U.S. patent application number 12/357535 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for compositions for inducing immune response comprising inverted microsomes.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUEEN MARY & WESTFIELD COLLEGE. Invention is credited to Suling Li, Ping Wang.
Application Number | 20090232766 12/357535 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27799668 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090232766 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Ping ; et al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Compositions for Inducing Immune Response Comprising Inverted
Microsomes
Abstract
A vaccine composition is provided which comprises inverted
microsomes or fragments thereof from an animal cell in association
with an externally disposed peptide antigen and a protein of the
MHC.
Inventors: |
Wang; Ping; (London, GB)
; Li; Suling; (London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pepper Hamilton LLP
400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road
Berwyn
PA
19312-1183
US
|
Assignee: |
QUEEN MARY & WESTFIELD
COLLEGE
London
GB
|
Family ID: |
27799668 |
Appl. No.: |
12/357535 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10566823 |
Jun 20, 2006 |
7498046 |
|
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PCT/GB2004/003285 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
|
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12357535 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/85.2 ;
424/184.1; 424/277.1; 424/85.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 2039/55522
20130101; A61K 2039/605 20130101; A61P 25/00 20180101; A61K
2039/55533 20130101; Y10S 435/81 20130101; A61P 37/06 20180101;
A61K 2039/55555 20130101; A61P 35/00 20180101; A61P 31/00 20180101;
A61P 29/00 20180101; A61P 37/04 20180101; A61P 37/00 20180101; A61K
39/385 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/85.2 ;
424/184.1; 424/277.1; 424/85.5 |
International
Class: |
A61K 39/00 20060101
A61K039/00; A61P 37/04 20060101 A61P037/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2003 |
GB |
0318096.5 |
Claims
1-31. (canceled)
32. A vaccine composition comprising an isolated inverted microsome
from an animal cell, or a membrane fragment thereof, in association
with an externally disposed peptide antigen and a protein of the
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC).
33. A composition according to claim 32 in which the microsome is
from the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell.
34. A composition according to claim 32 in which the protein of the
MHC is from a heterologous source with respect to the cell from
which the microsome is obtained.
35. A composition according to claim 32 in which the composition
additionally comprises one or more co-stimulatory molecules.
36. A composition according to claim 35 in which the co-stimulatory
molecule is B7 or IL-2.
37. A composition according to claim 32 in which the antigen is
from a viral, bacterial, yeast, fungal, or protozoan origin.
38. A composition according to claim 32 in which the antigen is an
auto-antigen.
39. A composition according to claim 37 in which the antigen is of
neoplastic cell or cell of a cancer tumour, or a normal
self-protein.
40. A composition according to claim 39 in which the neoplastic
cell or cancer cell tumour is from a melanoma, lung adenocarcinoma,
colon cancer, breast cancer, or leukemia cell.
41. A kit of parts comprising a composition according to claim 32
and one or more cytokines and/or adjuvants in sealed
containers.
42. A kit of parts according to claim 41 in which the cytokine is
IL-2 or IFN.gamma..
43. A kit of parts comprising a composition according to claim 32
and one or more cytokines and/or adjuvants for separate, subsequent
or simultaneous administration to a subject.
44. A kit of parts according to claim 43 in which the cytokine is
IL-2 or IFN.gamma..
45. A process for the preparation of a vaccine composition
according to claim 32 comprising incubating a population of
microsomes and an antigen in the presence of a nucleoside
triphosphate, followed by processing to prepare inverted
microsomes, and formulating the resulting preparation in a
physiological diluent and optionally an adjuvant.
46. A method of treatment or prophylaxis of a subject suffering
from a disease or condition, comprising administering to the
subject a vaccine composition according to claim 32 to treat said
disease or condition.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
10/566,823 filed Jun. 20, 2006, which is the U.S. National Stage
filing of International Application Serial No. PCT/GB2004/003285
filed Jul. 30, 2004, which claims priority to GB 0318096.5 filed
Aug. 1, 2003, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
[0002] The present invention relates to a novel peptide-based
vaccines, uses of such vaccines in prophylactic and therapeutic
treatment of human and animal diseases, such as viral infection and
cancer.
[0003] Most of the successful vaccines depend on neutralising
antibodies raised by classic attenuated or killed pathogens.
However, for pathogens causing chronic infection--such as HIV,
hepatitis C virus, mycobacteria and parasites--or in the case of
cancer, a T-cell mediated immune response is crucial. Molecular
understanding of MHC antigen presentation and the T-cell immune
responses led to the use of defined antigenic peptide plus
cytokines and/or co-stimulatory molecules in attempts to develop
vaccines. One of the basic problems in all these attempts was the
difficulty to reconstitute an antigen delivery system that is
qualitatively and quantitatively similar to antigen presenting
cells (APC) in vivo.
[0004] CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognise antigens as
small antigenic peptides that assemble with major
histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. The antigenic
peptides are generated in the cytosol of APC and subsequently
translocated into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
(Rock, K. L. & Goldberg, A. L. Annu Rev Immunol 17, 739-779
(1999)). The MHC class I heavy chain is synthesised and inserted
into the lumen of the ER and where it forms a dimer with
b2-microglobulin (b2M) (Natarajan et al Rev Immunogenet 1, 32-46
(1999); Pamer E, & Cresswell P, Annu Rev Immunol. 16 323-358
(1998)). The dimers are retained in the ER until they assemble with
proper antigenic peptides. The process of MHC class I dimer and
assembly with peptides in the ER is catalysed by chaperones such as
BIP, calnexin, calreticulin, and Erp57 (Paulsson K, & Wang P.,
Biochim Biophys Acta. 1641(1) 1-12 (2003)).
[0005] The assembled MHC class I are rapidly expressed on the cell
surface of APC, such as infected or malignant cells. The
recognition of peptide-MHC class I by T cell receptor leads the CTL
to kill target cells expressing infectious or tumor antigens.
Following the identification of CTL recognized epitopes from viral
or cancer proteins, synthetic peptide-based vaccines designed to
elicit T-cell immunity became an attractive approach to the
prevention or treatment of infectious and malignant diseases
(Furman M H, & Ploegh H L., J Clin Invest. 110(7) 875-9 (2002);
Berinstein N. Semin Oncol. 30 (3) (Suppl 8), 1-8 (2003); Falk et al
Nature 348, 248-251. (1990); (Van Bleek G M, & Nathenson S G.,
Nature 348: 213-216 (1990); Kast, W. M., & Melief, C. J.
Immunol. Lett. 30:229-232 (1991)). There are a number of different
forms of peptide vaccines based on these delivery systems. The
simplest form is peptides dissolved in aqueous solutions. Direct
injection of soluble antigenic peptides was shown to be
unsuccessful at stimulating CTL responses, either because of their
rapid biodegradation or induction of T cell anergy resulting from
the antigenic stimulation by immature APC (Kyburz, D. et al. Eur.
J. Immunol. 23:1956-1962 (1993); Toes, R. E et al Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA. 93:7855-7860 (1996); Amoscato et al J. Immunol. 161,
4023-4032 (1998)). An additional complication reported from the use
of synthetic peptide-derived vaccines is the induction of CTLs
that, while they are capable of killing target cells that are
exogenously pulsed with peptide, they are not able to recognise
target cells that naturally process and present the peptide
epitope, such as infected or malignant cells (Dutoit, V. et al. J.
Clin. Invest. 110:1813-1822 (2002)).
[0006] It has been reported that MHC class I antigen presentation
is qualitatively controlled in the ER for selecting correct
peptides. Only the correctly assembled MHC class I could express on
the surface of APC. The use of adjuvants did little to increase the
presentation quality of synthetic peptides (Schijns, V. E. 2001.
Crit. Rev. Immunol. 21:75-85 (2001). An improved version of the
peptide-vaccine has been constructed as an artificial lipo-membrane
(BenMohamed et al Lancet Infect Dis. 2(7), 425-31 (2002)) with
peptide-loaded recombinant MHC class I. Although liposome strategy
is able to incorporate peptide bound MHC class I molecules in the
lipid membrane before injection into patients, the sophisticated
loading system in the ER of APC could not be easily imitated by a
simple mixture of recombinant MHC class I, synthetic peptide and
liposomes. Only a few peptides would assemble with recombinant MHC
class I in vitro (Ostergaard Pedersen L, et al Eur J Immunol.
31(10), 2986-96 (2001).
[0007] In addition, the incorrect orientation of inserted MHC class
I and lack of co-stimulatory molecules made it difficult to induce
effective immune responses. Since the professional APCs have the
unique ability of presenting optimal antigen and for initiating a
cellular immune response by naive T cells, strategies are being
developed to generate autologous dendritic cells (DC), a key APC,
as vaccine vehicles ex vivo (Banchereau, J. et al. Annu. Rev.
Immunol. 18:767-811 (2000)). Initial studies showed that antigenic
peptide-pulsed DC used as vaccines in vivo could induce a CTL
response (Tsai, V. et al J. Immunol. 158:1796-1802 (1997)). Despite
the positive evidence reported from a number of human clinical
trials, there is no biochemical evidence showing that the pulsed
peptides are indeed loaded on the surface MHC class I, which
questions the efficiency of peptide-pulsed APCs to induce effective
immune responses.
[0008] There is therefore a need for a vaccine preparation that can
overcome these problems and present a therapeutically effective
alternative to conventional vaccines. Such vaccines should achieve
the quality of the endogenous presented antigen by APC cells while
preserving high efficacy and avoiding side effects.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a vaccine composition comprising isolated inverted
microsomes from an animal cell, or membrane fragments thereof, in
association with an externally disposed peptide antigen and a
protein of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC).
[0010] The microsomes of the present invention are derived from an
animal cell and may therefore arise from the following compartments
present in a eukaryotic cell: endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome;
endosome, or components of the endocytic pathway.
[0011] The microsome may be isolated with a protein of the MHC
already present in the membrane of the microsome or of the
fragment. Alternatively, the MHC protein can be introduced into the
microsome or fragment subsequently. The ER derived microsomes
contain both MHC class I and class II molecules (Bryant et al Adv
Immunol. 80, 71-114 (2002)).
[0012] The present invention is equally applicable with respect to
the MHC class I restricted antigenic peptides as well as the MHC
class II molecules. The protein of the MHC in the composition may
be from a heterologous source with respect to the cell from which
the microsomes are obtained.
[0013] The MHC family of proteins are encoded by the clustered
genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC molecules
are expressed on the cells of all higher vertebrates. They were
first demonstrated in mice and called H-2 antigens
(histocompatibility-2 antigens). In humans they are called HLA
antigens (human-leucocyte-associated antigens) because they were
first demonstrated on leucocytes (white blood cells). Class I and
class II MHC molecules are the most polymorphic proteins
known--that is, they show the greatest genetic variability from one
individual to another--and they play a crucial role in presenting
foreign protein antigens to cytotoxic and helper T cells,
respectively. Whereas class I molecules are expressed on almost all
vertebrate cells, class II molecules are restricted to a few cell
types that interact with helper T cells, such as B lymphocytes and
macrophages. Both classes of MHC molecules have immunoglobulin-like
domains and a single peptide-binding groove, which binds small
peptide fragments derived from foreign proteins. Each MHC molecule
can bind a large and characteristic set of peptides, which are
produced intracellularly by protein degradation. After they form
inside the target cell, the peptide-MHC complexes are transported
to the cell surface, where they are recognized by T cell receptors.
In addition to their antigen-specific receptors that recognize
peptide-MHC complexes on the surface of target cells, T cells
express CD4 or CD8 co-receptors, which recognize non-polymorphic
regions of MHC molecules on the target cell: helper cells express
CD4, which recognizes class II MHC molecules, while cytotoxic T
cells express CD8, which recognizes class I MHC molecules. (Alberts
et al, "Molecular Biology of the Cell", 3rd edition, 1229-1235
(1994)).
[0014] The MHC class I consists of heavy chain and
Beta-2-microglobulin. Human MHC class I heavy chains are encoded by
three separate genetic loci called HLA A, B, C. They are
noncovalently associated with a small protein called
beta-2-microglobulin. An example of a human MHC class I protein is
HLA class I histocompatibility antigen, A-2 alpha chain precursor
(MHC class I antigen A*2) is shown in FIG. 13 (database accession
no. P01892); or HLA class I histocompatibility antigen, B-7 alpha
chain precursor (MHC class I antigen B*7) as shown in FIG. 13
(database accession no. P01889).
[0015] MHC class II are composed of two noncovalently bonded chains
an .alpha.-chain and an .beta.-chain. chain. Both chains are coded
by genes in I-region associated (Ia) antigens. Examples of such
proteins are HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DRB3-1 beta
chain precursor (MHC class I antigen DRB3*1) shown in FIG. 14
(database accession no. P79483); and MHC class II
histocompatibility antigen HLA-DQ alpha 1 (DQw4 specificity)
precursor, also shown in FIG. 14 (database accession A37044).
[0016] The sequences of the MHC class I and II cDNAs and genomic
DNAs are published and available.
[0017] All eucaryotic cells have an endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Its
membrane typically constitutes more than half of the total membrane
of an average animal cell. It is organized into a netlike labyrinth
of branching tubules and flattened sacs extending throughout the
cytosol. The tubules and sacs are all thought to interconnect, so
that the ER membrane forms a continuous sheet enclosing a single
internal space. This highly convoluted space is called the ER lumen
or the ER cisternal space, and it often occupies more than 10% of
the total cell volume. The ER membrane separates the ER lumen from
the cytosol, and it mediates the selective transfer of molecules
between these two compartments.
[0018] The ER plays a central part in lipid and protein
biosynthesis. Its membrane is the site of production of all the
transmembrane proteins and lipids for most of the cell's
organelles, including the ER itself, the Golgi apparatus,
lysosomes, endosomes, secretory vesicles, and the plasma membrane.
The ER membrane also makes a major contribution to mitochondrial
and peroxisomal membranes by producing most of their lipids. In
addition, almost all of the proteins that will be secreted to the
cell exterior--as well as those destined for the lumen of the ER,
Golgi apparatus, or lysosomes--are initially delivered to the ER
lumen (Alberts et al, "Molecular Biology of the Cell", 3rd edition,
577-595 (1994)).
[0019] The lysosome is a specialised organelle containing
specialised enzymes for the degradation of internal cellular
proteins that are required to be destroyed, or for the destruction
of external foreign proteins or parasites that have been targeted
for destruction by the immune system.
[0020] The endosome is a cell organelle that forms part of the
endocytic pathway in the cell. There is a constant flow of
endocytic vesicles that flow from the cell surface to the endosome
or to the lysosome. The vesicles form by a process of "budding-off"
from the external plasma membrane, known as invagination, or the
vesicles can form from the internal cell organelles to which they
ultimately return. Endocytosis is the process by which a cell
internalises external receptors with or without bound ligand and
also one way by which the cell can sample its external
environment.
