbitan monolaurate.
[0124] For example, the pharmaceutical compositions (medicaments)
can include one or more of a stabilizing detergent, a
micelle-forming agent, and an oil. Suitable stabilizing detergents,
micelle-forming agents, and oils are detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,585,103; 5,709,860; 5,270,202; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,770. A
stabilizing detergent is any detergent that allows the components
of the emulsion to remain as a stable emulsion. Such detergents
include polysorbate, 80 (TWEEN)
(Sorbitan-mono-9-octadecenoate-poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl;
manufactured by ICI Americas, Wilmington, Del.), TWEEN 40.TM.,
TWEEN 20.TM., TWEEN 60.TM., Zwittergent.TM. 3-12, TEEPOL HB7.TM.,
and SPAN 85.TM.. These detergents are usually provided in an amount
of approximately 0.05 to 0.5%, such as at about 0.2%. A micelle
forming agent is an agent which is able to stabilize the emulsion
formed with the other components such that a micelle-like structure
is formed. Such agents generally cause some irritation at the site
of injection in order to recruit macrophages to enhance the
cellular response. Examples of such agents include polymer
surfactants described by BASF Wyandotte publications, e.g.,
Schmolka, J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. 54:110, 1977, and Hunter et al.,
J. Immunol 129:1244, 1981, PLURONIC.TM. L62LF, L101, and L64,
PEG1000, and TETRONIC.TM. 1501, 150R1, 701, 901, 1301, and 130R1.
The chemical structures of such agents are well known in the art.
In one embodiment, the agent is chosen to have a
hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) of between 0 and 2, as defined
by Hunter and Bennett, J. Immun. 133:3167, 1984. The agent can be
provided in an effective amount, for example between 0.5 and 10%,
or in an amount between 1.25 and 5%.
[0125] The oil included in the composition is chosen to promote the
retention of the antigen in oil-in-water emulsion, i.e., to provide
a vehicle for the desired antigen, and preferably has a melting
temperature of less than 65.degree. C. such that emulsion is formed
either at room temperature (about 20.degree. C. to 25.degree. C.),
or once the temperature of the emulsion is brought down to room
temperature. Examples of such oils include squalene, Squalane,
EICOSANE.TM., tetratetracontane, glycerol, and peanut oil or other
vegetable oils. In one specific, non-limiting example, the oil is
provided in an amount between 1 and 10%, or between 2.5 and 5%. The
oil should be both biodegradable and biocompatible so that the body
can break down the oil over time, and so that no adverse affects,
such as granulomas, are evident upon use of the oil.
[0126] An adjuvant can be included in the composition. In one
embodiment, the adjuvant is a mixture of stabilizing detergents,
micelle-forming agent, and oil available under the name
Provax.RTM.) (IDEC Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, Calif.). An adjuvant
can also be an immunostimulatory nucleic acid, such as a nucleic
acid including a CpG motif.
[0127] In other embodiments, the immunogenic compositions
(medicaments) include antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as
dendritic cells, which have been pulsed or co-incubated with one or
more VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides in vitro. Typically, the APCs
are in a suspension in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or
medium, which preserves the viability and activity of the APCs. In
one specific, non-limiting example, the antigen presenting cells
can be autologous cells. A therapeutically effective amount of the
antigen presenting cells can then be administered to a subject.
[0128] The VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptide(s) can be delivered to
the APCs or to APC precursors via any method known in the art,
including, but not limited to, pulsing APCs directly with antigen.
For example, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells can be
separated from peripheral blood by centrifugation over Ficoll-Paque
(Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden). Monocytes can be enriched by
adherence to a plastic tissue culture flask for 90 minutes at
37.degree. C. Adherent cells are then cultured for 7 days with 1000
units/ml GM-CSF and 1000 units/ml IL-4 in RPMI with 7% autologous
serum. DCs are harvested with vigorous washing, and the DC
phenotype is confirmed by flow cytometry using antibodies specific
for CD14, CD80, CD86, MHC Class I and HLA-DR. DCs
(1.times.10.sup.6/ml) are pulsed with 50 .mu.g/ml of each peptide
for 3 hours at room temperature in normal saline with 1% human
albumin. Then, the DCs are washed twice and resuspended in normal
saline with 1% human albumin before administration.
[0129] Alternatively, VEGFR-2/KDR peptides can be delivered to APCs
utilizing a broad variety of antigen delivery vehicles, such as,
for example, liposomes, or other vectors known to deliver antigen
to cells.
Therapeutic Methods
[0130] The pharmaceutical compositions (medicaments) can be
prepared for use in therapeutic (including prophylactic) regimens
(e.g., vaccines) and administered to human or non-human subjects to
elicit an immune response against one or more VEGFR-2/KDR epitopes.
For example, the compositions described herein can be administered
to a human (or non-human) subject to inhibit angiogenesis and/or to
inhibit the growth, progression or metastasis of a tumor. Thus, the
pharmaceutical compositions described above can be administered to
a subject to elicit an anti-angiogenic or anti-tumor immune
response. In other embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions are
administered to inhibit (treat) an autoimmune condition or disease
characterized by or involving neovascularization. Such autoimmune
disorders include, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes,
systemic lupus erythematosus (e.g., chorioretinal
neovascularization), psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and other
inflammatory diseases of the skin. To elicit an immune response, a
therapeutically effective (e.g., immunologically effective) amount
of the VEGFR-2/KDR peptide(s) or a therapeutically effective amount
of the APCs that present the VEGFR-2/KDR peptide(s) are
administered to a subject, such as a human (or non-human)
subject.
[0131] A "therapeutically effective amount" is a quantity of a
chemical composition or a cell to achieve a desired effect in a
subject being treated. For instance, this can be the amount
necessary to inhibit tumor growth or to measurably alter outward
symptoms of the tumor. In the context of an autoimmune disorder, a
therapeutically effective amount is an amount that produces an
observable improvement in at least one symptom of the disorder,
such as joint tenderness, swelling, pain, loss of mobility, etc.,
in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. When administered to a
subject, a dosage will generally be used that will achieve target
tissue concentrations (for example, in lymphocytes) that is
empirically determined to achieve an in vitro effect. Such dosages
can be determined without undue experimentation by those of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0132] In exemplary applications, compositions are administered to
a patient suffering from a disease, such as a cancer or an
autoimmune disease, in an amount sufficient to raise an immune
response against VEGFR-2/KDR-expressing cells. Administration
induces a sufficient immune response to slow the proliferation of
such cells or to inhibit their growth, thereby inhibiting
angiogenesis and/or reducing a sign or a symptom of the tumor.
Amounts effective for this use will depend upon the severity of the
disease, the general state of the patient's health, and the
robustness of the patient's immune system. A therapeutically
effective amount of the compound is that which provides either
subjective relief of a symptom(s) or an objectively identifiable
improvement as noted by the clinician or other qualified
observer.
[0133] A pharmaceutical composition including a VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptide can be administered by any means known to one
of skill in the art (see Banga, A., "Parenteral Controlled Delivery
of Therapeutic Peptides and Proteins," in Therapeutic Peptides and
Proteins, Technomic Publishing Co., Inc., Lancaster, Pa., 1995)
such as by intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intravenous injection,
but even oral, nasal, or anal administration is contemplated. In
one embodiment, administration is by subcutaneous or intramuscular
injection. To extend the time during which the peptide or protein
is available to stimulate a response, the peptide can be provided
as an implant, an oily injection, or as a particulate system. The
particulate system can be a microparticle, a microcapsule, a
microsphere, a nanocapsule, or similar particle. (see, e.g., Banga,
supra). A particulate carrier based on a synthetic polymer has been
shown to act as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response, in
addition to providing a controlled release. Aluminum salts can also
be used as adjuvants to produce an immune response.
[0134] In one specific, non-limiting example, one or more
VEGFR-2/KDR peptides are administered to elicit a cellular immune
response (e.g., a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response). A number
of means for inducing cellular responses, both in vitro and in
vivo, are known. Lipids have been identified as agents capable of
assisting in priming CTL in vivo against various antigens. For
example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,907, palmitic acid
residues can be attached to the alpha and epsilon amino groups of a
lysine residue and then linked (e.g., via one or more linking
residues, such as glycine, glycine-glycine, serine, serine-serine,
or the like) to an immunogenic peptide. The lipidated peptide can
then be injected directly in a micellar form, incorporated in a
liposome, or emulsified in an adjuvant. As another example, E. coli
lipoproteins, such as tripalmitoyl-S-glycerylcysteinlyseryl-serine
can be used to prime tumor specific CTL when covalently attached to
an appropriate peptide (see, Deres et al., Nature 342:561, 1989).