[0021] Compositions in accordance with the present invention may be
optionally formulated with an appropriate adjuvant, and/or
cytokines that promote T-cell responses, such as an interferon or
an interleukin, e.g. IL-2, IL-15, IL-6, GM-CSF, IFN.gamma., other
cytokines promoting T-cell responses, and/or conventional adjuvant.
These can be suitably mixed with the microsomes loaded with antigen
prior to administration, or may be suitably prepared as
membrane-bound constituents of the microsomes.
[0022] Microsomes in the context of the present invention are the
cell free membrane vesicles of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER),
lysosomal, or endosomal compartments of any animal cell able to
present antigenic peptide by means of the Major Histocompatibility
Complex (MHC). The definition of ER-derived microsomes is based on
the presence of so-called "ER-markers" which are proteins normally
resident in the ER, such as BIP, p58, calnexin, calreticulin,
tapasin. The definition of a lysosomal-derived microsome is based
on the presence of the specific markers LAMP1 and/or LAMP2.
Microsomes are recognised as such by their morphology as seen under
the electron microscope following preparation from an animal
cell.
[0023] The microsomes contained in a composition of the present
invention can be isolated by any convenient means. Suitable methods
include those of Saraste et al and/or Knipe et al (Saraste et al
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 6425-6429 (1986) and Knipe et al
J. Virol. 21, 1128-1139 (1977)). Such methods comprise
homogenisation of cells or tissues, followed by separation of the
cell nucleus by centrifugation at 7500 rpm for 10 minutes, then
recovering the "rough" microsomes by centrifugation at 15500 rpm
for 54 minutes. "Rough" microsomes are microsomes that have
ribosomes attached. The resuspended "rough" microsomes are then
further purified by centrifugation through a sucrose cushion for
differential centrifugation at 110,000 g for 60 minutes. The rough
microsomes were subfractionated by further centrifugation at 37,000
rpm for 10 hours on a sucrose gradient (to reach isopyknic
conditions), and the ER containing fractions determined by Western
blotting with appropriate antibody, for example anti-p58
antibody.
[0024] Inverted microsomes are the result of further processing,
e.g. repeated freeze-thaw process steps, carried out on isolated
microsomes which causes the disruption and reformation of the
external membrane of the microsome such that the "inside" face of
the membrane is presented on the "outside" of the inverted
microsome. The microsomes that result from such processing are
therefore described as "inside-out" or "inverted" microsomes. The
process of preparing the "inside-out" or inverted microsomes
results in the absence of the lumen structure seen in ordinary
microsome preparations.
[0025] In compositions according to the present invention, the
microsome may comprise a membrane fragment thereof. Suitably, such
membrane fragments may be prepared by the method comprising the use
of detergents or repeated freeze-thawing or sonication to break the
microsome structure. Such fragments may also be similarly loaded
with peptide antigen to form a composition of the present
invention. Preferably, the membrane fragments are derived from
intracellular membranes with markers specific to the ER or to the
lysosomes.
[0026] In a vaccine composition of the present invention, there may
also be a percentage of microsomes with a non-inverted structure,
i.e. a membrane orientation that corresponds to the in situ
arrangement after standard microsome preparation with an "inside"
corresponding to the lumen of the ER, endosome or lysosome prior to
microsome preparation. However, at least about 75% to about 95%,
suitably at least about 90% of microsomes in the vaccine
compositions of the invention have a reversed membrane orientation
to in situ microsomes and are therefore described as being
"inside-out" or inverted microsomes. The compositions may therefore
additionally comprise a percentage of non-inverted microsomes.
[0027] In other embodiments of the invention, the composition may
be more homogenous, and so may comprise at least about 95%, 96%,
97%, 98%, 99% or 100% of microsomes having an inverted or reversed
(or "inside-out") membrane orientation compared to microsomes
prepared from cells without further processing.
[0028] The microsomes may be loaded with antigen first and then
subjected to further processing so as to provide inverted or
"inside-out" microsomes thus exposing the inner surface of the ER
membrane, or the microsomes can be prepared from a cell source
where the preferred antigen peptide is already present in the
microsomes, or the microsomes may be processed to provide inverted
or "inside-out" microsomes first and then subsequently loaded with
antigen.
[0029] Lysosomes and endosomes can be prepared by an equivalent
procedure. Lysosomal microsomes which are purified from the
endocytotic compartment of the animal cell include both lysosomes
and endosomes. After fractionation of the total cellular membranes
in the purification procedure for the preparation of ER-derived
microsomes, the lysosomal membranes are defined by antibodies to
its markers LAMP1 and LAMP2.
[0030] The purified lysosomal microsomes are then processed to
yield inverted or "inside-out" microsomes or membrane fragments as
described above which, if necessary, can then be loaded with MHC
restricted peptides under acid conditions, such as for example at a
pH of less then pH3, preferably from pH 3 to pH 3, suitably at
around pH 2.5.
[0031] The animal cell from which the isolated microsome population
is to be prepared can be any generally convenient cell type that
has MHC molecules expressed by the cell. For example, cells of the
blood or of the immune system such as, B-cells and macrophages, the
so-called antigen presenting cells (APCs). However, cell types
could also be used from tissues such as liver, kidney, lung, brain,
heart, skin, bone marrow, pancreas etc.
[0032] The cells may be of a human or of a non-human animal.
Suitably, the animal is a mammal. The animal may be a rodent
species, e.g. a mouse, a rat or a guinea pig, or another species
such as rabbit, or a canine or feline, or an ungulate species such
as ovine, porcine, equine, caprine, bovine, or a non-mammalian
animal species, e.g. an avian (such as poultry, e.g. chicken or
turkey).
[0033] The cells from which the microsomes are prepared may be a
cell line in culture. The cell line may be an immortalised cell
line. The cell line may be ultimately derived from a non-embryonic
tissue source.
[0034] In certain embodiments of the invention, the source of cells
may be a genetically modified source of animal cells, such as a
cell line, or a transgenic non-human animal. The cells or tissue
from which the microsomes are prepared may be a humanised animal
tissue or cell from a transgenic non-human animal whose genome has
been modified by the insertion of one or more human genes.
[0035] In embodiments of the invention relating to microsomes
prepared from a transgenic non-human animal or transgenic cell
line, the transgenesis is the introduction of an additional gene or
genes or protein-encoding nucleic acid sequence or sequences. The
transgene may be a heterologous gene or an additional copy of a
homologous gene, optionally under the control of a constitutive
promoter or an inducible promoter. The transgenesis may be
transient or stable transfection of a cell or a cell line, or an
episomal expression system in a cell or a cell line.
[0036] However, it is in the field of human medicine, in which the
compositions of this aspect of the invention are expected to find
greatest application as vaccines. It is therefore preferred that
the source of cells from which the microsomes are prepared has an
MHC allotype that is compatible to the MHC of the recipient of the
composition when used as a vaccine.
[0037] In one embodiment according to this aspect of the invention,
the source of cells from which the microsomes are prepared may be
the ultimate recipient of the composition when used as a
vaccine.
[0038] Alternatively, a suitable source of human cells may be from
a cell line, for example a non-embryo derived cell-line, suitably a
B-cell line such as cell line 221. Such cell lines may also
advantageously not express proteins of the Major Histocompatibility
Complex (MHC) type class I and/or class II. This embodiment of the
invention may be a more preferred embodiment for the manufacture of
vaccines on a commercial scale, where non-individual vaccines are
produced from such cell lines which have been engineered with
different MHC allotypes.
[0039] Cell line 221 is an example of such a MHC negative cell
line. The absence of a native MHC class I expression in such cells
permits the modification of the cell line to express MHC class I of
any desired genotype. This may be particularly important in
achieving the full immunising effects of the vaccine composition,
since different human populations express different MHC proteins.
In such compositions of the invention, the MHC protein may
therefore be of a heterologous source with respect to the cell from
which the microsomes are obtained.
[0040] Some of the MHC class I, like HLA A2, are expressed in more
than 20% of the population. In circumstances where a MHC negative
cell line is used, one or more than one compatible MHC gene is
transfected into the cell line by means of conventional gene
transfer methods and the transgene is constructed into a expression
vector. The expression cassette of expression construct normally
includes standard promoter, such as CMV promoter, or elongation
factor I promoter or actin promoter, enhancer, inserted transgene
and the poly-A signal to achieve optimal expression. Before
transfection, the expression cassette will be isolated from the
plasmid backbone to avoid the expression of bacterial plasmid genes
in transfected cells. The sequences of the MHC class I and II cDNAs
and genomic DNAs are published and available. A MHC class I
transfectants Bank can be constructed by using MHC class I negative
or selected MHC class positive cell lines to transfect most of the
MHC class I genes, respectively. The selection of the expression
cassette will be dependent on the optimal expression of the
transgene.
[0041] Transfection of the antigen presenting cells may be achieved
using standard recombinant techniques, e.g. using a suitable vector
comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a MHC protein of
interest. The term "vector" generally refers to any nucleic acid
vector which may be RNA, DNA or cDNA. The vector can be described
alternatively as an "expression vector".
[0042] The terms "vector" or "expression vector" may include, among
others, chromosomal, episomal, and virus-derived vectors, for
example, vectors derived from bacterial plasmids, from
bacteriophage, from transposons, from yeast episomes, from
insertion elements, from yeast chromosomal elements, from viruses
such as baculoviruses, papova viruses, such as SV40, vaccinia
viruses, adenoviruses, fowl pox viruses, pseudorabies viruses and
retroviruses, and vectors derived from combinations thereof, such
as those derived from plasmid and bacteriophage genetic elements,
such as cosmids and phagemids. Generally, any vector suitable to
maintain, propagate or express nucleic acid to express a
polypeptide in a host may be used for expression in this regard.
The vector may be constructed from a bacterial plasmid, for example
the bacterial plasmid pUC18.
[0043] The vector may provide for specific expression. Such
specific expression may be inducible expression or expression only
in certain types of cells or both inducible and cell-specific.
Preferred among inducible vectors are vectors that can be induced
for expression by environmental factors that are easy to
manipulate, such as temperature, nutrient additives, hypoxia and/or
the presence of cytokines or other biologically active factors.
Particularly preferred among inducible vectors are vectors that can
be induced for expression by changes in the levels of chemicals,
for example, chemical additives such as antibiotics. A variety of
vectors suitable for use in the invention, including constitutive
and inducible expression vectors for use in prokaryotic and
eukaryotic hosts, are well known and employed routinely by those
skilled in the art.
[0044] Recombinant expression vectors will include, for example,
origins of replication, a promoter preferably derived from a highly
expressed gene to direct transcription of a structural sequence,
and a selectable marker to permit isolation of vector containing
cells after exposure to the vector.
[0045] Mammalian expression vectors may comprise an origin of
replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any
necessary ribosome binding sites, polyadenylation regions, splice
donor and acceptor sites, transcriptional termination sequences,
and 5'-flanking non-transcribed sequences that are necessary for
expression. Preferred mammalian expression vectors according to the
present invention may be devoid of enhancer elements.
[0046] The promoter sequence may be any suitable known promoter,
for example the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, the CMV
immediate early promoter, the HSV thymidine kinase promoter, the
early and late SV40 promoters or the promoters of retroviral LTR's,
such as those of the Rous sarcoma virus ("RSV"), and
metallothionein promoters, such as the mouse metallothionein-I
promoter. The promoter may comprise the minimum sequence required
for promoter activity (such as a TATA box without enhancer
elements), for example, the minimal sequence of the CMV promoter
(mCMV). Preferably the promoter is a mammalian promoter that can
function at a low basal level devoid of an enhancer element.
[0047] Preferably, the promoter is contiguous to the nucleic acid
sequence encoding the MHC protein to be transfected into the
antigen presenting cell. It is contemplated that variants, for
example, homologues or orthologues, of the promoters described
herein are part of the present invention.
[0048] The backbone of the expression vector of the first aspect of
the invention may be derived from a vector devoid of its own
promoter and enhancer elements, for example the plasmid vector
pGL2. Enhancers are able to bind to promoter regions situated
several thousands of bases away through DNA folding (Rippe et al
TIBS 1995; 20: 500-506 (1995)).
[0049] The expression vectors may also include selectable markers,
such as antibiotic resistance, which enable the vectors to be
propagated.
[0050] The nucleic acid sequences of the vector containing nucleic
acid encoding the MHC protein to be transfected may encode a
reporter protein as described above, such as a chloramphenicol
acetyl transferase ("CAT") transcription unit, luciferase or green
fluorescent protein (GFP). The application of reporter genes
relates to the phenotype of these genes which can be assayed in a
transformed cell and which is used, for example, to analyse the
induction and/or repression of gene expression. Reporter genes for
use in studies of gene regulation include other well known reporter
genes including the lux gene encoding luciferase which can be
assayed by a bioluminescence assay, the uidA gene encoding
.beta.-glucuronidase which can be assayed by a histochemical test,
the lacZ gene encoding .beta.-galactosidase which can be assayed by
a histochemical test, the enhanced green fluorescent protein which
can be detected by UV light, UV microscopy or by FACS.
[0051] The DNA comprising the nucleic acid sequence of the MHC
protein may be single or double stranded. Single stranded DNA may
be the coding or sense strand, or it may be the non-coding or
anti-sense strand. For therapeutic use, the nucleic acid sequences
are in a form capable of being expressed in the subject to be
treated.
[0052] The termination sequences in the vector may be a sequence of
adenylate nucleotides which encode a polyadenylation signal.
Typically, the polyadenylation signal is recognisable in the
subject to be treated, such as, for example, the corresponding
sequences from viruses such as, for human treatment, the SV40
virus. Other termination signals are well known in the art and may
be used.
[0053] Preferably, the polyadenylation signal is a bidirectional
terminator of RNA transcription. The termination signal may be the
polyadenylation signal of the simian 40 virus (SV40), for example
the SV40 late poly(A). Alternatively, the termination sequence may
be the polyadenylation signal of bovine growth hormone which
results in maximal expression when combined with a CMV promoter
(Yew et al. Human Gene Therapy, 8: 575-584 (1997)).
[0054] In addition the expression vector may comprise a further
polyadenylation sequence, for example an SV40 early poly(A). Such a
further poly (A) may be located upstream of the nucleic acid
sequence encoding the MHC protein to reduce cryptic transcription
which may have initiated within the vector thereby ensuring that
basal gene expression from the vector is minimal.
[0055] Gene expression from integrated viral genomes may be
susceptible to chromosomal positional effects. Such effects include
transcriptional silencing and promoter activation by nearby
heterologous enhancers. In addition, integrated sequences can
activate expression of nearby genes and oncogenes. These effects
are reduced through the use of elements which form boundaries to
the inserted viral genome. Insulators are genetic elements such as
the chicken .beta.-globin 5' DNase I hypersensitive site (5'HS4)
which mark a boundary between an open chromatin domain and a region
of constitutively condensed chromatin.
[0056] Other elements termed scaffold or matrix attachment regions
(S/MAR) anchor chromatin to nuclear structures and form chromosomal
loops which may have a physiological role in bringing distal
regulatory elements into close proximity to a corresponding
promoter. An example is located in the human interferon-.gamma.
locus and is termed the IFN-SAR. Both insulators and S/MAR can
reduce position effects with greatest activity demonstrated when
they were combined in a lentiviral vector (Ramezani et al, Blood
101: 4717-24, (2003)). Clearly such elements can be of benefit in
regulated vectors such as those described herein after they are
integrated into the host cell genome.
[0057] The compositions of the present invention comprise a
microsome, or a fragment thereof, in association with an externally
disposed peptide antigen that has been loaded into the microsome.
The association may be such that the peptide antigen is inserted in
the membrane of the microsome such at least one epitope of the
peptide antigen is exposed with respect to the outer membrane of
the microsome. The membrane of microsomes further contains a
protein of the MHC that presents the peptide antigen to T-cells in
order for the antigen to be recognised by the immune system. The
MHC protein is either naturally present in the cell organelles of
the cell from which the microsomes were produced, or it is a MHC
protein that has been transfected into the cell through recombinant
DNA techniques and expressed, prior to preparation of the
microsomes. The inserted antigenic peptide and the MHC protein form
an association in the membrane of the microsome which permits
external disposition of the proteins for interaction with the cells
of the immune system.
[0058] The antigenic peptides may be introduced or loaded into the
microsome by means of incubating the microsome with the peptide
antigen in the presence of a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP), for
example adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and NTP re-generation system.
It appears that an NTP, such as ATP, facilitates the incorporation
of the peptide antigen into the microsome through protein
transporters located in the membrane of the microsome. Without
wishing to be bound unnecessarily by theory, it appears that once
the microsome is incubated with the peptide antigen in the presence
of an NTP that the antigen is able to associate with MHC class I
proteins already present in the membrane of the microsome.
Alternatively, the antigenic peptides may also loaded into the
microsomes after inside-out processing and in this case, the NTP is
not required.
[0059] The antigenic peptide present in association with the
microsome suitably has one or more epitopes. An epitope is the
smallest part of an antigen recognisable by the combining site of
an immunoglobulin and may be linear or discontinuous. Therefore,
any type of MHC binding peptides, natural or synthesized or
artificially modified, is included.
[0060] The antigenic peptides may be from a source that is foreign,
i.e. non-self, or self, i.e. an autoantigen. Foreign antigenic
peptides may originate from virus, bacteria, yeast, fungi,
protozoa, or other micro-organism (i.e. an infectious agent), or of
higher life forms such as plants or animals. In some embodiments of
the invention, the antigen may be an auto-antigen, for example an
antigen expressed by a neoplastic cell or cell of a cancer tumour,
a normal self-protein (in the case of an tolerising vaccine of the
invention for an auto-immune disorder).
[0061] Where the antigen is from a neoplastic cell or cell of a
cancer tumour, the cell may be from a melanoma, lung
adenocarcinoma, colon cancer, breast cancer or leukemia cell.
Auto-immune disorders include, but are not limited to, Multiple
Sclerosis (MS), Systemic Lupus Erythamatosus, Type-1 or
Insulin-dependent Diabetes, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Myasthenia
Gravis, Myositis, Sjogren's Syndrome and Rheumatoid arthritis.
[0062] In some embodiments of the invention, it may be preferred to
prepare the composition with an antigenic peptide of more than one
type, or antigenic peptides having a sequence modified to increase
immunogenicity. The cell may also be transfected prior to the
preparation of the microsomes with more than one type of MHC
molecules which may be useful in the case of recipients of the
compositions when used as vaccines who have more than one type of
MHC allotype.
[0063] In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention,
there is provided a composition as defined above in which the ratio
of antigen to MHC molecule in the microsome is optimal for the
induction of a specific immunoresponse, for example in the range of
from 0.1 to 1.5, preferably of from 0.2 to 1.2 or 0.5 to 1.0, and
most preferably from 0.2-0.5 to 1.0. The amount of loaded antigenic
peptides may be different according to the level of immune response
induced.
[0064] Defined antigenic peptides of major diseases can be readily
selected from the scientific literature or identified by
bioinformatic tools, (Renkvist et al Cancer Immunol Immunother 50,
3-15 (2001); Coulie et al Immunol Rev 188, 33-42 (2002); De Groot
et al Vaccine 19 (31), 4385-95 (2001)).
[0065] For example, the influenza virus derived peptides SIINFEKL
and ASNENMETM, or the peptide YLQLVFGIEV from melanoma cells.
[0066] Table 1 shows details of Class I HLA-restricted
cancer/testis antigens; Table 2 shows Class I HLA-restricted
melanocyte differentiation antigens; Table 3 shows Class I
HLA-restricted widely expressed antigens; Table 4 shows Class I
HLA-restricted tumor specific antigens; Table 5 shows Class II
HLA-restricted antigens; Table 6 shows epitopes derived from fusion
proteins; and Table 7 shows frequency of epitopes recognised by a
given HLA allele.
[0067] Further examples are shown in Table 8 of Hepatitis C virus
(HCV) peptides from Anthony et al Clinical Immunol., vol. 103,
pages 264-276 (2002); in Table 9 of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1
(HIV-1) from Kaul et al J. Clinical Invest., vol. 107, pages
1303-1310 (2001; in Table 10 of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) peptides
from Koziel et al J. Virol., vol. 67, pages 7522-7532 (1993); and
in Table 11 of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) from He et al PNAS USA, vol.
96, pages 5692-5697 (1999).
[0068] The antigenic peptide epitopes may be present as a monomer
or as repeated sequence of the epitope, such as dimer, trimer,
tetramer, or higher multiple, such as a pentamer, hexamer,
heptamer, octamer, nonamer or decamer. Fragments of the epitope
sequences can be used, as well as overlapping sequences that
include the epitope sequence.
[0069] The term "peptide" includes both polypeptide and protein,
unless the context specifies otherwise.
[0070] Such peptides include analogues, homologues, orthologues,
isoforms, derivatives, fusion proteins and proteins with a similar
structure or are a related polypeptide as herein defined.
[0071] The term "analogue" as used herein refers to a peptide that
possesses a similar or identical function as a protein sequence
described herein but need not necessarily comprise an amino acid
sequence that is similar or identical to such an amino acid
sequence, or possess a structure that is similar or identical to
that of a protein described herein. An amino acid sequence of a
peptide is "similar" to that of a peptide described herein if it
satisfies at least one of the following criteria: (a) the peptide
has an amino acid sequence that is at least 30% (more preferably,
at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least
55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at
least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or at least
99%) identical to the amino acid sequence of a peptide described
herein; (b) the peptide is encoded by a nucleotide sequence that
hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleotide sequence
encoding at least 5 amino acid residues (more preferably, at least
10 amino acid residues, at least 15 amino acid residues, at least
20 amino acid residues, at least 25 amino acid residues, at least
40 amino acid residues, at least 50 amino acid residues, at least
60 amino residues, at least 70 amino acid residues, at least 80
amino acid residues, at least 90 amino acid residues, at least 100
amino acid residues, at least 125 amino acid residues, or at least
150 amino acid residues) of a peptide sequence described herein; or
(c) the peptide is encoded by a nucleotide sequence that is at
least 30% (more preferably, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least
45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at
least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%,
at least 95% or at least 99%) identical to the nucleotide sequence
encoding a peptide described herein.
[0072] Stringent conditions of hybridisation may be characterised
by low salt concentrations or high temperature conditions. For
example, highly stringent conditions can be defined as being
hybridisation to DNA bound to a solid support in 0.5M NaHPO.sub.4,
7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM EDTA at 65.degree. C., and
washing in 0.1.times.SSC/0.1%SDS at 68.degree. C. (Ausubel et al
eds. "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology" 1, page 2.10.3,
published by Green Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., New York, (1989)). In some circumstances less stringent
conditions may be required. As used in the present application,
moderately stringent conditions can be defined as comprising
washing in 0.2.times.SSC/0.1%SDS at 42.degree. C. (Ausubel et al
(1989) supra). Hybridisation can also be made more stringent by the
addition of increasing amounts of formamide to destabilise the
hybrid nucleic acid duplex. Thus particular hybridisation
conditions can readily be manipulated, and will generally be
selected according to the desired results. In general, convenient
hybridisation temperatures in the presence of 50% formamide are
42.degree. C. for a probe which is 95 to 100% homologous to the
target DNA, 37.degree. C. for 90 to 95% homology, and 32.degree. C.
for 70 to 90% homology.
[0073] A peptide with "similar structure" to that of a peptide
described herein refers to a peptide that has a similar secondary,
tertiary or quaternary structure as that of a peptide described
herein. The structure of a peptide can determined by methods known
to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to, X-ray
crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and crystallographic
electron microscopy.
[0074] The term "fusion protein" as used herein refers to a peptide
that comprises (i) an amino acid sequence of a peptide described
herein, a fragment thereof, a related peptide or a fragment thereof
and (ii) an amino acid sequence of a heterologous peptide (i.e.,
not a peptide sequence described herein).
[0075] The term "homologue" as used herein refers to a peptide that
comprises an amino acid sequence similar to that of a peptide
described herein but does not necessarily possess a similar or
identical function.
[0076] The term "orthologue" as used herein refers to a non-human
peptide that (i) comprises an amino acid sequence similar to that
of a peptide described herein and (ii) possesses a similar or
identical function.
[0077] The term "related peptide" as used herein refers to a
homologue, an analogue, an isoform of, an orthologue, or any
combination thereof of a peptide described herein.
[0078] The term "derivative" as used herein refers to a peptide
that comprises an amino acid sequence of a peptide described herein
which has been altered by the introduction of amino acid residue
substitutions, deletions or additions. The derivative peptide
possess a similar or identical function as peptides described
herein.
[0079] The term "fragment" as used herein refers to a peptide
comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 5 amino acid residues
(preferably, at least 10 amino acid residues, at least 15 amino
acid residues, at least 20 amino acid residues, at least 25 amino
acid residues, at least 40 amino acid residues, at least 50 amino
acid residues, at least 60 amino residues, at least 70 amino acid
residues, at least 80 amino acid residues, at least 90 amino acid
residues, at least 100 amino acid residues) of the amino acid
sequence of a peptide as described herein, mutatis mutandis. The
fragment of may or may not possess a functional activity of such
peptides.
[0080] The term "isoform" as used herein refers to variants of a
peptide that are encoded by the same gene, but that differ in their
isoelectric point (pI) or molecular weight (MW), or both. Such
isoforms can differ in their amino acid composition (e.g. as a
result of alternative splicing or limited proteolysis) and in
addition, or in the alternative, may arise from differential
post-translational modification (e.g., glycosylation, acylation,
phosphorylation). As used herein, the term "isoform" also refers to
a peptide that exists in only a single form, i.e., it is not
expressed as several variants.
[0081] The percent identity of two amino acid sequences or of two
nucleic acid sequences is determined by aligning the sequences for
optimal comparison purposes (e.g., gaps can be introduced in the
first sequence for best alignment with the sequence) and comparing
the amino acid residues or nucleotides at corresponding positions.
The "best alignment" is an alignment of two sequences which results
in the highest percent identity. The percent identity is determined
by the number of identical amino acid residues or nucleotides in
the sequences being compared (i.e., % identity=# of identical
positions/total # of positions.times.100).
[0082] The determination of percent identity between two sequences
can be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm known to those
of skill in the art. An example of a mathematical algorithm for
comparing two sequences is the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1990) 87:2264-2268, modified as in
Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5877.
The NBLAST and XBLAST programs of Altschul et al, J. Mol. Biol.
(1990) 215:403-410 have incorporated such an algorithm. BLAST
nucleotide searches can be performed with the NBLAST program,
score=100, wordlength=12 to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous
to a nucleic acid molecules encoding a peptide sequence as
described herein. BLAST protein searches can be performed with the
XBLAST program, score=50, wordlength=3 to obtain amino acid
sequences homologous to a peptide as described herein. To obtain
gapped alignments for comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST can be
utilised as described in Altschul et al, Nucleic Acids Res. (1997)
25:3389-3402. Alternatively, PSI-Blast can be used to perform an
iterated search which detects distant relationships between
molecules (Id.). When utilising BLAST, Gapped BLAST, and PSI-Blast
programs, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g.,
XBLAST and NBLAST) can be used.
[0083] Another example of a mathematical algorithm utilised for the
comparison of sequences is the algorithm of Myers and Miller,
CABIOS (1989). The ALIGN program (version 2.0) which is part of the
GCG sequence alignment software package has incorporated such an
algorithm. Other algorithms for sequence analysis known in the art
include ADVANCE and ADAM as described in Torellis and Robotti
Comput. Appl. Biosci. (1994) 10:3-5; and FASTA described in Pearson
and Lipman Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1988) 85:2444-8. Within
FASTA, ktup is a control option that sets the sensitivity and speed
of the search.
[0084] The skilled person is aware that various amino acids have
similar properties. One or more such amino acids of a substance can
often be substituted by one or more other such amino acids without
eliminating a desired activity of that substance. Thus the amino
acids glycine, alanine, valine, leucine and isoleucine can often be
substituted for one another (amino acids having aliphatic side
chains). Of these possible substitutions it is preferred that
glycine and alanine are used to substitute for one another (since
they have relatively short side chains) and that valine, leucine
and isoleucine are used to substitute for one another (since they
have larger aliphatic side chains which are hydrophobic). Other
amino acids which can often be substituted for one another include:
phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan (amino acids having aromatic
side chains); lysine, arginine and histidine (amino acids having
basic side chains); aspartate and glutamate (amino acids having
acidic side chains); asparagine and glutamine (amino acids having
amide side chains); and cysteine and methionine (amino acids having
sulphur containing side chains). Substitutions of this nature are
often referred to as "conservative" or "semi-conservative" amino
acid substitutions.