Further, as the induction of neutralizing antibodies can also be
primed with the same molecule conjugated to a peptide which
displays an appropriate epitope, two compositions can be combined
to elicit both humoral and cell-mediated responses where that is
deemed desirable.
[0135] In an embodiment, in conjunction with the production of a
CTL response to a VEGFR-2/KDR, a MHC Class II-restricted T-helper
epitope is added along with the Class I restricted VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptide to induce T-helper cells to secrete cytokines
in the microenvironment to activate CTL precursor cells. The
technique further involves adding short lipid molecules to retain
the construct at the site of the injection for several days to
localize the antigen at the site of the injection and enhance its
proximity to dendritic cells or other "professional" antigen
presenting cells over a period of time (see, Chesnut et al.,
"Design and Testing of Peptide-Based Cytotoxic T-Cell-Mediated
Immunotherapeutics to Treat Infectious Diseases and Cancer," in
Powell et al., eds., Vaccine Design, the Subunit and Adjuvant
Approach, Plenum Press, New York, 1995).
[0136] In one specific, non-limiting example, about 0.1 .mu.g to 10
mg of VEGFR2/KDR immunogenic peptide(s) are administered per
subject per day. Dosages from 0.1 .mu.g up to about 100 .mu.g per
subject per day can be used, particularly if the agent is
administered to a secluded site and not into the circulatory or
lymph system, such as into a body cavity or into a lumen of an
organ. Actual methods for preparing administrable compositions will
be known or apparent to those skilled in the art and are described
in more detail in such publications as Remingtons Phamaceutical
Sciences, 19.sup.th Ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa.,
1995.
[0137] The compositions can be administered for therapeutic
treatments. In therapeutic applications, a therapeutically
effective amount of the composition is administered to a subject
suffering from a disease, such as a cancer or an autoimmune
disorder. Single or multiple administrations of the compositions
are administered depending on the dosage and frequency as required
and tolerated by the subject. In one embodiment, the dosage is
administered once as a bolus, but in another embodiment can be
applied periodically until a therapeutic result is achieved.
Generally, the dose is sufficient to treat or ameliorate symptoms
or signs of disease without producing unacceptable toxicity to the
subject. Systemic or local administration can be utilized.
[0138] Controlled release parenteral formulations can be made as
implants, oily injections, or as particulate systems. For a broad
overview of protein delivery systems, see Banga, Therapeutic
Peptides and Proteins: Formulation, Processing, and Delivery
Systems, Technomic Publishing Company, Inc., Lancaster, Pa., 1995.
Particulate systems include microspheres, microparticles,
microcapsules, nanocapsules, nanospheres, and nanoparticles.
Microcapsules contain the therapeutic protein as a central core. In
microspheres, the therapeutic agent is dispersed throughout the
particle. Particles, microspheres, and microcapsules smaller than
about 1 .mu.m are generally referred to as nanoparticles,
nanospheres, and nanocapsules, respectively. Capillaries have a
diameter of approximately 5 .mu.m so that only nanoparticles are
administered intravenously. Microparticles are typically around 100
.mu.m in diameter and are administered subcutaneously or
intramuscularly (see, Kreuter, Colloidal Drug Delivery Systems, J.
Kreuter, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 219-342,
1994; Tice & Tabibi, Treatise on Controlled Drug Delivery, A.
Kydonieus, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, N.Y., pp. 315-339,
1992).
[0139] Polymers can be used for ion-controlled release. Various
degradable and nondegradable polymeric matrices for use in
controlled drug delivery are known in the art (Langer, Accounts
Chem. Res. 26:537, 1993). For example, the block copolymer,
polaxamer 407 exists as a viscous yet mobile liquid at low
temperatures but forms a semisolid gel at body temperature. It has
shown to be an effective vehicle for formulation and sustained
delivery of recombinant interleukin-2 and urease (Johnston et al.,
Pharm. Res. 9:425, 1992; and Pec, J. Parent. Sci. Tech. 44(2):58,
1990). Alternatively, hydroxyapatite has been used as a
microcarrier for controlled release of proteins (Ijntema et al.,
Int. J. Pharm. 112:215, 1994). In yet another aspect, liposomes are
used for controlled release as well as drug targeting of the
lipid-capsulated drug (Betageri et al., Liposome Drug Delivery
Systems, Technomic Publishing Co., Inc., Lancaster, Pa., 1993).
Numerous additional systems for controlled delivery of therapeutic
proteins are known (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,055,303; 5,188,837;
4,235,871; 4,501,728; 4,837,028; 4,957,735; and 5,019,369;
5,055,303; 5,514,670; 5,413,797; 5,268,164; 5,004,697; 4,902,505;
5,506,206; 5,271,961; 5,254,342; and 5,534,496).
[0140] In some embodiments, mature antigen presenting cells (APCs)
are generated to present the VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptide(s).
Most commonly, the APCs are dendritic cells (DCs), e.g., autologous
DCs generated following isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear
cells from the subject's blood. The DCs are loaded (e.g., pulsed)
with one or more VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides and administered
to a subject (for example, a subject with a tumor). The DCs are
administered alone or in conjunction with one or more adjuvants,
immunostimulatory agents, cytokines and/or chemotherapeutic agents.
The specific regimen can involve administration of the various
agents simultaneously or in separate pharmaceutical compositions to
be delivered at the same or different times.
[0141] Alternatively, the APCs are used to sensitize CD8+ cells
(e.g., CTLs), such as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from
the target tumor or peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The TILs
or PBLs can be from the subject to be treated (autologous).
Alternatively, the TILs or PBLs can be from another subject
(heterologous). However, where heterologous cells are used, they
should at least be MHC Class-I restricted to the HLA haplotype of
the subject. An effective amount of the sensitized cells are then
administered to the subject.
[0142] Peripheral blood or bone marrow can be used as the source of
responder cells (e.g., CTL precursors). The appropriate
antigen-presenting cells are incubated with VEGFR-2/KDR peptide,
after which the peptide-loaded antigen-presenting cells are then
incubated with the responder cell population under optimized
culture conditions. Positive CTL activation can be determined by
assaying the culture for the presence of CTLs that kill
radio-labeled target cells, both specific peptide-pulsed targets as
well as target cells expressing endogenously processed forms of the
antigen from which the peptide sequence was derived, such as
VEGFR-2/KDR (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2). The sensitized CD8+ cells can be
administered to a subject to inhibit tumor associated angiogenesis
and tumor growth.
[0143] In cell based applications, a therapeutically effective
amount of activated antigen presenting cells, or activated
lymphocytes, are administered to a subject suffering from a
disease, e.g., a primary or metastatic tumor, in an amount
sufficient to raise an immune response to VEGFR-2/KDR-expressing
vascular endothelial cells. The resulting immune response is
sufficient to slow the proliferation of such cells or to inhibit
their growth, thereby inhibiting angiogenesis, or to reduce a sign
or a symptom of the tumor.
[0144] In some embodiments, the effect of any of the pharmaceutical
compositions can be augmented by administering one or more
cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18,
and/or interferons. Generally, the cytokine is selected to not
promote angiogenesis, or is administered in a concentration that
does not promote angiogenesis. Thus, for example, while GM-CSF is
favorably employed to stimulate proliferation and differentiation
of APC in vitro, it is less desirable to administer GM-CSF. In some
case, cytokines with demonstrated anti-angiogenic effects, such as
IL-12 and/or IL-18 are included in the pharmaceutical compositions
or administered in a separate formulation in conjunction with the
immunogenic compositions described above.
[0145] In certain embodiments, any of these immunotherapies is
augmented by administering an additional chemotherapeutic agent. In
one example, this administration is sequential (e.g., to prevent or
reduce interference with proliferation or survival of APCs and/or T
cells). Examples of such agents are alkylating agents,
antimetabolites, natural products, or hormones and their
antagonists. Examples of alkylating agents include nitrogen
mustards (such as mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan,
uracil mustard or chlorambucil), alkyl sulfonates (such as
busulfan), nitrosoureas (such as carmustine, lomustine, semustine,
streptozocin, or dacarbazine). Examples of antimetabolites include
folic acid analogs (such as methotrexate), pyrimidine analogs (such
as 5-FU or cytarabine), and purine analogs, such as mercaptopurine
or thioguanine. Examples of natural products include vinca
alkaloids (such as vinblastine, vincristine, or vindesine),
epipodophyllotoxins (such as etoposide or teniposide), antibiotics
(such as dactinomycin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, bleomycin,
plicamycin, or mitomycin C), and enzymes (such as L-asparaginase).