[0085] Amino acid deletions or insertions may also be made relative
to the amino acid sequence of a peptide sequence as described
herein. Thus, for example, amino acids which do not have a
substantial effect on the activity of such peptides, or at least
which do not eliminate such activity, may be deleted. Amino acid
insertions relative to the sequence of peptides as described herein
can also be made. This may be done to alter the properties of a
protein of the present invention (e.g. to assist in identification,
purification or expression, where the protein is obtained from a
recombinant source, including a fusion protein. Such amino acid
changes relative to the sequence of a peptide from a recombinant
source can be made using any suitable technique e.g. by using
site-directed mutagenesis. The molecule may, of course, be prepared
by standard chemical synthetic techniques, e.g. solid phase peptide
synthesis, or by available biochemical techniques.
[0086] It should be appreciated that amino acid substitutions or
insertions within the scope of the present invention can be made
using naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring amino acids.
Whether or not natural or synthetic amino acids are used, it is
preferred that only L-amino acids are present.
[0087] According to the present invention, purified microsomes
representing the endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes or endosomes in
antigen-presenting cells (APC) can be used to load antigenic
peptides on its MHC class I or II molecules. Results from in vitro
and in vivo immunisation described herein show that peptide-loaded
microsome elucidates much stronger responses than peptide-loaded
APC measured by T cell proliferation and production of IL-2. By
quantitating the amount of peptide-receptive MHC class I molecules,
the receptive class I molecules on APC surface are below the
radio-chemical detection limit. However, a significant amount of
peptide bound MHC class I is detected in the microsome. In
addition, a similar amount of co-stimulatory molecules, B7.1 and
B7.2 is detected in microsomes in comparison to cell surface. Thus,
the microsomes loaded with antigenic peptides represent an
effective vaccine composition.
[0088] The present invention has found that more than 50% of the
MHC class I molecules in the ER of APC are peptide receptive. By
the process of "inside-out", the microsomes loaded with Kb specific
OVA-peptide can induce T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. In
contrast, the APCs pulsed with same peptide have much less ability
to stimulate T cell responses. Given that the microsomes contain
co-stimulatory molecules, the microsomes isolated from APCs
represent promising vehicles for peptide vaccines in the future for
a wide variety of diseases.
[0089] In addition to transfecting selected MHC genes into the
animal cell prior to microsome preparation, it may also be
desirable to transfect or co-transfect the cells with genes
encoding co-stimulatory molecules such as B7 and/or the genes
encoding cytokines, for example an interleukin or an interferon,
such as IL-2. In the case of cytokines, the transgene will be fused
with trans-membrane domain of CD2 or CD4 for targeting the
cytokines into the ER membrane. In addition, in order to enrich the
level of MHC, co-stimulatory molecules and membrane-bound cytokines
in the ER, KDEL or other ER retention signalling (Nilsson T, &
Warren G., Curr Opin Cell Biol. 6 (4), 517-21 (1994)) will be
tagged at the C-terminus of the transgenes for the retention of
transgene products in the ER. The expression cassettes for these
transgenes are similar to MHC class I transgenes.
[0090] According to the present invention, therefore, the vaccine
compositions may be co-administered with one or more cytokines,
such as an interferon or an interleukin, that can promote T cell
immune response such as IL-2, IL-15, IL-6, GM-CSF, IFN.gamma.,
other cytokines promoting T cell responses, and/or conventional
adjuvant. These can be suitably mixed with the microsomes loaded
with antigen prior to administration, or may be suitably prepared
as membrane-bound constituents of the microsomes. Such
membrane-bound substituents may be introduced using recombinant DNA
techniques, as discussed above, to engineer expression of the
cytokine in the cell organelle that will ultimately be used to form
the microsomes, or alternatively the cytokines may be loaded into
the microsome membrane or bound to surface proteins.
[0091] A membrane bound cytokine expressed in a microsome
preparation may be prepared by transfecting an antigen presenting
cell with a construct comprising a cytokine molecule fused to a
membrane anchor protein, optionally with an ER-retention signal.
For example, a microsome including membrane bound IL-2 molecules
can be prepared by constructing a vector comprising nucleic acid
encoding a fusion protein comprising the CD2 membrane domain fused
to the C-terminus of IL-2 and an ER-retention signal, such as the
16 amino-acid sequence from E15-9K adenovirus protein, where the
ER-retention signal is fused to the C-terminus of the CD2
protein.
[0092] Expression of the vector in the antigen presenting cell
leads to accumulation of the cytokine in the organelles of the
cell, i.e. the ER, which enables preparation of microsomes
containing membrane-bound cytokine.
[0093] In addition, it may be convenient to include detection and
monitoring of the specific immune responses towards the vaccine,
for example by techniques such as ELISA for detection of serum
cytokine, e.g. IL-2 and/or IFN.gamma., or an in vitro T cell
response assay with peptide loaded microsomes, or a proliferative
cell assay.
[0094] In its simplest form, the present invention provides a
composition comprising an isolated microsome of the endoplasmic
reticulum of an animal cell, or a membrane fragment thereof, in
association with an externally disposed peptide antigen and a
protein of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Suitably
formulated for administration as a vaccine.
[0095] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a composition according to the first or second aspects of
the invention for use in medicine. This aspect of the invention
therefore extends to a method of treatment or prophylaxis of a
subject suffering from a disease or condition, comprising the step
of administering to the subject a vaccine as defined above.
[0096] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided the use of a composition as defined above in the
preparation of a vaccine for the prophylaxis or treatment of a
disease condition. The disease may be an infection caused by a
micro-organism or virus, or it may be a cancer which is
characterised by neoplastic cell growth and/or tumour formation.
Alternatively, the disease may be an autoimmune condition, where a
vaccine may have therapeutic use in inducing tolerance to
self-antigens. Uses in accordance with this aspect of the invention
also extend to methods of treatment of such disease conditions
comprising administering said compositions to a subject in need
thereof. Suitably, vaccine compositions of the present invention
can be administered by any convenient route such as intramuscular,
intravenous, intraperitoneal, oral or by injection in to the
cerebrospinal fluid.
[0097] Diseases or conditions that can be treated using a vaccine
of the present invention include, but are not limited to melanoma,
lung adenocarcinoma, colon cancer, breast cancer or leukemia.
Auto-immune disorders include, but are not limited to, Multiple
Sclerosis (MS), Systemic Lupus Erythamatosus, Type-1 or
Insulin-dependent Diabetes, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Myasthenia
Gravis, Myositis, Sjogren's Syndrome and Rheumatoid arthritis. In
addition, viral infection, such as HIV infection, herpes virus
infection, hepatitis C virus infection, or parasite infections,
such as protozoan parasite infection of Plasmodium, the causative
agent responsible for malaria, for example Plasmodium falciparum,
Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium yoelii or
Plasmodium knowlesi, or another parasite such as Toxoplasma gondii,
or Trypanosoma brucei, or Entamoeba histolytica, or Giardia lambia,
or bacterial infection, such as E. coli 0157, Vibrio cholerae,
etc.
[0098] It is also envisaged that the microsomes of the present
invention when loaded with peptide antigen may be fused with
antigen presenting cells (APC) prior to administration of the
combined preparation to the patient. Suitably, the APC are taken
from the patient prior to treatment, but may also be taken from an
allogenic source. In such cases, where an allogenic source of cells
is used, immunosuppresive drugs may also form part of the treatment
protocol.
[0099] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is
provided a process for the preparation of a vaccine composition as
defined above, the process comprising incubating a population of
microsomes and an antigenic peptide in the presence of a nucleoside
triphosphate (NTP), followed by further processing to prepare
inverted microsomes and formulating the resulting preparation in an
physiological diluent and optionally an adjuvant. Reagents such as
glucose have ability to preserve the conformation of prepared
microsome vaccine and may be included. Suitably, the incubated
microsomes will be washed and resuspended in a vaccine solution of
an physiological diluent containing an amount of antigenic peptides
for preventing the dissociation of the MHC-peptide complex present
in the microsome membrane.
[0100] The process of loading the microsomes with antigen is
carried out in the presence of a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP),
such as ATP, GTP, CTP, TTP, or UTP. The antigen loading process may
also be carried out in the presence of more than one type of
antigenic peptide. In this way a plurality of antigens can be
loaded into the microsome.
[0101] Inverted microsomes may be prepared by further processing of
the microsomes that disrupts the membranes of the microsomes under
conditions which allow the membrane to reform and which encourage
the formation of "inside-out" microsomes. The use of repeated
freeze-thaw steps are therefore suitable in this regard. For
example, the microsomes can be suspended in a suitable medium, or
buffer, e.g. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and then briefly
immersed into liquid nitrogen for a suitable period of time,
suitably from one to five minutes, preferably for two minutes, and
then moved to 37.degree. C., such as in a water-bath, for a
suitable period of time, suitably for two to six minutes,
preferably for four minutes. The number of repeated steps of
freeze-thaw may be from three to five, suitably four repeat
steps.
[0102] In an alternative embodiment of this aspect of the
invention, the process may comprise the loading of inverted
microsomes, prepared as described above, with antigen. For loading
antigenic peptides into inverted microsomes, the presence of an NTP
may not be necessary (although it may be desirable).
[0103] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is
provided a kit of parts comprising a composition as defined above
and one or more cytokine and/or adjuvant in sealed containers.
Suitably, the kit will comprise instructions for use in a method or
use of the invention as defined above.
[0104] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is
provided a kit of parts comprising a composition as defined above
and one or more cytokine and/or adjuvant molecules for separate,
subsequent or simultaneous administration to a subject.
[0105] Preferred features for the second and subsequent aspects of
the invention are as for the first aspect mutatis mutandis.
[0106] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention
there is provided a vaccine composition for the prophylaxis or
treatment of a disease that can be characterised by the expression
of a defined antigen or a peptide sequence which is potentially
immunogenic by an infectious agent or which is characterised by the
expression of an antigen of a native cell, in which the composition
is prepared by: [0107] (1) obtaining a sample of antigen presenting
cells which express MHC proteins; [0108] (2) homogenising the cells
under conditions such that a preparation of microsomes is isolated;
[0109] (3) preparation of antigenic peptides, for example by means
of recombinant DNA technology, or from isolation from a natural
tissue source, or source of infectious agent, or in most cases
synthesised antigenic peptides. [0110] (4) incubation of antigenic
peptides and microsomes in the presence of an NTP to load the
microsomes with antigenic peptides; [0111] (5) further processing
of microsomes loaded in step (4) to prepare a population of
inverted microsomes [0112] (6) formulation of loaded inverted
microsomes a vaccine in a physiological diluent and/or adjuvant as
appropriate
[0113] As described above, the microsomes may also be prepared from
an isolated population of cells or a cell line. The cells or cell
line may be have been transfected with a nucleic acid construct to
express a protein of choice prior to microsome preparation.
[0114] According to the above protocol, the microsomes are loaded
with antigenic peptide and then subsequently processed to prepare
inverted microsomes. However, in an alternative embodiment, the
inverted microsomes may be prepared first and then loaded with
antigen, in which case the presence on an NTP in step (4) may not
be required.
[0115] As discussed above, the vaccine compositions of the
invention preferably comprise inverted microsomes, more preferably
a homogenous population of inverted microsomes. However,
non-inverted microsomes may also be present in the population of
inverted microsomes.
[0116] The cells may be MHC negative so as to permit transfection
of the cell line with appropriate nucleic acid encoding the MHC
class molecule of choice for the vaccine. Preparation of antigen
may also include synthesis of antigenic peptides by means of
chemical means.
[0117] The loading of non-inverted microsomes with antigenic
peptide takes place in the presence of an NTP. The loading of
inverted microsomes does not appear to require the presence of an
NTP, although it may be preferred.
[0118] The invention will now be further described by way of
reference to the following Examples and Figures which are provided
for the purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed
as being limiting on the invention. Reference is made to a number
of Figures in which:
[0119] FIG. 1 shows crosslinking of H2-Kb molecules by
crosslinker-modified OVA peptide in the microsomes of RAW309Cr.1
cells. The .sup.125I-labeled ANB-NOS-OVA peptide was mixed with the
microsomes of RAW309Cr.1 cells in the presence or absence of
ATP-regenerating system or of native OVA-peptide at a ten-fold
molar excess. The crosslinked H-2Kb was indicated.
[0120] FIG. 2 shows concentration of OVA-peptide receptive H-2Kb in
the microsomes of RAW309Cr.1 cells. For semi-quantitation of
OVA-peptide receptive H-2Kb, 10 nMs of labelled peptide was
incubated with the microsomes or RAW309Cr.1 cells, respectively,
under the UV irradiation. The H-2 molecules were precipitated by
R218 antiserum and crosslinked Kb molecules were quantitated by
phospho-imaging.
[0121] FIG. 3 shows detection of H-2 molecules in the microsomes or
on the surface of RAW309Cr.1 cells. 30 .mu.g proteins from NP40
lysates of RAW309Cr.1 microsomes or RAW309Cr.1 cells were separated
on 10% SDS-PAGE. The lysates were diluted at the titration
indicated and separated on the SDS-PAGE. Immunoblotting of H-2
molecules was detected by R218 anti-H-2 antiserum.
[0122] FIG. 4 shows detection of B7.1, B7.2 and ICAM-1 in the
microsomes of RAW309Cr.1 cells. 30 .mu.g proteins from NP40 lysates
of RAW309Cr.1 microsomes or RAW309Cr.1 cells were separated on 10%
SDS-PAGE. Immunoblotting of B7. 1, B7.2 and ICAM-1 was detected by
specific antibodies.
[0123] FIG. 5 shows stimulation of B3Z T cells by OVA-peptide
edited microsomes. Microsomes from 2.times.10.sup.5 RAW309Cr.1
cells were used to load OVA or Ld-specific peptide as described in
Material and Methods. 2.times.10.sup.5 RAW309Cr.1 cells were pulsed
with OVA peptide (see Material and Methods). After washing,
peptide-pulsed 2.times.10.sup.5 RAW309Cr.1 cells, OVA-loaded
microsomes, Ld-peptide loaded microsomes, and the microsomes
without peptide were co-cultured with 10.sup.5 B3Z cells for over
night. A) After washing with PBS, LacZ activity in B3Z cells was
assayed by total cellular lysates with the LacZ substrate ONPG. The
absorbance (415 nM) was read after incubation for four hours at
37.degree. C. B3Z cells cultured with 100 nM OVA peptide and normal
medium were used as positive and negative control for the B3Z
stimulation. B) The supernatants of these cultures were submitted
for measuring IL-2 production by ELISA. The experiment was repeated
four times with similar results. Error bars indicate the SEM of
triplicate cultures.
[0124] FIG. 6 shows stimulation of B3Z T cells by the microsomes of
2.times.10.sup.5 RAW309Cr.1 cells pre-loaded with different
concentrations of OVA-peptides. Microsomes loaded with OVA-peptide
at different concentration indicated were co-cultured with B3Z
cells overnight before the assay of LacZ activity.
[0125] FIG. 7 shows OVA-peptide edited microsomes stimulates
specific T cell responses in vivo. C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice were primed
i.s. by OVA-edited microsomes or Ld-peptide loaded microsomes or
OVA peptide or OVA-pulsed RAW309Cr.1 cells and challenged by same
stimulus after seven days. Six days after the challenge, enriched T
cells were isolated from spleens and cultured at 10.sup.5
cells/well with stimulus indicated. The RAW309Cr.1 cells were
irradiated before co-culture with T cells. After three days,
supernatants were harvested for cytokine ELISA (b) and cultures
pulsed with [.sup.3H]thymidine (a). The results are representative
of groups of at least three mice per treatment group and the
experiment was repeated four times with similar results. Error bars
indicate the SEM of triplicate cultures. Similar set of experiments
performed in Balb/c (H-2d) mice served as negative control.
[0126] FIG. 8 shows activation of TCR induced MAK kinases. 10.sup.7
T cells from OVA-microsomes immunised C57BL/6 were stimulated with
OVA-pulsed RAW309Cr.1, OVA-microsomes and anti-CD3/CD28,
respectively. Activation of ERK and JNK was detected by anti-p-ERK
and anti-p-JNK antibodies. Similar levels of ERK and JNK detected
by anti-ERK and anti-JNK severed as loading control.
[0127] FIG. 9 shows OVA-receptive H-2Kb detected in microsomes, but
not on the surface of RAW309Cr.1 cells. The .sup.125I-labeled
ANB-NOS-OVA peptide 10 nM was mixed without or with native OVA
peptide at concentrations indicated. The mixed peptides were
incubated with microsomes equivalent to 10.sup.7 RAW309Cr.1 cells
or with 10.sup.7 RAW309Cr.1 cells. The crosslinked H2-Kb molecules
were indicated.
[0128] FIG. 10 shows the results of a study in which influenza
viral peptide edited Kb-microsomes induced T-cell responses in vivo
(five mice in each group).
[0129] FIG. 11 shows electronmicrograph pictures of DC and prepared
microsomes: (A) magnification .times.12000 and (B) magnification
.times.40000 are prepared microsomes from RAW cells; (C)
magnification .times.40000 are microsomes inverted by repeated
freeze-thaw and loaded with peptides, showing open or inverted
microsomes. The loaded peptides can not be seen in the picture.
[0130] FIG. 12 shows the results of a study carried out on MAGE-A2
specific T-cells from A2 melanoma patients.
[0131] FIG. 13 shows the amino acid sequences for the MHC class I
antigens A2 alpha chain precursor and B7 alpha chain precursor
(Accession nos. P01892 and P01889, respectively).
[0132] FIG. 14 shows the amino acid sequences for the MHC class II
antigens DRB3-1 beta-chain precursor and HLA-DQ alpha 1 (DQw4
specificity) precursor--human (Accession nos. P79483 and A37044,
respectively).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Cell Lines and Animals
[0133] B3Z is a CD8 T cell hybridoma that expresses LacZ in
response to activation of T cell receptors specific for the
SIINFEKL peptide presented by H-2Kb MHC class I molecules.
RAW309Cr.1, a Kd/Kb murine macrophage cell line, used as APCs, was
obtained from ATCC (ATCC TIB-69). All cells were cultured in
Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% fetal calf serum.
Female C57BL/6 mice H-2b and Balb/c mice H-2d were obtained at 6
weeks of age. All procedures with animals were carried out in
accordance with approved protocols.
Antibodies, Peptides, and Peptide Modification
[0134] All peptides were synthesised in a peptide synthesiser
(model 431A, Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), using
conventional F-moc chemistry, and were subsequently purified by
HPLC. The purified peptides were dissolved in PBS.
[0135] Peptide OVA 257-264 (SIINFEKL) was modified by substitution
of third residue isoleucine to tyrosine in order for iodination and
by covalently coupling a phenylazide with a nitro group on the
.epsilon.-amino group of lysine at position seven. This nitro group
can be photoactivated. The crosslinker modification was performed
by mixing 0.5 mg of ANB-NOS
(N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide) in 200 .mu.l DMSO with 100
.mu.g peptide in 100 .mu.l PBS and 50 .mu.l CPAS
(3-[cyclohexylamino]-1-propanesulfonic acid) (0.5 M, pH 10). The
reaction was allowed to proceed for 30 min on ice. To remove the
excess ANB-NOS and ions, the mixture was purified by gel filtration
on Sephadex G-10 and subsequently by HPLC. An aliquot (1 .mu.g) of
the peptide was labelled by chloramines-T-catalyzed iodination
(.sup.125I). The modification and labelling experiments were
performed in the dark.
Antisera, Immunoprecipitation, and SDS-PAGE
[0136] Rabbit antiserum to H2 (R218) was kindly provided by Dr.
Sune Kvist, Karolinska Institute. Monoclonal antibody specific to
confirmed H2 (Y3) was kindly provided by Tim Elliot, Cambridge
University. Antisera to JNK, ERK, p-ERK and p-JNK were obtained
from (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Immunoprecipitation,
immunoblotting and SDS-PAGE were performed as described in Li et al
(J Biol Chem. 274 (13), 8649-54 (1999)). Protein-A-Sepharose was
obtained from Pharmacia (Uppsala, Sweden).
EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of Microsomes and Peptide Binding Assay
[0137] Microsomes from RAW309Cr.1, a Kd/Kb murine macrophage cell
line were prepared and purified according to the procedure of
Saraste et al (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 6425-6429 (1986)).
The immunogenetics of class I is Kb in RAW cells and Balb/c
mice.
[0138] Preparation of microsomes from B cells based on a
modification of Saraste et al (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83,
6425-6429 (1986)) and Knipe et al (J. Virol. 21, 1128-1139 (1977))
for fractionation of microsomal membranes was used. All steps were
performed at 0-4.degree. C.). [0139] 3.times.10.sup.9 cells are
collected and washed once with cold PBS. [0140] Resuspend the cells
in 20 ml STKMM-buffer with 10 .mu.l of PMSF (100 mM). [0141] Spin
at 1500 rpm for 5 min at 4.degree. C. [0142] Resuspend in 10 ml
H.sub.2O (with 5 .mu.l PMSF). [0143] Homogenise in 40 ml Dounce, 20
strokes. [0144] Add 30 ml STKMM and mixing well. [0145] Pour over
in JA-18 tubes. [0146] Centrifuge at 7500 rpm for 10 min at
4.degree. C. [0147] Carefully collect supernatant to the new tubes.
[0148] Centrifuge at 15500 rpm for 54 min at 4.degree. C. [0149]
Carefully wash the pellet with 10 ml STKMM buffer, then resuspend
the pellet in 1 ml RM buffer with a pipette and homogenise in 15 ml
douncer. The rough microsomes will be diluted at a concentration of
A.sub.OD280=60. [0150] Total microsomes (described above) were
layered on top of 5 ml of 0.33 M sucrose containing 5 mM
benzamidine, layered in turn on top of a sucrose cushion consisting
of 1 ml of 2 M sucrose/5 mM benzamidine. [0151] Centrifugation in
an SW41 rotor for 60 min at 110,000.times.g yielded a total
microsome band on top of the cushion. The total microsome band was
carefully collected. Then, 2 M sucrose/5 mM benzamidine was slowly
added to the microsomes to give a final concentration of 45% (w/v)
sucrose. [0152] Microsomes were subfractionated by flotation using
a modification of the method described in Paulsson et al (J Biol
Chem. 277 (21), 18266-71 (2002)). 100 .mu.l of the total microsomes
in 3 ml of 45% (w/v) sucrose was placed at the bottom of an SW41
ultracentrifuge tube and overlaid with the following sucrose
solutions: 1 ml of 30% and 1.9 ml each of 27.5%, 25%, 22.5%, and
20.0% (all solutions contained 5 mM benzamidine). [0153] After
centrifugation at 4.degree. C. for 10 h at 37,000 rpm (to reach
isopyknic conditions), 25 fractions of 300 .mu.l each were
collected by upward displacement. [0154] The ER fractions will be
determined by western blotting with anti-p58 antibody. (p58 is a ER
protein). [0155] The poured ER fractions will be used in
peptide-loading and immunisation experiments.
[0156] The cross-link mixture contained 50 or 100 nM
(.sup.125I)ANB-NOS-peptide and 10 .mu.l of microsomes (60
A.sub.280/ml) in a total volume of 100 .mu.l RM buffer (250 mM
sucrose, 50 mM TEA-HCl, 50 mM KOAc, 2 mM MgOAc.sub.2, and 1 mM
DTT). After mixing, the samples were immediately irradiated at 366
nm for 5 min at room temperature. The membranes were then recovered
by centrifugation through a 0.5-M sucrose cushion in RM buffer. The
membranes were washed once with cold RM buffer. The washing
membranes were lysed for immunoprecipitation or for immune
blotting. The crosslinking reaction with ATP contained an ATP
regeneration system, described in Li et al (J Biol Chem. 274 (13),
8649-54 (1999)). The crosslinking of surface Kb molecules on
RAW309Cr.1 cells was performed as mixing 100 nM
(.sup.125I)ANB-NOS-peptide with 10.sup.7 cells, equivalent to
amount of cells used for making 10 .mu.l of microsomes in a total
volume of 100 .mu.l RM buffer. After mixing, the samples were
immediately irradiated for 5 min at room temperature. The excess
peptides were removed by washing with RM buffer. The cells were
lysed for immunoprecipitation with Y3 antibody.
[0157] The detection of surface MHC class I was performed by
incubating RAW309Cr.1 cells with Y3 antibody at 4.degree. C. for 15
min. After washing, the cells were lysed in 1% NP40 lysis buffer
and the cleared lysates were precipitated with protein-A beads. The
precipitated MHC class I were detected by immunoblotting with R218
antiserum.
[0158] The peptide-editing for stimulation of T cells was performed
by mixing microsomes with native peptides with ATP regeneration
system for 10 min at room temperature.
[0159] The excess of peptides was removed after centrifugation
through sucrose cushion in RM buffer. The loaded microsomes were
repeatedly freeze/thaw alternately in liquid nitrogen and then in a
water bath at 37.degree. C., for 10 times. The processed microsomes
were resuspended in PBS at concentration of (6 A.sub.280/ml) and
kept at -80.degree. C. until use. The peptide-pulsed RAW309Cr.1
cells was prepared as mixing peptides 100 nM with 10.sup.7 cells in
1 ml medium over night or in 1 ml PBS for four hours at 37.degree.
C. The pulsed cells were either washed with PBS before mixing with
B3Z T cells or add the mixture directly to the B3Z.
EXAMPLE 2
Activation of B3Z T Cell Hybridoma
[0160] The prepared stimuli including peptide-edited microsomes,
peptide-pulsed RAW309Cr.1 cells, OVA peptide, were added to culture
of 10.sup.5 B3Z cells in a total of 200 .mu.l. Addition of PBS and
anti-CD3/CD28 coated beads served as negative or positive control,
respectively. After over night incubation, the activation of B3Z
was represented by LacZ activity using o-nitrophenyl
b-D-galactopyranoside (Sigma) substrate. The linear range of
OVA-response was determined by the addition of serial dilutions of
SIINFEKL to the medium due to that the B3Z cells themselves express
Kb and present SIINFEKL.
EXAMPLE 3
Detection of Peptide-Receptive MHC Class I Molecules in the
Microsome, but not on the Surface of APCs
[0161] An in vitro peptide transport and loading assay by using
crosslinker modified peptides and isolated microsomes of the ER
from RAW309Cr.1 has been reported (Li et al J Biol Chem. 274 (13),
8649-54 (1999)). The assay allows the examination of both the
peptide translocation across the membrane of the ER in the presence
of ATP and subsequently the peptide loading on MHC class I
molecules (Wang et al J Immunol. 157 (1), 213-20 (1996)).
[0162] To detect the peptide-receptive MHC class I molecules in the
microsomal membranes, a crosslinker (ANB-NOS) was conjugated to the
.epsilon.-amino group of the lysine residue of an H2-Kb-binding
ovalbumin (OVA) peptide (residues 257-264, SIIFEKL) and substituted
the isoleucine at position 3 with tyrosine to allow for iodination.
These modifications allowed photo-cross-linking of the OVA peptide
to H2-Kb molecules during the assembly. For a quantitative
comparison of peptide-receptive H2-Kb in microsomes and on cell
surface of living RAW309Cr.1, the modified OVA peptide was labelled
by .sup.125I and incubated with microsomes of RAW309Cr.1 and living
RAW309Cr.1 cells under UV irradiation. Peptide-bound H2-Kb
molecules were subsequently analysed by immunoprecipitation with an
anti-H2 antibody Y3. In the absence of ATP, only a few Kb molecules
were assembled with OVA peptides, while a significant amount of Kb
molecules were cross-linked with OVA peptide in the presence of ATP
(FIG. 1). This result confirms that a substantial amount of peptide
receptive class I molecules exist in the ER.
[0163] A semi-quantitative analysis of OVA-crosslinked Kb in
microsomes and on the surface of RAW309Cr.1 showed that in contrast
to the high levels of peptide receptive Kb molecules in the
microsomes, the OVA-bound Kb molecules on the surface of APCs was
under the radio-chemical detective level (FIG. 2), suggesting again
that peptide-receptive MHC class I molecules are mainly in the ER,
but not on the surface of APCs. In a competing experiment, it has
been shown that the binding of this modified OVA peptide to Kb is
specific. In order to examine the affinity of the modified
OVA-peptide, the labelled OVA peptide was competed by its native
form at different concentrations. The native OVA peptide competed
50% of the report peptide at the concentration of report peptides
and completely abolished binding at concentration of ten times of
the report peptides (FIG. 2). Moreover, a Ld specific peptide could
not compete the OVA binding. This shows that the binding affinity
of modified OVA-peptide is Kb specific and similar to its native
form. To quantitate the amount of peptides bound to Kb molecules in
microsomes derived from 10.sup.6 RAW309Cr.1, the labelled peptides
were incubated with microsomes in the presence of ATP. After
crosslinking, MHC class I were precipitated and dpm of
peptide-bound Kb was measured and converted to the concentration of
peptides. Results showed that about 500 to 1000 peptides were bound
to Kb molecules in the microsomes of one cells. In addition, the
amount of total MHC class I molecules in the ER are more than that
on the surface of RAW309Cr.1 cells (FIG. 3). Thus, microsomes from
APCs could be able to deliver sufficient peptide-MHC class I
complexes to T cells.