Examples of miscellaneous agents include platinum coordination
complexes (such as cis-diamine-dichloroplatinum II also known as
cisplatin), substituted ureas (such as hydroxyurea), methyl
hydrazine derivatives (such as procarbazine), and adrenocortical
suppressants (such as mitotane and aminoglutethimide). Examples of
hormones and antagonists include adrenocorticosteroids (such as
prednisone), progestins (such as hydroxyprogesterone caproate,
medroxyprogesterone acetate, and magestrol acetate), estrogens
(such as diethylstilbestrol and ethinyl estradiol), antiestrogens
(such as tamoxifen), and androgens (such as testerone proprionate
and fluoxymesterone). Examples of the most commonly used
chemotherapy drugs include Adriamycin, Alkeran, Ara-C, BiCNU,
Busulfan, CCNU, Carboplatinum, Cisplatinum, Cytoxan, Daunorubicin,
DTIC, 5-FU, Fludarabine, Hydrea, Idarubicin, Ifosfamide,
Methotrexate, Mithramycin, Mitomycin, Mitoxantrone, Nitrogen
Mustard, Taxol (or other taxanes, such as docetaxel), Velban,
Vincristine, VP-16, while some more newer drugs include Gemcitabine
(Gemzar), Herceptin, Irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11), Leustatin,
Navelbine, Rituxan STI-571, Taxotere, Topotecan (Hycamtin), Xeloda
(Capecitabine), Zevelin and calcitriol. Non-limiting examples of
immunomodulators that can be used include AS-101 (Wyeth-Ayerst
Labs.), bropirimine (Upjohn), gamma interferon (Genentech), GM-CSF
(granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor; Genetics
Institute), IL-2 (Cetus or Hoffman-LaRoche), human immune globulin
(Cutter Biological), IMREG (from Imreg of New Orleans, La.),
SK&F 106528, and TNF (tumor necrosis factor; Genentech).
Reagents for Detecting T-Cells that Specifically Bind
VEGFR-2/KDR
[0146] Reagents are provided herein for the detection of CD8
expressing cells that specifically bind VEGFR-2/KDR. These reagents
are complexes made up of tetrameric MHC Class I bound to
VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides.
[0147] In some embodiments, the tetrameric MHC Class I complexes
include mouse MHC Class I proteins in conjunction with mouse
VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides. Such mouse complexes are
particularly useful for detecting or identifying mouse CD8+ T cells
(such as cytotoxic T cells) specific for VEGFR-2/KDR. For example,
the MHC Class I tetrameric complexes can include a mouse
VEGFR-2/KDR peptide that includes the internal sequence T-N-X-I
(SEQ ID NO: 14). In specific embodiments, the tetrameric MHC Class
I complexes include the peptide VILTNPISM or FSNSTNDILI. For
example, the mouse tetrameric MHC Class I complexes can include the
peptide VILTNPISM and/or the peptide FSNSTNDILI in conjunction with
H-2D.sup.b molecules.
[0148] In other embodiments, the tetrameric complexes include human
VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides in conjunction with human MHC
Class I proteins. These tetrameric MHC Class I complexes are useful
for the detection of CD8+ T cells that specifically bind to the
human VEGFR-2/KDR. For example, the complexes described herein
including human VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides bound to human MHC
Class I molecules can be used to detect or identify cytotoxic CD8+
T cells specific for VEGFR-2/KDR. For example, the immunogenic
peptides are subsequences of human VEGFR-2/KDR that include the
sequence X-L/M-(X).sub.5 or 6-L/T/F/G (SEQ ID NO:15). In specific
embodiments, the tetrameric complexes include the peptides
VLLWEIFSL (SEQ ID NO:5), ALIEGKNKT (SEQ ID NO:6), AMFFWLLLV (SEQ ID
NO:7), VLLAVALWL (SEQ ID NO:8), LMTKKNSTFV (SEQ ID NO:9),
FLSTLTIDGV (SEQ ID NO:10) and/or WLLVIILRT (SEQ ID NO:11),
respectively. For example, the tetrameric MHC Class I complex can
include any of the aforementioned peptides bound to HLA-A2
molecules.
[0149] Tetrameric MHC Class I/peptide complexes can be synthesized
using methods well known in the art (Altmann et al., Science
274:94, 1996, which is herein incorporated by reference). In one
specific non-limiting example, purified HLA heavy chain and
.beta.2-microglobulin (.beta.2m) can be synthesized by means of a
prokaryotic expression system. One specific, non-limiting example
of an expression system of use is the pET system (R&D Systems,
Minneapolis, Minn.). The heavy chain is modified by deletion of the
trans-membrane and cytosolic tail and COOH-terminal addition of a
sequence containing the biotin protein ligase (Bir-A) enzymatic
biotinylation site. Heavy chain, .beta.2m, and peptide are then
refolded. The refolded product can be isolated by any means known
in the art, and then biotinylated by Bir-A. A tetramer is then
produced by contacting the biotinylated product with
streptavidin.
[0150] In one embodiment, the streptavidin is labeled. Suitable
labels include, but are not limited to, enzymes, magnetic beads,
colloidal magnetic beads, haptens, fluorochromes, metal compounds,
radioactive compounds or drugs. The enzymes that can be conjugated
to streptavidin include, but are not limited to, alkaline
phosphatase, peroxidase, urease and .beta.-galactosidase. The
fluorochromes that can be conjugated to the streptavidin include,
but are not limited to, fluorescein isothiocyanate,
tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate, phycoerythrin,
allophycocyanins and Texas Red. For additional fluorochromes that
can be conjugated to streptavidin, see Haugland, R. P., Molecular
Probes: Handbook of Fluorescent Probes and Research Chemicals
(1992-1994). The metal compounds that can be conjugated to the
streptavidin include, but are not limited to, ferritin, colloidal
gold, and particularly, colloidal superparamagnetic beads. The
haptens that can be conjugated to the streptavidin include, but are
not limited to, biotin, digoxigenin, oxazalone, and nitrophenol.
The radioactive compounds that can be conjugated to streptavidin
are known to the art, and include but are not limited to technetium
99m (.sup.99 Tc), .sup.125 I and amino acids comprising any
radionuclides, including, but not limited to, .sup.14 C, .sup.3 H
and .sup.35 S. Generally, streptavidin labeled with a fluorochrome
is utilized in the methods disclosed herein.
[0151] In one embodiment, a suspension of cells to be assayed for
the presence of T cells that specifically bind to VEGFR-2/KDR is
produced, and the cells are reacted with the tetramer in
suspension. In one embodiment, these reagents are used to label
cells, which are then analyzed by fluorescence activated cell
sorting (FACS). A machine for FACS employs a plurality of color
channels, low angle and obtuse light-scattering detection channels,
and impedance channels, among other more sophisticated levels of
detection, to separate or sort cells. Any FACS technique can be
employed as long as it is not detrimental to the detection of the
desired cells. (For exemplary methods of FACS see U.S. Pat. No.
5,061,620.)
[0152] T cells, for example, cytotoxic T cells identified using
these tetrameric VEGFR-2/KDR-MHC Class I complexes can be expanded
in vitro and autologously transfused or adoptively transferred to
provide anti-angiogenic activity in vivo.
[0153] The disclosure is illustrated by the following non-limiting
Examples.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Growth of Cell Lines in Culture
[0154] The RMA-S (H-2b), EL4 (H-2b) and T2 cell lines were
maintained in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum,
glutamine-pyruvate, and antibiotics in 5% CO2 at 37.degree. C.
Mouse endothelial cell line H5V (H-2b), bEND3(H-2d) and mouse colon
cancer cell line MC38(H-2b) were maintained in DMEM supplemented
with 10% fetal calf serum, glutamine-pyruvate, and antibiotics.
Mouse epithelial cell line TC-1 (HPV16 E6 and E7 positive) was from
ATCC. H5V and bEND3 cells were obtained from Dr. Yiwen Li (Wei et
al., Nat. Med. 6:1160-1166, 2000). RMA-S cell line was obtained
from Dr. Altan-Bonnet, Gregoire (NIH/NIAID).
Example 2
Prediction and Synthesis of Murine VEGFR-2 Peptides
[0155] The sequence of mouse VEGFR-2/KDR was evaluated using
computer algorithms to identify H-2Db binding epitopes. Two
algorithms were employed to predict the epitope candidates binding
to H-2Db molecule: Bimas
(http://www-bimas.dcrt.nih.gov/molbio/hla_bind/index.html) and
SYFPEITH
(http://syfpeithi.bmi-heidelberg.com/scripts/MHCServer.dll/home.-
htm).