EXAMPLE 4
B7 and ICAM1 are Presented in the Microsomes of APCs
[0164] A full T cell response requires signals from both
antigen-MHC complex and co-stimulatory molecules such as B7 (Acuto
et al, Immunol Rev. 192, 21-31 (2003)). Like all the membrane
proteins, co-stimulatory molecules are synthesised in the ER and
subsequently expressed on the surface of APCs. To quantitate the
amount of co-stimulatory molecules of B7 and ICAM-1 in the isolated
microsomes, the microsomes equivalent to 5.times.10.sup.6
RAW309Cr.1 were lysed and the clear lysates were analysed by
western blotting with anti-sera specific to these molecules,
respectively. In comparison, a total cell lysates of
5.times.10.sup.6 RAW309Cr.1 were also blotted with same antibody.
The intensity of B7.1, B7.2 and ICAM-1 bands was quantitated by
density analysis. Both B7 and ICAM-1 were readily detected in the
microsomal samples (FIG. 4). The amount detected in microsomes was
about half of the total cellular lysates. The presence of
sufficient amount of co-stimulatory molecules in peptide-edited
microsomes could mimic the functional surface of APCs for providing
both antigen-MHC and co-stimulatory signals to T cells.
EXAMPLE 5
Microsomes Loaded With Kb-Specific OVA Peptides Stimulate T Cells
In Vitro
[0165] To investigate the ability for peptide-loaded microsomes to
induce specific T cell response, the native OVA peptide-edited
microsomes were processed for inside-out by repeated freeze-thaw
method (materials and methods). The processed microsomes and
OVA-peptide pulsed RAW309Cr.1 were used to stimulate B3Z T cell
hybridoma which recognises Kb-SIINFEKL complex (Fremont et al Proc
Natl Acad Sci USA. 92 (7), 2479-83 (1995); Shastri N, &
Gonzalez F., J Immunol. 150 (7), 2724-36 (1993)). After washing off
the excessive peptide, OVA edited Microsome stimulated B3Z T cells
by inducing IL-2 production and the expression of IL-2-promoter
driven LacZ (FIG. 5). The specificity of OVA-Kb induced B3Z
responses was supported by the unresponsiveness of B3Z cells to the
microsomes without the peptide or loaded with Ld specific peptide
(FIG. 5). Moreover, the levels of responses of B3Z to OVA-edited
microsomes was correlated with the amount of OVA-peptides (FIG. 6).
OVA-pulsed RAW309Cr.1 could induce the B3Z response in the presence
of excessive peptides (Schott et al Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 99
(21), 13735-40 (2002)).
[0166] However, if excess peptides were removed by washing, the
OVA-pulsed-RAW309Cr.1 could no longer induce B3Z response. Given
that OVA itself could induce IL-2 production by B3Z cells (FIG. 5),
suggests that not RAW309Cr.1, but OVA itself is the stimuli for
B3Z. The ability of SIINFEKL to induce Kb restricted T cell
responses in vitro has been reported recently, suggesting that CTL
could present peptides to each other (Schott et al Proc Natl Acad
Sci USA. 99 (21), 13735-40 (2002)). However, the induction CTL
response in vitro by peptide-edited microsomes, but not by
peptide-pulsed RAW309Cr.1 is consistent with the peptide-binding
results (FIG. 2) and indicate that peptide-edited microsomes could
mimic APCs to efficiently present antigenic peptides to TCR and
stimulate full responses of CTLs.
EXAMPLE 6
Microsomes Loaded With Kb-Specific OVA Peptides Induces OVA-Peptide
Responses In Vivo
[0167] To further examine the ability of OVA-edited microsomes to
induce immune responses in vivo, OVA-edited microsomes from
RAW309Cr.1 cells, microsomes loaded with Ld-specific peptide,
soluble OVA peptides, RAW309Cr.1 pulsed with OVA peptides and PBS
were used to induce immune response in vivo. Five groups of C57BL/6
or Balb/c mice, each group consisting of five mice, were injected
twice subcutaneously with above stimuli, respectively. The interval
between injections was one week. Six days after second injection, T
cells were isolated from spleens and cross-stimulated in vitro with
the five original stimuli, respectively. In addition, anti-CD3/CD28
coated beads were used as positive control. PBS stimulated T cells
did not respond to any stimulation, while anti-CD3/CD28 induced
proliferative responses in all the groups. OVA-peptide pulsed
RAW309Cr.1 and microsomes loaded with Ld-specific peptide did not
induce T cells responses (FIG. 7). In contrast, T cells from
C57BL/6 groups of OVA-edited microsomes and OVA peptide responded
to OVA-edited microsomes in vitro, but not to the OVA-pulsed
RAW309Cr.1 or the microsomes loaded with Ld-peptides (FIG. 7).
Compelling results from IL-2 production (FIG. 7) again support that
OVA-edited microsomes could induce specific T cells responses in
vivo (FIG. 7). Balb/c has H-2d, therefore, there was not OVA
response induced.
EXAMPLE 7
TCR Signalling Pathways are Activated by OV-Microsomes
[0168] In order to analyse the TCR signalling in response to
OVA-microsome stimulation, T cells isolated from C57BL/6 mice
immunised by OVA-microsomes were used to induce TCR signalling in
vitro. The activation of ERK and JNK was detected in the T cells
stimulated with either anti-CD3/CD28 or with OVA-edited microsomes,
but not with OVA-pulsed RAW309Cr.1 (FIG. 8). Thus, the biochemical
evidence indicates a specific TCR signalling in response to OVA-Kb
on microsomes and further supports that microsomes edited with
antigenic peptides could induce specific immune responses in
vivo.
EXAMPLE 8
Influenza Viral Peptide Loaded Microsomes
[0169] The Kb specific peptide (ASNENMETM) form mouse influenza
virus was loaded into microsomes from Kb specific RAW cells. The
loaded microsomes were used to immunize C57BL/6 mice. In separate
groups, the PBS or peptide were used as controls. After two antigen
administrations over a seven day period, T-cells were isolated from
spleens and cross-cultured with PBS or peptide, peptide, or
peptide-loaded microsomes for three days. T-cell proliferation was
measured on day 4 after immunization. Results are shown in FIG.
10.
EXAMPLE 9
Effect on Melanoma Cells
[0170] T-cells isolated from three A2 melanoma patients (P1, P2,
P3), respectively, were stimulated with autologous tumor cells
purified from surgical biopsies at one to one and with r-human IL-2
(10 U/mL) for four times with a 5 day interval between each
administration. The specific anti-tumor responses were tested in
comparison to the tumor cell line K259 by cytotoxic assay. The MAGE
peptide was loaded to microsomes isolated from 221-A2 human B-cell
line, in which the MHC locus is deleted, and subsequently
transfected with HLA-A2. The T-cell lines from melanoma patients
were cultured with peptide, microsomes, or peptide-loaded
microsomes in normal medium for three days. The proliferation was
measured at day 3. The results are shown in FIG. 12.
DISCUSSION
[0171] These results demonstrate that the microsomes derived from
the ER can be used to process edited antigenic peptides on MHC
class I molecules and that the processed microsomes can
reconstitute the functional surface of APCs to induce CTL
responses. Thus, the antigenic peptide delivered by microsomal MHC
class I in association with co-stimulatory molecules is a novel
form of peptide vaccine.
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Sequence CWU 1
1
31718PRTInfluenza virus 1Ser Ile Ile Asn Phe Glu Lys Leu1
529PRTInfluenza virus 2Ala Ser Asn Glu Asn Met Glu Thr Met1
5310PRTHomo sapiens 3Tyr Leu Gln Leu Val Phe Gly Ile Glu Val1 5
1047PRTUnknownH2-Kb-binding ovalbumin (OVA) peptide 4Ser Ile Ile
Phe Glu Lys Leu1 559PRTHomo sapiens 5Glu Ala Asp Pro Thr Gly His
Ser Tyr1 569PRTHomo sapiens 6Ser Leu Phe Arg Ala Val Ile Thr Lys1
579PRTHomo sapiens 7Asn Tyr Lys His Cys Phe Pro Glu Ile1
5810PRTHomo sapiens 8Glu Val Tyr Asp Gly Arg Glu His Ser Ala1 5
10910PRTHomo sapiens 9Arg Glu Pro Val Thr Lys Ala Glu Met Leu1 5
10109PRTHomo sapiens 10Asp Pro Ala Arg Tyr Glu Phe Leu Trp1
5119PRTHomo sapiens 11Ser Ala Phe Pro Thr Thr Ile Asn Phe1
5129PRTHomo sapiens 12Ser Ala Tyr Gly Glu Pro Arg Lys Leu1
5139PRTHomo sapiens 13Lys Met Val Glu Leu Val His Phe Leu1
5149PRTHomo sapiens 14Glu Tyr Leu Gln Leu Val Phe Gly Ile1
5159PRTHomo sapiens 15Glu Val Asp Pro Ile Gly His Leu Tyr1
5169PRTHomo sapiens 16Phe Leu Trp Gly Pro Arg Ala Leu Val1
5179PRTHomo sapiens 17Thr Phe Pro Asp Leu Glu Ser Glu Phe1
5189PRTHomo sapiens 18Ile Met Pro Lys Ala Gly Leu Leu Ile1
51910PRTHomo sapiens 19Met Glu Val Asp Pro Ile Gly His Leu Tyr1 5
10209PRTHomo sapiens 20Trp Gln Tyr Phe Phe Pro Val Ile Phe1
52110PRTHomo sapiens 21Gly Val Tyr Asp Gly Arg Glu His Thr Val1 5
10229PRTHomo sapiens 22Met Val Lys Ile Ser Gly Gly Pro Arg1
5239PRTHomo sapiens 23Gly Leu Tyr Asp Gly Met Glu His Leu1
5249PRTHomo sapiens 24Val Arg Ile Gly His Leu Tyr Ile Leu1
5259PRTHomo sapiens 25Ala Ala Arg Ala Val Phe Leu Ala Leu1
5269PRTHomo sapiens 26Phe Leu Trp Gly Pro Arg Ala Tyr Ala1
5278PRTHomo sapiens 27Tyr Arg Pro Arg Pro Arg Arg Tyr1 5289PRTHomo
sapiens 28Tyr Tyr Trp Pro Arg Pro Arg Arg Tyr1 52911PRTHomo sapiens
29Met Thr Gln Gly Gln His Phe Leu Gln Lys Val1 5 103011PRTHomo
sapiens 30Ser Leu Leu Met Trp Ile Thr Gln Cys Phe Leu1 5
10319PRTHomo sapiens 31Ser Leu Leu Met Trp Ile Thr Gln Cys1
5329PRTHomo sapiens 32Gln Leu Ser Leu Leu Met Trp Ile Thr1
53310PRTHomo sapiens 33Ala Ser Gly Pro Gly Gly Gly Ala Pro Arg1 5
10349PRTHomo sapiens 34Ala Ala Gly Ile Gly Ile Leu Thr Val1
53510PRTHomo sapiens 35Glu Ala Ala Gly Ile Gly Ile Leu Thr Val1 5
10369PRTHomo sapiens 36Ile Leu Thr Val Ile Leu Gly Val Leu1
53710PRTHomo sapiens 37Ala Glu Glu Ala Ala Gly Ile Gly Ile Leu1 5
103811PRTHomo sapiens 38Ala Glu Glu Ala Ala Gly Ile Gly Ile Leu
Thr1 5 10399PRTHomo sapiens 39Thr Ile Leu Leu Gly Ile Phe Phe Leu1
5409PRTHomo sapiens 40Phe Leu Ala Leu Ile Ile Cys Asn Ala1
5419PRTHomo sapiens 41Lys Thr Trp Gly Gln Tyr Trp Gln Val1
54210PRTHomo sapiens 42Ala Met Leu Gly Thr His Thr Met Glu Val1 5
10439PRTHomo sapiens 43Met Leu Gly Thr His Thr Met Glu Val1
54410PRTHomo sapiens 44Ser Leu Ala Asp Thr Asn Ser Leu Ala Val1 5
10459PRTHomo sapiens 45Ile Thr Asp Gln Val Pro Phe Ser Val1
54610PRTHomo sapiens 46Leu Leu Asp Gly Thr Ala Thr Leu Arg Leu1 5
10479PRTHomo sapiens 47Tyr Leu Glu Pro Gly Pro Val Thr Ala1
54810PRTHomo sapiens 48Val Leu Tyr Arg Tyr Gly Ser Phe Ser Val1 5
10499PRTHomo sapiens 49Arg Leu Met Lys Gln Asp Phe Ser Val1
5509PRTHomo sapiens 50Arg Leu Pro Arg Ile Phe Cys Ser Cys1
5519PRTHomo sapiens 51Leu Ile Tyr Arg Arg Arg Leu Met Lys1
5529PRTHomo sapiens 52Ala Leu Asn Phe Pro Gly Ser Gln Lys1
55310PRTHomo sapiens 53Ser Leu Ile Tyr Arg Arg Arg Leu Met Lys1 5
10549PRTHomo sapiens 54Ala Leu Leu Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Lys1
5559PRTHomo sapiens 55Val Tyr Phe Phe Leu Pro Asp His Leu1
5568PRTHomo sapiens 56Ser Asn Asp Gly Pro Thr Leu Ile1 55710PRTHomo
sapiens 57Val Ser His Ser Phe Pro His Pro Leu Tyr1 5 105810PRTHomo
sapiens 58Phe Leu Thr Pro Lys Lys Leu Gln Cys Val1 5 105910PRTHomo
sapiens 59Val Ile Ser Asn Asp Val Cys Ala Gln Val1 5 106010PRTHomo
sapiens 60His Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Thr Arg Ile Tyr1 5 10619PRTHomo
sapiens 61Lys Cys Asp Ile Cys Thr Asp Glu Tyr1 56211PRTHomo sapiens