[0156] Three murine H-2Db epitopes were identified. Three peptides,
designated as VEGFR-2/KDR1, KDR2 and KDR3 respectively were
predicted to bind the H-2Db molecules by both computer programs:
Bimas and SYFPEITH. The sequences of these peptides are shown in
Table 2. TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Murine VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic
peptides SYFPEITH Peptide SEQ ID NO: Sequence Location Bimas Score
Score KDR1 SEQ ID NO:13 LLSEKNVVKI 1033-1042 240.000 13 KDR2 SEQ ID
NO:3 VILTNPISM 400-408 660.000 24 KDR3 SEQ ID NO:4 FSNSTNDILI
615-624 286.000 16
[0157] Peptides were synthesized using a commercial service (Sigma,
The Woodlands, Tex.). Two peptides with known high binding affinity
to H-2Db and HLA-A2, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)16E7 49-57
(Feltkamp et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 23:2242-2249, 1993) and Human
P53 264-272 (Theobald et al., J. Exp. Med. 185:833-841, 1997)
served as positive and negative control respectively.
Example 3
Mouse VEGFR-2/KDR Peptides Bind H-2Db
[0158] To test the binding affinity of these peptides to H-2Db, an
RMA-S binding experiment was performed, and the FI value in the
assay was measured. Incubation of RMA-S cells with H-2Db- or
H-2Kb-binding peptides has been shown to enhance surface expression
of the respective MHC class I molecules on these cells by
stabilizing the peptide-MHC complex (Ljunggren et al., Nature
346:476-480, 1990). The RMA-Binding assays were performed as
previously described (Lyman et al., J. Virol. 76:3125-3134, 2002).
Briefly, synthetic peptides were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide
before dilution. For MHC-binding assays, RMA-S cells were loaded
with various peptides for 16 to 18 h at 37.degree. C. Levels of
surface class I molecules were assessed by flow cytometric analysis
(FACScan; Becton Dickinson) using mouse monoclonal antibodies
specific for H-2Db (Southern Biotech, clone No. 28-14-8).
FI=Fluorescence after peptides stimulation/ Fluorescence without
peptide-1.
[0159] Previous data have shown that the HPV16E7 49-57 can bind to
H-2Db molecules efficiently and induce a strong CTL response in B6
mice (Feltkamp et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 23:2242-2249, 1993).
HPV16E7 49-57 peptide was used as a positive control; and the human
P53 264-272, known to bind HLA-A2 but not H-2Db, was used as a
negative control (FIG. 1).
[0160] As shown in FIG. 1, KDR2 and KDR3 peptides bind well to
H-2Db. Concentration of HPV16E7 49-57 at FI=0.5 was about 12.5
.mu.M, while FI of the negative control, P53 264-272 could not
reach 0.5 even at concentration of 200 .mu.M, indicating that this
peptide does not bind H-2Db molecule and confirming that the assay
was indicative of H-2Db binding. FI of KDR3 was 0.5 when the
concentration was about 3 .mu.M, that for KDR2 was about 24 .mu.M,
suggested the binding affinity of KDR3 to H-2Db was higher than
KDR2 and the positive control, HPV16E7 49-57.
Example 4
VEGFR-2/KDR Peptides are Immunogenic
[0161] The immunogenicity of KDR2 and KDR3 was demonstrated in vivo
by immunizing mice with the peptides and evaluating the resulting
antigen specific immune response. Mice were immunized with selected
peptide, together with murine GM-CSF and anti-mouse CD40 as
adjuvants. An emulsion containing 50 .mu.l Incomplete Freud's
Adjuvants (IFA, Sigma) with or without 100 ng of peptide and 5
.mu.g murine GM-CSF (Pepro Tech), 20 .mu.g anti-murine CD40
monoclonal antibody (Southern Biotech, Clone number 1C10) was
prepared in a final volume of 100 .mu.l. Subcutaneous injections
were performed on the tails of the mice with 1 ml syringes and 30
gauge needles. For the Matrigel Plug Assay, two boosts were
injected at 4 week intervals.
[0162] IFN-.gamma. Elispots assay was performed on draining lymph
nodes cells (DLN) or splenocytes collected 2 weeks after
vaccination to evaluate the antigen specific immune response
against the VEGFR-2/KDR peptides. Elispot plates (Millipore,
Bedford, Mass.) were coated with 8 .mu.g of anti-gamma interferon
(IFN-.gamma.) antibody per ml in sterile phosphate-buffered saline
(PBS) overnight at 4.degree. C. Plates were washed and then blocked
with RPMI 1640 with 10% FBS. Fresh splenocytes or cells after 1
week in vitro restimulation were used as effectors. 1 or
5.times.10.sup.5 effector cells were co-cultured overnight with or
without 2.times.10.sup.5 irradiated (3,000 rads) EL4 cells in 200
.mu.l media at 37.degree. C., 5% CO2 in the presence of appropriate
concentration of peptide. When H5V and bEND3 cells in stead of EL4
were used as stimulators, they were treated with 0.1 mg/ml
mitomycin C (Sigma, St. Louis) for half an hour at 37.degree. C.,
then wash three times with PBS. 5.times.10.sup.4 H5V or bEND3 cells
were co-cultured overnight with 2.times.10.sup.5 draining lymph
nodes cells. Spots were developed as previously described using
biotin-conjugated anti-cytokine antibodies (Endogen, Boston, Mass.)
and streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase in 1% BSA-PBS.
[0163] The number of IFN-.gamma. secreting fresh spleen cells after
pulsing with KDR3 peptide was 176 and was about 6 times of that
pulsed with irrelevant HPV E7 peptide (FIG. 2A). The number of
IFN-.gamma. secreting fresh spleen cells after KDR2 vaccination was
about 50 times greater than background.
[0164] After 1 week in vitro culture in the presence of the
vaccinated peptide, the number of IFN-.gamma. secreting cells
increased to about 10-20 times more than the background in KDR2 and
KDR3 groups, but VEGFR-2/KDR1 group remained negative (FIG. 2B). As
shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, when pulsed with syngeneic VEGFR-2/KDR
negative EL4 cell, the background is less than 10% of the positive
group. These results indicated that KDR2 and KDR3, but not
VEGFR-2/KDR1, break self-tolerance and induce specific immune
response in C57BL/6 mice. These findings are in agreement with the
RMA-S binding data.
[0165] The time course of response differed between peptides, with
KDR2 yielding a more rapid response. When stimulated with syngeneic
VEGFR-2/KDR expressing cells (H5V), KDR2 vaccinated group had 360
IFN-.gamma. secreting cells per million fresh DLN cells, whereas
KDR3 group had 161 per million cells. A lower response was observed
following stimulation with allogeneic bEND3 cells (FIG. 2C).
Example 5
MHC Class I Tetramer Binds CTLs Induced by KDR2 and KDR3
Vaccination
[0166] The T cell response to vaccination with the VEGFR-2/KDR
immunogenic peptides was evaluated using a MHC Class I Tetramer
staining assay. Tetrameric MHC Class I complexes including the
VEGFR-2/KDR2 immunogenic peptides were used to detect CD8+ T cells
that specifically bound to VEGFR-2/KDR. MHC Class I tetramer were
from the NIH Tetramer Core Facility at Emory University. 7-AAD and
anti-mouse CD8 were from BD Pharmingen. Staining protocol from NIH
Tetramer Core Facility was strictly followed. Briefly,
2-3.times.10.sup.6 cells were incubated with 7-AAD and appropriate
antibodies at 4.degree. C. for 30 minutes, washed 3 times, then
fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde. About 100,000 cells were collected
by FACSCAN (Becton Dickinson) for each sample. Results were
analyzed by CELLQUEST.TM. software. Dead cells were gated out by
staining with 7-AAD.
[0167] In freshly collected cells, the percentage of CD8+ Tetramer
positive cells is low (about 0.05%), in contrast, more than 1% of
CD8+ cells were tetramer positive after one week peptide
restimulation in vitro (FIG. 3). Thus, about 25 times increase can
be seen in mouse spleen cells after 7 days in vitro restimulation.
While only 0.02-0.08% of total CD8+ cells from naive mice were
tetramer positive even after 7 days in vitro restimulation. As
shown in FIG.3, the non-specific binding of this assay was very low
(0.01%).
Example 6
CTLs Induced by Peptides Lyse Tumor Cell Lines Expressing
VEGFR-2/KDR
[0168] Chromium (.sup.51 Cr) Release Assays were used to determine
whether T cells identified as binding to VEGFR-2/KDR specifically
targeted endothelial cells. Mice were vaccinated twice with 5 .mu.g
GM-CSF, 20 .mu.g anti-CD40 and 100 .mu.g peptide per mice. Briefly,
spleen cells were prepared from immunized mice (4-5 mice per group)
and restimulated with the vaccinated peptides in 24-well plates in
RPMI 1640 (Invitrogen) with 10% FCS. Forty-eight hours later, 10%
T-stim (BD Bioscience) was added into the culture media. CTL
activity was tested in a 4-hour .sup.51Cr release assay 5 days
later. VEGFR-2/KDR+syngeneic H5V (H-2d), allogeneic bEND3 (H-2b)
endothelial cells and VEGFR-2/KDR syngeneic EL4 cells pulsed with
peptides or EL4 alone served as target cells. The percentage
cytotoxicity was calculated using the formula: (experimental
release-spontaneous release)/(maximum release-spontaneous
release).times.100.
[0169] As shown in FIG. 4, at an endothelial cell to T cell ratio
(E:T ratio) of 50:1, the percentage of lyses of CTLs induced by
KDR2 reach 25% when using EL4 pulsed with KDR2 as targets, and 28%
when using H5V, while the control is about 8% and 1% respectively.
The percentage of lyses of CTLs induced by KDR3 was found to be
lower than that of KDR2, but at E:T ratio at 50:1, the percentage
of lyses still reach 13% and 21% when H5V and EL4 pulsed with KDR3
peptide as targets, while the control are 3% and 0.
[0170] CTLs induced by KDR2 and KDR3 can lyse H5V cells (H-2b,
VEGFR-2/KDR+) and EL4 (H-2b, VEGFR-2/KDR-) pulsed with
corresponding VEGFR-2/KDR peptides, but not MHC Class I unmatched
bEND3 cell or the MHC matched but VEGFR-2/KDR negative cells (EL4),
(FIG. 4). Such a pattern of MHC restricted lyses indicates the role
of CTLs and shows KDR2 and KDR3 epitopes are naturally processed by
and presented at endothelial cells H5V.
Example 7
Vaccination with KDR2 and KDR3 Peptides Suppresses Angiogenesis in
Vivo
[0171] To test the effect of VEGFR-2/KDR peptide vaccination on
VEGFR-2/KDR induced angiogenesis in vivo, a Matrigel Plug Assay was
performed using murine VEGF as pro-angiogenesis factor. C57BL/6
mice (6-8 weeks old) were vaccinated three times at 3-week
intervals in the tails. Ten days after the last vaccination, 500 1
growth factor reduced Matrigel with or without 100 ng/ml murine
VEGF( Pepro Tech) were injected subcutaneously into the right
flanks of the mice (four groups). Group one was injected with 0.5
ml growth factor reduced Matrigel alone and served as a negative
control. The other 3 groups received 0.5 ml Matrigel containing 100
mg/ml of mVEGF: Group 2 served as a positive control, the remaining
two groups received either the adjuvants alone or (G3) or the
adjuvants and KDR3 peptides (G4). Plugs were resected after 10 days
and were shaken overnight in 2.times.water before 1 hour of
incubation with an equal volume of Drabkin reagent (Sigma) and
colorimetric assessment at A540 (Fahmy et al., Nat. Med.
9:1026-1032, 2003).
[0172] Matrigel without growth factors cannot effectively induce
neo-vascularization, while plugs containing 100 ng/ml murine VEGF
was enough to induce angiogenesis (FIG. 5B upper panel). Compared
to group that was immunized with adjuvants only, angiogenesis in
mice immunized with KDR2 and KDR3 were reduced dramatically (FIG.
5A and B lower panel). Hemoglobin contents in the Matrigel plugs
were lower in the group (Gr4) vaccinated with VEGFR-2/KDR peptides
than that of the group vaccinated with adjuvants only(Gr3), OD540
of the plugs were 0.042.+-.0.047 (n=6) vs. 0.152.+-.0.110
respectively (P<0.05 relative to control group by Student's T
test).
Example 8
KDR2 and KDR3 Immunizations Inhibit MC38 Tumor Growth
[0173] The murine colon cancer cell line MC38 was used as a model
tumor in C57L/B6 mice to evaluate the ability of vaccination with
VEGFR-2/KDR peptides to inhibit tumor growth. For the MC38
therapeutic model, 3.times.10.sup.4 MC38 cells were injected s.c.
into the right flanks of C57BL/6 mice at day 1. Mice were
randomized into 3 groups (5 mice each), and were immunized with
PBS, adjuvants only or adjuvants plus 100 .mu.g KDR2 and KDR3
peptides twice at 3-week intervals in the tails. Ten days after the
last vaccination, mice were injected intravenously with
5.times.10.sup.4 MC38 cells. Tumors were measured by caliper twice
a week until the mice were sacrificed, when tumor reach 2
millimeter in length. Lungs were removed and fixed in 10%
Formaldehyde, then weighed. Student's T test was performed with
SPSS software.
[0174] There were no significant difference between the adjuvants
and PBS groups, but tumor growth in the KDR2 and KDR3 vaccinated
group was comparatively slower than the other two groups (FIG. 6).
These results indicated vaccination with these two peptides
inhibits MC38 tumor growth in mice. Additionally, although
VEGFR-2/KDR is also expressed in normal vascular endothelium
(albeit at lower levels than in tumor vasculature), no obvious side
effects were observed in the animal model described herein,
demonstrating that vaccination with VEGFR-2/KDR peptides is likely
to be tolerated in vivo.
Example 9
Identification of Human VEGFR-2/KDR Peptides
[0175] The sequence of human VEGFR-2/KDR was also evaluated using
computer algorithms to identify HLA-A2 binding epitopes. Seven
HLA-A2 binding epitopes were identified. The sequences of these
peptides are shown in Table 3. TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Human
VEGFR-2/KDR immunogenic peptides Peptide Sequence SEQ ID NO:
VLLWEIFSL SEQ ID NO:5 ALIEGKNKT SEQ ID NO:6 AMFFWLLLV SEQ ID NO:7
VLLAVALWL SEQ ID NO:8 LMTKKNSTFV SEQ ID NO:9 FLSTLTIDGV SEQ ID
NO:10 WLLLVIILRT SEQ ID NO:11 VIAMFFWLL SEQ ID NO:12
Example 10
Exemplary Human VEGFR-2/KDR Peptides Bind HLA-A2
[0176] To test the binding affinity of the predicted human peptides
for HLA-A2, three exemplary peptides, designated KDR505 (SEQ ID
NO:6), KDR775 (SEQ ID NO:7) and KDR1093 (SEQ ID NO:5) were
synthesized and evaluated in a T2 binding assay as described by
Cerundolo et al., Nature 342:449-452, 1990. In brief, T2 cells were
cultured in RPMI1640 with 10% FBS, and grown in 5% CO.sub.2 at
37.degree. C. Cells (1.times.10.sup.5) in a volume of 100 .mu.l of
RPMI 1640 (serum free) were aliquoted into 96-well, U-bottomed
plates and incubated with peptide at a final concentration of
0.1-100 .mu.M plus 5 nM .beta..sub.2 microglobulin (Cymbus
Biotechnology Ltd., Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, United Kingdom) for
18 h at 37.degree. C. in 5% CO.sub.2. The level of stabilized
HLA-A2 on the surface of the T2 cells was detected using the pan
HLA class I monoclonal antibody W6/32 (European Collection of
Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC), Porton Down, Salisbury) that
recognizes stabilized HLA-A2 complexes. Samples are fixed in 1%
paraformaldehyde in PBS prior to analysis and analyzed on a Becton
Dickinson FACSCAN.RTM..
[0177] As shown in FIG. 7, all three peptides bound HLA-A2 at
concentrations of 100 .mu.M. KDR775 bound to MHC molecules at a
substantially higher affinity than the other two peptides
tested.
Example 11
Human VEGF/KDR Peptides are Immunogenic
[0178] To evaluate the ability of the exemplary human peptides to
elicit an immune response specific for VEGFR-2, transgenic mice
expressing human MHC Class I molecules (HLA-A2) were immunized with
the human peptides (KDR505, KDR775 and KDR1093) as described above.
Elicited immune responses were evaluated by Elispot assay.
[0179] Elispot plates (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) were coated with
8 .mu.g of anti-gamma interferon (IFN-.gamma.) antibody per ml in
sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) overnight at 4.degree. C.
Plates were washed and then blocked with RPMI 1640 with 10% FBS.