62Ser Ser Asp Tyr Val Ile Pro Ile Gly Thr Tyr1 5 10639PRTHomo
sapiens 63Tyr Met Asp Gly Thr Met Ser Gln Val1 5649PRTHomo sapiens
64Met Leu Leu Ala Val Leu Tyr Cys Leu1 5659PRTHomo sapiens 65Ala
Phe Leu Pro Trp His Arg Leu Phe1 5669PRTHomo sapiens 66Ser Glu Ile
Trp Arg Asp Ile Asp Phe1 5679PRTHomo sapiens 67Met Ser Leu Gln Arg
Gln Phe Leu Arg1 5689PRTHomo sapiens 68Ser Val Tyr Asp Phe Phe Val
Trp Leu1 5699PRTHomo sapiens 69Thr Leu Asp Ser Gln Val Met Ser Leu1
5709PRTHomo sapiens 70Leu Leu Gly Pro Gly Arg Pro Tyr Arg1
5719PRTHomo sapiens 71Ala Asn Asp Pro Ile Phe Val Val Leu1
5728PRTHomo sapiens 72Ala Phe Leu Arg His Ala Ala Leu1 57310PRTHomo
sapiens 73Asp Tyr Pro Ser Leu Ser Ala Thr Asp Ile1 5 107411PRTHomo
sapiens 74Met Leu Met Ala Gln Glu Ala Leu Ala Phe Leu1 5
10759PRTHomo sapiens 75Tyr Leu Ser Gly Ala Asn Leu Asn Leu1
5769PRTHomo sapiens 76His Leu Phe Gly Tyr Ser Trp Tyr Lys1
5779PRTHomo sapiens 77Lys Phe His Arg Val Ile Lys Asp Phe1
5789PRTHomo sapiens 78Asp Phe Met Ile Gln Gly Gly Asp Phe1
5799PRTHomo sapiens 79Lys Ile Phe Gly Ser Leu Ala Phe Leu1
5809PRTHomo sapiens 80Ile Ile Ser Ala Val Val Gly Ile Leu1
5819PRTHomo sapiens 81Arg Leu Leu Gln Glu Thr Glu Leu Val1
5829PRTHomo sapiens 82Val Val Leu Gly Val Val Phe Gly Ile1
5839PRTHomo sapiens 83Ile Leu His Asn Gly Ala Tyr Ser Leu1
58410PRTHomo sapiens 84Tyr Met Ile Met Val Lys Cys Trp Met Ile1 5
10859PRTHomo sapiens 85Val Leu Arg Glu Asn Thr Ser Pro Lys1
5869PRTHomo sapiens 86Ile Leu Ala Lys Phe Leu His Trp Leu1
5879PRTHomo sapiens 87Arg Leu Val Asp Asp Phe Leu Leu Val1
5889PRTHomo sapiens 88Ser Pro Arg Trp Trp Pro Thr Cys Leu1
5899PRTHomo sapiens 89Ser Thr Ala Pro Pro Ala His Gly Val1
5909PRTHomo sapiens 90Ser Thr Ala Pro Pro Val His Asn Val1
5919PRTHomo sapiens 91Leu Leu Asn Gln Leu Gln Val Asn Leu1
5929PRTHomo sapiens 92Met Leu Trp Gly Trp Arg Glu His Val1
5939PRTHomo sapiens 93Leu Tyr Val Asp Ser Leu Phe Phe Leu1
5949PRTHomo sapiens 94Ala Tyr Gly Leu Asp Phe Tyr Ile Leu1
5959PRTHomo sapiens 95Val Pro Tyr Gly Ser Phe Lys His Val1
5969PRTHomo sapiens 96Leu Pro Arg Trp Pro Pro Pro Gln Leu1
5979PRTHomo sapiens 97Glu Tyr Arg Gly Phe Thr Gln Asp Phe1
5989PRTHomo sapiens 98Lys Gly Ser Gly Lys Met Lys Thr Glu1
59910PRTHomo sapiens 99Val Tyr Asp Tyr Asn Cys His Val Asp Leu1 5
101009PRTHomo sapiens 100Ala Tyr Ile Asp Phe Glu Met Lys Ile1
51019PRTHomo sapiens 101Arg Met Phe Pro Asn Ala Pro Tyr Leu1
51029PRTHomo sapiens 102Gly Val Ala Leu Gln Thr Met Lys Gln1
51039PRTHomo sapiens 103Ser Tyr Leu Asp Ser Gly Ile His Phe1
51049PRTHomo sapiens 104Phe Pro Ser Asp Ser Trp Cys Tyr Phe1
510510PRTHomo sapiens 105Ala Cys Asp Pro His Ser Gly His Phe Val1 5
101069PRTHomo sapiens 106Glu Thr Val Ser Glu Gln Ser Asn Val1
510710PRTHomo sapiens 107Val Leu Pro Asp Val Phe Ile Arg Cys Val1 5
101089PRTHomo sapiens 108Val Leu Pro Asp Val Phe Ile Arg Cys1
51099PRTHomo sapiens 109His Leu Ser Thr Ala Phe Ala Arg Val1
511013PRTHomo sapiens 110Cys Val Glu Trp Leu Arg Ile Tyr Leu Glu
Asn Gly Lys1 5 101119PRTHomo sapiens 111Ser Leu Phe Glu Gly Ile Asp
Ile Tyr1 511210PRTHomo sapiens 112Tyr Ser Trp Met Asp Ile Ser Cys
Trp Ile1 5 101139PRTHomo sapiens 113Ala Glu Pro Ile Asn Ile Gln Thr
Val1 51149PRTHomo sapiens 114Glu Glu Lys Leu Ile Val Val Leu Phe1
511510PRTHomo sapiens 115Ser Glu Leu Phe Arg Ser Gly Leu Asp Tyr1 5
101169PRTHomo sapiens 116Phe Arg Ser Gly Leu Asp Ser Tyr Val1
51179PRTHomo sapiens 117Glu Ala Phe Ile Gln Pro Ile Thr Arg1
51189PRTHomo sapiens 118Lys Ile Asn Lys Asn Pro Lys Tyr Lys1
511910PRTHomo sapiens 119Ser Pro Ser Ser Asn Arg Ile Arg Asn Thr1 5
101209PRTHomo sapiens 120Asp Tyr Ser Ala Arg Trp Asn Glu Ile1
51219PRTHomo sapiens 121Ala Tyr Asp Phe Leu Tyr Asn Tyr Leu1
51229PRTHomo sapiens 122Ser Tyr Thr Arg Leu Phe Leu Ile Leu1
512310PRTHomo sapiens 123Glu Val Ile Ser Cys Lys Leu Ile Lys Arg1 5
101249PRTHomo sapiens 124Arg Val Ala Ala Leu Ala Arg Asp Ala1
512516PRTHomo sapiens 125Asp Val Pro Lys Trp Ile Ser Ile Met Thr
Glu Arg Ser Val Pro His1 5 10 1512616PRTHomo sapiens 126Trp Asn Arg
Gln Leu Tyr Pro Glu Trp Thr Glu Ala Gln Arg Leu Asp1 5 10
1512714PRTHomo sapiens 127Leu Leu Lys Tyr Arg Ala Arg Glu Pro Val
Thr Lys Ala Glu1 5 1012815PRTHomo sapiens 128Thr Ser Tyr Val Lys
Val Leu His His Met Val Lys Ile Ser Gly1 5 10 1512914PRTHomo
sapiens 129Ala Glu Leu Val His Phe Leu Leu Leu Lys Tyr Arg Ala Arg1
5 1013023PRTHomo sapiens 130Arg Asn Gly Tyr Arg Ala Leu Met Asp Lys
Ser Leu His Val Gly Thr1 5 10 15Gln Cys Ala Leu Thr Arg Arg
2013112PRTHomo sapiens 131Pro Gly Ser Thr Ala Pro Pro Ala His Gly
Val Thr1 5 1013210PRTHomo sapiens 132Val Leu Leu Lys Glu Phe Thr
Val Ser Gly1 5 1013318PRTHomo sapiens 133Pro Leu Pro Val Pro Gly
Val Leu Leu Lys Glu Phe Thr Val Ser Gly1 5 10 15Asn Ile13418PRTHomo
sapiens 134Val Leu Leu Lys Glu Phe Thr Val Ser Gly Asn Ile Leu Thr
Ile Arg1 5 10 15Leu Thr13518PRTHomo sapiens 135Ala Ala Asp His Arg
Gln Leu Gln Leu Ser Ile Ser Ser Cys Leu Gln1 5 10 15Gln
Leu13615PRTHomo sapiens 136Ile Leu Leu Gly Arg Met Ser Leu Phe Met
Pro Glu Asp Thr Gly1 5 10 1513713PRTHomo sapiens 137Ser Leu Phe His
Pro Glu Asp Thr Gly Gln Val Phe Gln1 5 1013815PRTHomo sapiens
138Gln Val Phe Gln Val Ser His Ser Phe Pro His Pro Leu Tyr Asp1 5
10 1513915PRTHomo sapiens 139Asn Asp Leu Met Leu Leu Arg Leu Ser
Glu Pro Ala Glu Leu Thr1 5 10 1514013PRTHomo sapiens 140Lys Lys Leu
Gln Cys Val Gln Leu His Val Ile Ser Met1 5 1014115PRTHomo sapiens
141Gly Val Leu Gln Gly Ile Thr Ser Met Gly Ser Glu Pro Cys Ala1 5
10 1514215PRTHomo sapiens 142Gln Asn Ile Leu Leu Ser Asn Ala Pro
Leu Gly Pro Gln Phe Pro1 5 10 1514315PRTHomo sapiens 143Asp Tyr Ser
Tyr Leu Gln Asp Ser Asp Pro Asp Ser Phe Gln Asp1 5 10
1514413PRTHomo sapiens 144Ser Tyr Leu Gln Asp Ser Asp Pro Asp Ser
Phe Gln Asp1 5 1014521PRTHomo sapiens 145Arg His Arg Pro Leu Gln
Glu Val Tyr Pro Glu Ala Asn Ala Pro Ile1 5 10 15Gly His Asn Arg Glu
2014611PRTHomo sapiens 146Glu Ile Trp Arg Asp Ile Asp Phe Ala His
Glu1 5 1014713PRTHomo sapiens 147Leu Phe Met Asp Thr Leu Ser Phe
Val Cys Pro Leu Cys1 5 1014813PRTHomo sapiens 148Leu Phe Met Asp
Ser Leu Asn Phe Val Cys Pro Trp Cys1 5 1014912PRTHomo sapiens
149Phe Ser Trp Ala Met Asp Leu Asp Pro Lys Gly Ala1 5
1015015PRTHomo sapiens 150Gly Glu Leu Ile Gly Ile Leu Asn Ala Ala
Lys Val Pro Ala Asp1 5 10 151519PRTHomo sapiens 151Phe Met Val Glu
Leu Val Glu Gly Ala1 51529PRTHomo sapiens 152Lys Leu Ser Glu Gln
Glu Ser Leu Leu1 51539PRTHomo sapiens 153Met Leu Thr Asn Ser Cys
Val Lys Leu1 51549PRTHomo sapiens 154Ser Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln Arg
Pro Val1 51559PRTHomo sapiens 155Ala Thr Gly Phe Lys Gln Ser Ser
Lys1 51569PRTHomo sapiens 156Lys Gln Ser Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln Arg1
515711PRTHomo sapiens 157His Ser Ala Thr Gly Phe Lys Gln Ser Ser
Lys1 5 101589PRTHomo sapiens 158Lys Gln Ser Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln
Arg1 51599PRTHomo sapiens 159Gly Phe Lys Gln Ser Ser Lys Ala Leu1
51609PRTHomo sapiens 160Arg Ile Ala Glu Cys Ile Leu Gly Met1
516117PRTHomo sapiens 161Glu Gly Ala Phe His Gly Asp Ala Glu Ala
Leu Gln Arg Pro Val Ala1 5 10 15Ser16217PRTHomo sapiens 162Ile Pro
Leu Thr Ile Asn Lys Glu Glu Ala Leu Gln Arg Pro Val Ala1 5 10
15Ser16317PRTHomo sapiens 163Ala Thr Gly Phe Lys Gln Ser Ser Lys
Ala Leu Gln Arg Pro Val Ala1 5 10 15Ser16424PRTHomo sapiens 164Leu
Ile Val Val Ile Val His Ser Ala Thr Gly Phe Lys Gln Ser Ser1 5 10
15Lys Ala Leu Gln Arg Pro Val Ala 2016525PRTHomo sapiens 165Ile Val
His Ser Ala Thr Gly Phe Lys Gln Ser Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln1 5 10 15Arg
Pro Val Ala Ser Asp Phe Glu Pro 20 2516616PRTHomo sapiens 166Thr
Met Lys Gln Ile Cys Lys Lys Glu Ile Arg Arg Leu His Gln Tyr1 5 10
1516715PRTHomo sapiens 167Gly Gly Ala Pro Pro Val Thr Trp Arg Arg
Ala Pro Ala Pro Gly1 5 10 1516815PRTHomo sapiens 168Trp Arg Arg Ala
Pro Ala Pro Gly Ala Lys Ala Met Ala Pro Gly1 5 10 1516925PRTHomo
sapiens 169Asn Ser Asn His Val Ala Ser Gly Ala Gly Glu Ala Ala Ile
Glu Thr1 5 10 15Gln Ser Ser Ser Ser Glu Glu Ile Val 20
2517017PRTHomo sapiens 170Glu Gly Ala Phe His Gly Asp Ala Glu Ala
Leu Gln Arg Pro Val Ala1 5 10 15Ser17115PRTHomo sapiens 171Ile Gly
Arg Ile Ala Glu Cys Ile Leu Gly Met Asn Pro Ser Arg1 5 10
151729PRTHepatitis C virus 172Met Ser Thr Asn Pro Lys Pro Gln Lys1
51739PRTHepatitis C virus 173Met Ser Thr Asn Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg1
517410PRTHepatitis C virus 174Cys Gln Ile Val Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu
Leu1 5 1017510PRTHepatitis C virus 175Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly
Pro Arg Leu1 5 101769PRTHepatitis C virus 176Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly
Val Arg Ala Thr1 51779PRTHepatitis C virus 177Arg Leu Gly Val Arg
Ala Thr Arg Lys1 51789PRTHepatitis C virus 178Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg
Ser Gln Pro Arg1 51799PRTHepatitis C virus 179Asn Glu Gly Leu Gly
Trp Gly Ala Trp1 51809PRTHepatitis C virus 180Asn Glu Gly Cys Gly
Trp Gly Ala Trp1 51819PRTHepatitis C virus 181Asp Leu Met Gly Tyr
Ile Pro Leu Val1 51829PRTHepatitis C virus 182Leu Pro Gly Cys Ser
Phe Ser Ile Phe1 518310PRTHepatitis C virus 183Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu
Ser Cys Leu Thr Val1 5 101849PRTHepatitis C virus 184Asn Ala Ser
Arg Cys Trp Val Ala Met1 518510PRTHepatitis C virus 185Gln Leu Arg
Arg His Ile Asp Leu Leu Val1 5 101869PRTHepatitis C virus 186Gln
Leu Phe Thr Phe Ser Pro Arg Arg1 518711PRTHepatitis C virus 187Ser
Leu Leu Ala Pro Gly Ala Lys Gln Asn Val1 5 1018813PRTHepatitis C
virus 188Pro Glu Arg Leu Ser Cys Arg Pro Leu Thr Asp Phe Asp1 5
1018913PRTHepatitis C virus 189Pro Glu Arg Leu Ala Ser Cys Arg Pro
Leu Thr Asp Phe1 5 1019010PRTHepatitis C virus 190Arg Pro Leu Thr
Asp Phe Asp Gln Gly Trp1 5 101918PRTHepatitis C virus 191Tyr Pro
Pro Lys Pro Cys Gly Ile1 519210PRTHepatitis C virus 192Cys Val Ile
Gly Gly Ala Gly Asn Asn Thr1 5 101938PRTHepatitis C virus 193Thr
Ile Asn Tyr Thr Ile Phe Lys1 519410PRTHepatitis C virus 194Arg Met
Tyr Val Gly Gly Val Glu His Arg1 5 101959PRTHepatitis C virus
195Leu Leu Phe Leu Leu Leu Ala Asp Ala1
51969PRTHepatitis C virus 196Phe Leu Leu Leu Ala Asp Ala Arg Val1
519713PRTHepatitis C virus 197Leu Met Ala Leu Thr Leu Ser Pro Tyr
Tyr Lys Arg Tyr1 5 101988PRTHepatitis C virus 198Met Ala Leu Thr
Leu Ser Pro Tyr1 51999PRTHepatitis C virus 199Tyr Ile Ser Trp Cys
Leu Trp Trp Leu1 52009PRTHepatitis C virus 200Cys Ile Asn Gly Val
Cys Trp Thr Val1 52019PRTHepatitis C virus 201Tyr Leu Val Thr Arg
His Ala Asp Val1 52029PRTHepatitis C virus 202Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala
Gly His Ala Val1 520310PRTHepatitis C virus 203Thr Leu Gly Phe Gly
Ala Tyr Met Ser Lys1 5 102049PRTHepatitis C virus 204Leu Gly Phe
Gly Ala Tyr Met Ser Lys1 520510PRTHepatitis C virus 205Gly Ala Tyr
Met Ser Lys Ala His Gly Val1 5 1020610PRTHepatitis C virus 206Thr
Gly Ala Pro Val Thr Tyr Ser Thr Tyr1 5 1020710PRTHepatitis C virus
207Thr Gly Ser Pro Ile Thr Tyr Ser Thr Tyr1 5 102089PRTHepatitis C
virus 208Leu Ile Phe Cys His Ser Lys Lys Lys1 52099PRTHepatitis C
virus 209His Ser Lys Lys Lys Cys Asp Glu Leu1 521010PRTHepatitis C