Fresh splenocytes or cells after 1 week in vitro restimulation were
used as effectors. 5.times.10.sup.5 effector cells were co-cultured
overnight with or without 2.times.10.sup.5 irradiated (3,000 rads)
C1R.A2 cells (human) in 200 .mu.l media at 37.degree. C., 5% CO2 in
the presence of appropriate concentration of peptide.
[0180] A representative assay in the presence and absence of C1R.A2
cells is illustrated in FIGS. 8A and B, respectively. These results
demonstrate that the exemplary human VEGFR-2/KDR peptides elicit an
immune response against VEGFR-2/KDR.
[0181] In view of the many possible embodiments to which the
principles of our invention may be applied, it should be recognized
that the illustrated embodiment is only a preferred example of the
invention and should not be taken as a limitation on the scope of
the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the
following claims. We therefore claim as our invention all that
comes within the scope and spirit of these claims.
Sequence CWU 1
1
13 1 1367 PRT Mus musculus 1 Met Glu Ser Lys Ala Leu Leu Ala Val
Ala Leu Trp Phe Cys Val Glu 1 5 10 15 Thr Arg Ala Ala Ser Val Gly
Leu Pro Gly Asp Phe Leu His Pro Pro 20 25 30 Lys Leu Ser Thr Gln
Lys Asp Ile Leu Thr Ile Leu Ala Asn Thr Thr 35 40 45 Leu Gln Ile
Thr Cys Arg Gly Gln Arg Asp Leu Asp Trp Leu Trp Pro 50 55 60 Asn
Ala Gln Arg Asp Ser Glu Glu Arg Val Leu Val Thr Glu Cys Gly 65 70
75 80 Gly Gly Asp Ser Ile Phe Cys Lys Thr Leu Thr Ile Pro Arg Val
Val 85 90 95 Gly Asn Asp Thr Gly Ala Tyr Lys Cys Ser Tyr Arg Asp
Val Asp Ile 100 105 110 Ala Ser Thr Val Tyr Val Tyr Val Arg Asp Tyr
Arg Ser Pro Phe Ile 115 120 125 Ala Ser Val Ser Asp Gln His Gly Ile
Val Tyr Ile Thr Glu Asn Lys 130 135 140 Asn Lys Thr Val Val Ile Pro
Cys Arg Gly Ser Ile Ser Asn Leu Asn 145 150 155 160 Val Ser Leu Cys
Ala Arg Tyr Pro Glu Lys Arg Phe Val Pro Asp Gly 165 170 175 Asn Arg
Ile Ser Trp Asp Ser Glu Ile Gly Phe Thr Leu Pro Ser Tyr 180 185 190
Met Ile Ser Tyr Ala Gly Met Val Phe Cys Glu Ala Lys Ile Asn Asp 195
200 205 Glu Thr Tyr Gln Ser Ile Met Tyr Ile Val Val Val Val Gly Tyr
Arg 210 215 220 Ile Tyr Asp Val Ile Leu Ser Pro Pro His Glu Ile Glu
Leu Ser Ala 225 230 235 240 Gly Glu Lys Leu Val Leu Asn Cys Thr Ala
Arg Thr Glu Leu Asn Val 245 250 255 Gly Leu Asp Phe Thr Trp His Ser
Pro Pro Ser Lys Ser His His Lys 260 265 270 Lys Ile Val Asn Arg Asp
Val Lys Pro Phe Pro Gly Thr Val Ala Lys 275 280 285 Met Phe Leu Ser
Thr Leu Thr Ile Glu Ser Val Thr Lys Ser Asp Gln 290 295 300 Gly Glu
Tyr Thr Cys Val Ala Ser Ser Gly Arg Met Ile Lys Arg Asn 305 310 315
320 Arg Thr Phe Val Arg Val His Thr Lys Pro Phe Ile Ala Phe Gly Ser
325 330 335 Gly Met Lys Ser Leu Val Glu Ala Thr Val Gly Ser Gln Val
Arg Ile 340 345 350 Pro Val Lys Tyr Leu Ser Tyr Pro Ala Pro Asp Ile
Lys Trp Tyr Arg 355 360 365 Asn Gly Arg Pro Ile Glu Ser Asn Tyr Thr
Met Ile Val Gly Asp Glu 370 375 380 Leu Thr Ile Met Glu Val Thr Glu
Arg Asp Ala Gly Asn Tyr Thr Val 385 390 395 400 Ile Leu Thr Asn Pro
Ile Ser Met Glu Lys Gln Ser His Met Val Ser 405 410 415 Leu Val Val
Asn Val Pro Pro Gln Ile Gly Glu Lys Ala Leu Ile Ser 420 425 430 Pro
Met Asp Ser Tyr Gln Tyr Gly Thr Met Gln Thr Leu Thr Cys Thr 435 440
445 Val Tyr Ala Asn Pro Pro Leu His His Ile Gln Trp Tyr Trp Gln Leu
450 455 460 Glu Glu Ala Cys Ser Tyr Arg Pro Gly Gln Thr Ser Pro Tyr
Ala Cys 465 470 475 480 Lys Glu Trp Arg His Val Glu Asp Phe Gln Gly
Gly Asn Lys Ile Glu 485 490 495 Val Thr Lys Asn Gln Tyr Ala Leu Ile
Glu Gly Lys Asn Lys Thr Val 500 505 510 Ser Thr Leu Val Ile Gln Ala
Ala Asn Val Ser Ala Leu Tyr Lys Cys 515 520 525 Glu Ala Ile Asn Lys
Ala Gly Arg Gly Glu Arg Val Ile Ser Phe His 530 535 540 Val Ile Arg
Gly Pro Glu Ile Thr Val Gln Pro Ala Ala Gln Pro Thr 545 550 555 560
Glu Gln Glu Ser Val Ser Leu Leu Cys Thr Ala Asp Arg Asn Thr Phe 565
570 575 Glu Asn Leu Thr Trp Tyr Lys Leu Gly Ser Gln Ala Thr Ser Val
His 580 585 590 Met Gly Glu Ser Leu Thr Pro Val Cys Lys Asn Leu Asp
Ala Leu Trp 595 600 605 Lys Leu Asn Gly Thr Met Phe Ser Asn Ser Thr
Asn Asp Ile Leu Ile 610 615 620 Val Ala Phe Gln Asn Ala Ser Leu Gln
Asp Gln Gly Asp Tyr Val Cys 625 630 635 640 Ser Ala Gln Asp Lys Lys
Thr Lys Lys Arg His Cys Leu Val Lys Gln 645 650 655 Leu Ile Ile Leu
Glu Arg Met Ala Pro Met Ile Thr Gly Asn Leu Glu 660 665 670 Asn Gln
Thr Thr Thr Ile Gly Glu Thr Ile Glu Val Thr Cys Pro Ala 675 680 685
Ser Gly Asn Pro Thr Pro His Ile Thr Trp Phe Lys Asp Asn Glu Thr 690
695 700 Leu Val Glu Asp Ser Gly Ile Val Leu Arg Asp Gly Asn Arg Asn
Leu 705 710 715 720 Thr Ile Arg Arg Val Arg Lys Glu Asp Gly Gly Leu
Tyr Thr Cys Gln 725 730 735 Ala Cys Asn Val Leu Gly Cys Ala Arg Ala
Glu Thr Leu Phe Ile Ile 740 745 750 Glu Gly Ala Gln Glu Lys Thr Asn
Leu Glu Val Ile Ile Leu Val Gly 755 760 765 Thr Ala Val Ile Ala Met
Phe Phe Trp Leu Leu Leu Val Ile Leu Val 770 775 780 Arg Thr Val Lys
Arg Ala Asn Glu Gly Glu Leu Lys Thr Gly Tyr Leu 785 790 795 800 Ser
Ile Val Met Asp Pro Asp Glu Leu Pro Leu Asp Glu Arg Cys Glu 805 810
815 Arg Leu Pro Tyr Asp Ala Ser Lys Trp Glu Phe Pro Arg Asp Arg Leu
820 825 830 Lys Leu Gly Lys Pro Leu Gly Arg Gly Ala Phe Gly Gln Val
Ile Glu 835 840 845 Ala Asp Ala Phe Gly Ile Asp Lys Thr Ala Thr Cys
Lys Thr Val Ala 850 855 860 Val Lys Met Leu Lys Glu Gly Ala Thr His
Ser Glu His Arg Ala Leu 865 870 875 880 Met Ser Glu Leu Lys Ile Leu
Ile His Ile Gly His His Leu Asn Val 885 890 895 Val Asn Leu Leu Gly
Ala Cys Thr Lys Pro Gly Gly Pro Leu Met Val 900 905 910 Ile Val Glu
Phe Ser Lys Phe Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Tyr Leu Arg Gly 915 920 925 Lys
Arg Asn Glu Phe Val Pro Tyr Lys Ser Lys Gly Ala Arg Phe Arg 930 935
940 Gln Gly Lys Asp Tyr Val Gly Glu Leu Ser Val Asp Leu Lys Arg Arg
945 950 955 960 Leu Asp Ser Ile Thr Ser Ser Gln Ser Ser Ala Ser Ser
Gly Phe Val 965 970 975 Glu Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser Asp Val Glu Glu Glu
Glu Ala Ser Glu Glu 980 985 990 Leu Tyr Lys Asp Phe Leu Thr Leu Glu
His Leu Ile Cys Tyr Ser Phe 995 1000 1005 Gln Val Ala Lys Gly Met
Glu Phe Leu Ala Ser Arg Lys Cys Ile 1010 1015 1020 His Arg Asp Leu
Ala Ala Arg Asn Ile Leu Leu Ser Glu Lys Asn 1025 1030 1035 Val Val
Lys Ile Cys Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Asp Ile Tyr Lys 1040 1045 1050
Asp Pro Asp Tyr Val Arg Lys Gly Asp Ala Arg Leu Pro Leu Lys 1055
1060 1065 Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Thr Ile Phe Asp Arg Val Tyr Thr Ile
Gln 1070 1075 1080 Ser Asp Val Trp Ser Phe Gly Val Leu Leu Trp Glu
Ile Phe Ser 1085 1090 1095 Leu Gly Ala Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly Val Lys
Ile Asp Glu Glu Phe 1100 1105 1110 Cys Arg Arg Leu Lys Glu Gly Thr
Arg Met Arg Ala Pro Asp Tyr 1115 1120 1125 Thr Thr Pro Glu Met Tyr
Gln Thr Met Leu Asp Cys Trp His Glu 1130 1135 1140 Asp Pro Asn Gln
Arg Pro Ser Phe Ser Glu Leu Val Glu His Leu 1145 1150 1155 Gly Asn
Leu Leu Gln Ala Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Gly Lys Asp Tyr 1160 1165 1170
Ile Val Leu Pro Met Ser Glu Thr Leu Ser Met Glu Glu Asp Ser 1175
1180 1185 Gly Leu Ser Leu Pro Thr Ser Pro Val Ser Cys Met Glu Glu
Glu 1190 1195 1200 Glu Val Cys Asp Pro Lys Phe His Tyr Asp Asn Thr
Ala Gly Ile 1205 1210 1215 Ser His Tyr Leu Gln Asn Ser Lys Arg Lys
Ser Arg Pro Val Ser 1220 1225 1230 Val Lys Thr Phe Glu Asp Ile Pro
Leu Glu Glu Pro Glu Val Lys 1235 1240 1245 Val Ile Pro Asp Asp Ser
Gln Thr Asp Ser Gly Met Val Leu Ala 1250 1255 1260 Ser Glu Glu Leu
Lys Thr Leu Glu Asp Arg Asn Lys Leu Ser Pro 1265 1270 1275 Ser Phe
Gly Gly Met Met Pro Ser Lys Ser Arg Glu Ser Val Ala 1280 1285 1290
Ser Glu Gly Ser Asn Gln Thr Ser Gly Tyr Gln Ser Gly Tyr His 1295
1300 1305 Ser Asp Asp Thr Asp Thr Thr Val Tyr Ser Ser Asp Glu Ala
Gly 1310 1315 1320 Leu Leu Lys Met Val Asp Ala Ala Val His Ala Asp
Ser Gly Thr 1325 1330 1335 Thr Leu Gln Leu Thr Ser Cys Leu Asn Gly
Ser Gly Pro Val Pro 1340 1345 1350 Ala Pro Pro Pro Thr Pro Gly Asn
His Glu Arg Gly Ala Ala 1355 1360 1365 2 1356 PRT Homo sapiens 2
Met Gln Ser Lys Val Leu Leu Ala Val Ala Leu Trp Leu Cys Val Glu 1 5
10 15 Thr Arg Ala Ala Ser Val Gly Leu Pro Ser Val Ser Leu Asp Leu
Pro 20 25 30 Arg Leu Ser Ile Gln Lys Asp Ile Leu Thr Ile Lys Ala
Asn Thr Thr 35 40 45 Leu Gln Ile Thr Cys Arg Gly Gln Arg Asp Leu
Asp Trp Leu Trp Pro 50 55 60 Asn Asn Gln Ser Gly Ser Glu Gln Arg
Val Glu Val Thr Glu Cys Ser 65 70 75 80 Asp Gly Leu Phe Cys Lys Thr
Leu Thr Ile Pro Lys Val Ile Gly Asn 85 90 95 Asp Thr Gly Ala Tyr
Lys Cys Phe Tyr Arg Glu Thr Asp Leu Ala Ser 100 105 110 Val Ile Tyr
Val Tyr Val Gln Asp Tyr Arg Ser Pro Phe Ile Ala Ser 115 120 125 Val
Ser Asp Gln His Gly Val Val Tyr Ile Thr Glu Asn Lys Asn Lys 130 135
140 Thr Val Val Ile Pro Cys Leu Gly Ser Ile Ser Asn Leu Asn Val Ser
145 150 155 160 Leu Cys Ala Arg Tyr Pro Glu Lys Arg Phe Val Pro Asp
Gly Asn Arg 165 170 175 Ile Ser Trp Asp Ser Lys Lys Gly Phe Thr Ile
Pro Ser Tyr Met Ile 180 185 190 Ser Tyr Ala Gly Met Val Phe Cys Glu
Ala Lys Ile Asn Asp Glu Ser 195 200 205 Tyr Gln Ser Ile Met Tyr Ile
Val Val Val Val Gly Tyr Arg Ile Tyr 210 215 220 Asp Val Val Leu Ser
Pro Ser His Gly Ile Glu Leu Ser Val Gly Glu 225 230 235 240 Lys Leu
Val Leu Asn Cys Thr Ala Arg Thr Glu Leu Asn Val Gly Ile 245 250 255
Asp Phe Asn Trp Glu Tyr Pro Ser Ser Lys His Gln His Lys Lys Leu 260
265 270 Val Asn Arg Asp Leu Lys Thr Gln Ser Gly Ser Glu Met Lys Lys
Phe 275 280 285 Leu Ser Thr Leu Thr Ile Asp Gly Val Thr Arg Ser Asp
Gln Gly Leu 290 295 300 Tyr Thr Cys Ala Ala Ser Ser Gly Leu Met Thr
Lys Lys Asn Ser Thr 305 310 315 320 Phe Val Arg Val His Glu Lys Pro
Phe Val Ala Phe Gly Ser Gly Met 325 330 335 Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Ala
Thr Val Gly Glu Arg Val Arg Ile Pro Ala 340 345 350 Lys Tyr Leu Gly
Tyr Pro Pro Pro Glu Ile Lys Trp Tyr Lys Asn Gly 355 360 365 Ile Pro
Leu Glu Ser Asn His Thr Ile Lys Ala Gly His Val Leu Thr 370 375 380
Ile Met Glu Val Ser Glu Arg Asp Thr Gly Asn Tyr Thr Val Ile Leu 385
390 395 400 Thr Asn Pro Ile Ser Lys Glu Lys Gln Ser His Val Val Ser
Leu Val 405 410 415 Val Tyr Val Pro Pro Gln Ile Gly Glu Lys Ser Leu
Ile Ser Pro Val 420 425 430 Asp Ser Tyr Gln Tyr Gly Thr Thr Gln Thr
Leu Thr Cys Thr Val Tyr 435 440 445 Ala Ile Pro Pro Pro His His Ile
His Trp Tyr Trp Gln Leu Glu Glu 450 455 460 Glu Cys Ala Asn Glu Pro
Ser Gln Ala Val Ser Val Thr Asn Pro Tyr 465 470 475 480 Pro Cys Glu
Glu Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Asp Phe Gln Gly Gly Asn Lys 485 490 495 Ile
Glu Val Asn Lys Asn Gln Phe Ala Leu Ile Glu Gly Lys Asn Lys 500 505
510 Thr Val Ser Thr Leu Val Ile Gln Ala Ala Asn Val Ser Ala Leu Tyr
515 520 525 Lys Cys Glu Ala Val Asn Lys Val Gly Arg Gly Glu Arg Val
Ile Ser 530 535 540 Phe His Val Thr Arg Gly Pro Glu Ile Thr Leu Gln
Pro Asp Met Gln 545 550 555 560 Pro Thr Glu Gln Glu Ser Val Ser Leu
Trp Cys Thr Ala Asp Arg Ser 565 570 575 Thr Phe Glu Asn Leu Thr Trp
Tyr Lys Leu Gly Pro Gln Pro Leu Pro 580 585 590 Ile His Val Gly Glu
Leu Pro Thr Pro Val Cys Lys Asn Leu Asp Thr 595 600 605 Leu Trp Lys
Leu Asn Ala Thr Met Phe Ser Asn Ser Thr Asn Asp Ile 610 615 620 Leu
Ile Met Glu Leu Lys Asn Ala Ser Leu Gln Asp Gln Gly Asp Tyr 625 630
635 640 Val Cys Leu Ala Gln Asp Arg Lys Thr Lys Lys Arg His Cys Val
Val 645 650 655 Arg Gln Leu Thr Val Leu Glu Arg Val Ala Pro Thr Ile
Thr Gly Asn 660 665 670 Leu Glu Asn Gln Thr Thr Ser Ile Gly Glu Ser
Ile Glu Val Ser Cys 675 680 685 Thr Ala Ser Gly Asn Pro Pro Pro Gln
Ile Met Trp Phe Lys Asp Asn 690 695 700 Glu Thr Leu Val Glu Asp Ser
Gly Ile Val Leu Lys Asp Gly Asn Arg 705 710 715 720 Asn Leu Thr Ile
Arg Arg Val Arg Lys Glu Asp Glu Gly Leu Tyr Thr 725 730 735 Cys Gln
Ala Cys Ser Val Leu Gly Cys Ala Lys Val Glu Ala Phe Phe 740 745 750
Ile Ile Glu Gly Ala Gln Glu Lys Thr Asn Leu Glu Ile Ile Ile Leu 755
760 765 Val Gly Thr Ala Val Ile Ala Met Phe Phe Trp Leu Leu Leu Val
Ile 770 775 780 Ile Leu Arg Thr Val Lys Arg Ala Asn Gly Gly Glu Leu
Lys Thr Gly 785 790 795 800 Tyr Leu Ser Ile Val Met Asp Pro Asp Glu
Leu Pro Leu Asp Glu His 805 810 815 Cys Glu Arg Leu Pro Tyr Asp Ala
Ser Lys Trp Glu Phe Pro Arg Asp 820 825 830 Arg Leu Lys Leu Gly Lys
Pro Leu Gly Arg Gly Ala Phe Gly Gln Val 835 840 845 Ile Glu Ala Asp
Ala Phe Gly Ile Asp Lys Thr Ala Thr Cys Arg Thr 850 855 860 Val Ala
Val Lys Met Leu Lys Glu Gly Ala Thr His Ser Glu His Arg 865 870 875
880 Ala Leu Met Ser Glu Leu Lys Ile Leu Ile His Ile Gly His His Leu
885 890 895 Asn Val Val Asn Leu Leu Gly Ala Cys Thr Lys Pro Gly Gly
Pro Leu 900 905 910 Met Val Ile Val Glu Phe Cys Lys Phe Gly Asn Leu
Ser Thr Tyr Leu 915 920 925 Arg Ser Lys Arg Asn Glu Phe Val Pro Tyr
Lys Thr Lys Gly Ala Arg 930 935 940 Phe Arg Gln Gly Lys Asp Tyr Val
Gly Ala Ile Pro Val Asp Leu Lys 945 950 955 960 Arg Arg Leu Asp Ser
Ile Thr Ser Ser Gln Ser Ser Ala Ser Ser Gly 965 970 975 Phe Val Glu
Glu Lys Ser Leu Ser Asp Val Glu Glu Glu Glu Ala Pro 980 985 990 Glu
Asp Leu Tyr Lys Asp Phe Leu Thr Leu Glu His Leu Ile Cys Tyr 995
1000 1005 Ser Phe Gln Val Ala Lys Gly Met Glu Phe Leu Ala Ser Arg
Lys 1010 1015 1020 Cys Ile His Arg Asp Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn Ile Leu
Leu Ser Glu 1025 1030 1035 Lys Asn Val Val Lys Ile Cys Asp Phe Gly
Leu Ala Arg Asp Ile 1040 1045 1050 Tyr Lys Asp Pro Asp Tyr Val Arg
Lys Gly Asp Ala Arg Leu Pro 1055
1060 1065 Leu Lys Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Thr Ile Phe Asp Arg Val Tyr
Thr 1070 1075 1080 Ile Gln Ser Asp Val Trp Ser Phe Gly Val Leu Leu
Trp Glu Ile 1085 1090 1095 Phe Ser Leu Gly Ala Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly
Val Lys Ile Asp Glu 1100 1105 1110 Glu Phe Cys Arg Arg Leu Lys Glu
Gly Thr Arg Met Arg Ala Pro 1115 1120 1125 Asp Tyr Thr Thr Pro Glu
Met Tyr Gln Thr Met Leu Asp Cys Trp 1130 1135 1140 His Gly Glu Pro
Ser Gln Arg Pro Thr Phe Ser Glu Leu Val Glu 1145 1150 1155 His Leu
Gly Asn Leu Leu Gln Ala Asn Ala Gln Gln Asp Gly Lys 1160 1165 1170
Asp Tyr Ile Val Leu Pro Ile Ser Glu Thr Leu Ser Met Glu Glu 1175
1180 1185 Asp Ser Gly Leu Ser Leu Pro Thr Ser Pro Val Ser Cys Met
Glu 1190 1195 1200 Glu Glu Glu Val Cys Asp Pro Lys Phe His Tyr Asp
Asn Thr Ala 1205 1210 1215 Gly Ile Ser Gln Tyr Leu Gln Asn Ser Lys
Arg Lys Ser Arg Pro 1220 1225 1230 Val Ser Val Lys Thr Phe Glu Asp
Ile Pro Leu Glu Glu Pro Glu 1235 1240 1245 Val Lys Val Ile Pro Asp
Asp Asn Gln Thr Asp Ser Gly Met Val 1250 1255 1260 Leu Ala Ser Glu
Glu Leu Lys Thr Leu Glu Asp Arg Thr Lys Leu 1265 1270 1275 Ser Pro
Ser Phe Gly Gly Met Val Pro Ser Lys Ser Arg Glu Ser 1280 1285 1290
Val Ala Ser Glu Gly Ser Asn Gln Thr Ser Gly Tyr Gln Ser Gly 1295
1300 1305 Tyr His Ser Asp Asp Thr Asp Thr Thr Val Tyr Ser Ser Glu
Glu 1310 1315 1320 Ala Glu Leu Leu Lys Leu Ile Glu Ile Gly Val Gln
Thr Gly Ser 1325 1330 1335 Thr Ala Gln Ile Leu Gln Pro Asp Ser Gly
Thr Thr Leu Ser Ser 1340 1345 1350 Pro Pro Val 1355 3 9 PRT
artificial sequence synthetic peptide 3 Val Ile Leu Thr Asn Pro Ile
Ser Met 1 5 4 10 PRT artificial sequence synthetic peptide 4 Phe
Ser Asn Ser Thr Asn Asp Ile Leu Ile 1 5 10 5 9 PRT artificial
sequence synthetic peptide 5 Val Leu Leu Trp Glu Ile Phe Ser Leu 1
5 6 9 PRT artificial sequence synthetic peptide 6 Ala Leu Ile Glu
Gly Lys Asn Lys Thr 1 5 7 9 PRT artificial sequence synthetic
peptide 7 Ala Met Phe Phe Trp Leu Leu Leu Val 1 5 8 9 PRT
artificial sequence synthetic peptide 8 Val Leu Leu Ala Val Ala Leu
Trp Leu 1 5 9 10 PRT artificial sequence synthetic peptide 9 Leu
Met Thr Lys Lys Asn Ser Thr Phe Val 1 5 10 10 10 PRT artificial
sequence synthetic peptide 10 Phe Leu Ser Thr Leu Thr Ile Asp Gly
Val 1 5 10 11 10 PRT artificial sequence synthetic peptide 11 Trp
Leu Leu Leu Val Ile Ile Leu Arg Thr 1 5 10 12 9 PRT artificial
sequence synthetic peptide 12 Val Ile Ala Met Phe Phe Trp Leu Leu 1
5 13 10 PRT artificial sequence synthetic peptide 13 Leu Leu Ser
Glu Lys Asn Val Val Lys Ile 1 5 10
* * * * *
References