virus 210Lys Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Ile Asn Ala Val1 5
102119PRTHepatitis C virus 211Tyr Leu Val Ala Tyr Gln Ala Thr Val1
52128PRTHepatitis C virus 212Leu Ile Arg Leu Lys Pro Thr Leu1
52138PRTHepatitis C virus 213Thr Leu Thr His Pro Val Thr Lys1
52149PRTHepatitis C virus 214Val Leu Val Gly Gly Val Leu Ala Ala1
52159PRTHepatitis C virus 215His Met Trp Asn Phe Ile Ser Gly Ile1
52169PRTHepatitis C virus 216Ser Leu Met Ala Phe Thr Ala Ala Val1
521710PRTHepatitis C virus 217Leu Leu Phe Asn Ile Leu Gly Gly Trp
Val1 5 102189PRTHepatitis C virus 218Ile Leu Ala Gly Tyr Gly Ala
Gly Val1 521910PRTHepatitis C virus 219Gly Val Ala Gly Ala Leu Val
Ala Phe Lys1 5 102209PRTHepatitis C virus 220Val Ala Gly Ala Leu
Val Ala Phe Lys1 52219PRTHepatitis C virus 221Trp Met Asn Arg Leu
Ile Ala Phe Ala1 52229PRTHepatitis C virus 222Asn His Asp Ser Pro
Asp Ala Glu Leu1 52239PRTHepatitis C virus 223Ile Leu Asp Ser Phe
Asp Pro Leu Val1 522410PRTHepatitis C virus 224Arg Glu Ile Ser Val
Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu1 5 102259PRTHepatitis C virus 225Ser Leu Thr
Pro Pro His Ser Ala Lys1 522610PRTHepatitis C virus 226Arg Leu Ile
Val Phe Pro Asp Leu Gly Val1 5 102279PRTHepatitis C virus 227Arg
Val Cys Glu Lys Met Ala Leu Tyr1 52289PRTHepatitis C virus 228Lys
Ser Lys Lys Thr Pro Met Gly Phe1 52299PRTHepatitis C virus 229Gly
Leu Gln Asp Cys Thr Met Leu Val1 52309PRTHepatitis C virus 230His
Asp Gly Ala Gly Lys Arg Val Tyr1 523111PRTHepatitis C virus 231His
Asp Gly Ala Gly Lys Arg Val Tyr Tyr Leu1 5 102329PRTHepatitis C
virus 232Val Gly Ile Tyr Leu Leu Pro Asn Arg1 52339PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 233Gly Ser Glu Glu Leu Arg Ser Leu
Tyr1 52349PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 234Ile Ser Glu Arg
Ile Leu Ser Thr Tyr1 52359PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
235Ile Leu Lys Asp Pro Val His Gly Val1 52369PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 236Ile Leu Lys Glu Pro Val His Gly
Val1 52379PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 237Ser Leu Phe Asn
Thr Val Ala Thr Leu1 52389PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
238Ser Leu Tyr Asn Thr Val Ala Thr Leu1 52399PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 239Thr Leu Asn Ala Trp Val Lys Val
Val1 52409PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 240Thr Leu Asn Ala
Trp Val Lys Val Ile1 52419PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
241Ala Leu Lys His Arg Ala Tyr Glu Leu1 52429PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 242Ala Phe His His Val Ala Arg Glu
Leu1 52439PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 243Lys Ile Arg Leu
Arg Pro Gly Gly Lys1 524411PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
244Arg Leu Arg Asp Leu Leu Leu Ile Val Thr Arg1 5 102459PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 245Ser Ile Phe Gln Ser Ser Met Thr
Lys1 52469PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 246Ala Ile Phe Gln
Ser Ser Met Thr Lys1 52479PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
247Asp Leu Ser His Phe Leu Lys Glu Lys1 524810PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 248Gln Val Pro Leu Arg Pro Met Thr
Tyr Lys1 5 102499PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 249Ala Val
Asp Leu Ser His Phe Leu Lys1 525010PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus
type 1 250Ile Tyr Gln Glu Pro Phe Lys Asn Leu Lys1 5 102519PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 251Thr Leu Tyr Cys Val His Gln Arg
Ile1 52528PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 252Tyr Leu Arg Asp
Gln Gln Leu Leu1 52538PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 253Tyr
Leu Lys Asp Gln Gln Leu Leu1 52549PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus
type 1 254Arg Tyr Leu Arg Asp Gln Gln Leu Leu1 52559PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 255Arg Tyr Leu Lys Asp Gln Gln Leu
Leu1 525610PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 256Leu Phe Cys
Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr1 5 102579PRTHuman immunodeficiency
virus type 1 257Asp Ser Arg Leu Ala Phe His His Met1 525811PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 258Arg Asp Tyr Val Asp Arg Phe Phe
Lys Thr Leu1 5 1025910PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 259Val
Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His Tyr1 5 102609PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 260Asp Thr Val Leu Glu Asp Ile Asn
Leu1 526110PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 261Glu Thr Ala
Tyr Phe Tyr Ile Leu Lys Leu1 5 102629PRTHuman immunodeficiency
virus type 1 262Ile Thr Leu Trp Gln Arg Pro Leu Val1 52639PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 263Ile Pro Arg Arg Ile Arg Gln Gly
Leu1 526410PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 264Thr Pro Gly
Pro Gly Val Arg Tyr Pro Leu1 5 1026510PRTHuman immunodeficiency
virus type 1 265Thr Pro Gly Pro Gly Ile Arg Tyr Pro Leu1 5
1026610PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 266Phe Pro Val Thr
Pro Gln Val Pro Leu Arg1 5 102679PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus
type 1 267Ser Pro Arg Thr Leu Asn Ala Trp Val1 52689PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 268Gly Pro Lys Val Lys Gln Trp Pro
Leu1 52698PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 269Tyr Leu Lys Asp
Gln Gln Leu Leu1 52708PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 270Gly
Gly Lys Lys Lys Tyr Arg Leu1 52719PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus
type 1 271Asp Arg Phe Phe Lys Thr Leu Arg Ala1 52729PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 272Asp Arg Phe Trp Lys Thr Leu Arg
Ala1 52739PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 273Asp Leu Asn Met
Met Leu Asn Ile Val1 52749PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
274Asp Leu Asn Thr Met Leu Asn Val Val1 52759PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 275Glu Arg Tyr Leu Arg Asp Gln Gln
Leu1 52769PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 276Arg Ala Glu Gln
Ala Ser Gln Glu Val1 52779PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
277Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Trp Cys Tyr1 52789PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 278Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Trp Cys
Phe1 527910PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 279Phe Arg Asp
Tyr Val Asp Arg Phe Tyr Lys1 5 1028010PRTHuman immunodeficiency
virus type 1 280Phe Arg Asp Tyr Val Asp Arg Phe Phe Lys1 5
1028110PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 281Lys Arg Trp Ile
Ile Leu Gly Leu Asn Lys1 5 1028210PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus
type 1 282Lys Arg Trp Ile Ile Met Gly Leu Asn Lys1 5 102839PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 283Thr Ala Val Pro Trp Asn Ala Ser
Trp1 52848PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 284Val Pro Leu Arg
Pro Met Thr Tyr1 52859PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 285His
Pro Asp Ile Val Ile Tyr Gln Tyr1 52869PRTHuman immunodeficiency
virus type 1 286Asn Pro Asp Ile Val Ile Tyr Gln Tyr1 52879PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 287Pro Pro Ile Pro Val Gly Asp Ile
Tyr1 52889PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 288Ile Pro Leu Thr
Glu Glu Ala Glu Leu1 52899PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
289Asp Pro Asn Pro Gln Glu Val Val Leu1 52909PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 290Leu Pro Cys Arg Ile Lys Gln Ile
Ile1 52919PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 291Ala Thr Gln Glu
Val Lys Asn Trp Met1 52929PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
292Ala Ser Gln Glu Val Lys Asn Trp Met1 529310PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 293Asp Thr Ile Asn Glu Glu Ala Ala
Glu Trp1 5 102949PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 294Gln Ala
Thr Gln Glu Val Lys Asn Trp1 529510PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus
type 1 295Glu Val Lys Asn Trp Met Thr Glu Thr Leu1 5
1029610PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 296Thr Ser Thr Leu
Gln Glu Gln Ile Gly Trp1 5 102979PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus
type 1 297Leu Ser Pro Arg Thr Leu Asn Ala Trp1 52989PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 298Ile Ser Pro Arg Thr Leu Asn Ala
Trp1 529911PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 299Lys Ala Phe
Ser Pro Glu Val Ile Pro Met Phe1 5 103008PRTHuman immunodeficiency
virus type 1 300Gln Ala Ile Ser Pro Arg Thr Leu1 53019PRTHuman
immunodeficiency virus type 1 301Ser Phe Asn Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe
Phe1 53029PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 302Lys Tyr Arg Leu
Lys His Leu Val Trp1 53039PRTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1
303Gln Ala Ser Gly Glu Val Lys Asn Trp1 530410PRTHepatitis C virus
304Cys Val Ile Gly Gly Ala Gly Asn Asn Thr1 5 103059PRTHepatitis C
virus 305Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr1 53068PRTHepatitis C
virus 306Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala1 530710PRTHepatitis C
virus 307Trp His Tyr Pro Pro Lys Pro Cys Gly Ile1 5
1030811PRTHepatitis C virus 308Tyr Pro Pro Lys Pro Cys Gly Ile Val
Pro Ala1 5 103098PRTHepatitis C virus 309Tyr Pro Pro Lys Pro Cys
Gly Ile1 53108PRTHepatitis C virus 310Ser Thr Asn Pro Lys Pro Gln
Lys1 531111PRTHepatitis C virus 311Met Ser Thr Asn Pro Lys Pro Lys
Lys Asn Lys1 5 103129PRTHepatitis C virus 312Cys Val Asn Gly Val
Cys Trp Thr Val1 531310PRTHepatitis C virus 313Lys Leu Val Ala Leu
Gly Ile Asn Ala Val1 5 10314365PRTHomo sapiens 314Met Ala Val Met
Ala Pro Arg Thr Leu Val Leu Leu Leu Ser Gly Ala1 5 10 15Leu Ala Leu
Thr Gln Thr Trp Ala Gly Ser His Ser Met Arg Tyr Phe 20 25 30Phe Thr
Ser Val Ser Arg Pro Gly Arg Gly Glu Pro Arg Phe Ile Ala 35 40 45Val
Gly Tyr Val Asp Asp Thr Gln Phe Val Arg Phe Asp Ser Asp Ala 50 55
60Ala Ser Gln Arg Met Glu Pro Arg Ala Pro Trp Ile Glu Gln Glu Gly65
70 75 80Pro Glu Tyr Trp Asp Gly Glu Thr Arg Lys Val Lys Ala His Ser
Gln 85 90 95Thr His Arg Val Asp Leu Gly Thr Leu Arg Gly Tyr Tyr Asn
Gln Ser 100 105 110Glu Ala Gly Ser His Thr Val Gln Arg Met Tyr Gly
Cys Asp Val Gly 115 120 125Ser Asp Trp Arg Phe Leu Arg Gly Tyr His
Gln Tyr Ala Tyr Asp Gly 130 135 140Lys Asp Tyr Ile Ala Leu Lys Glu
Asp Leu Arg Ser Trp Thr Ala Ala145 150 155 160Asp Met Ala Ala Gln
Thr Thr Lys His Lys Trp Glu Ala Ala His Val 165 170 175Ala Glu Gln
Leu Arg Ala Tyr Leu Glu Gly Thr Cys Val Glu Trp Leu 180 185 190Arg
Arg Tyr Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Glu Thr Leu Gln Arg Thr Asp Ala 195 200
205Pro Lys Thr His Met Thr His His Ala Val Ser Asp His Glu Ala Thr
210 215 220Leu Arg Cys Trp Ala Leu Ser Phe Tyr Pro Ala Glu Ile Thr
Leu Thr225 230 235 240Trp Gln Arg Asp Gly Glu Asp Gln Thr Gln Asp
Thr Glu Leu Val Glu 245 250 255Thr Arg Pro Ala Gly Asp Gly Thr Phe
Gln Lys Trp Ala Ala Val Val 260 265 270Val Pro Ser Gly Gln Glu Gln
Arg Tyr Thr Cys His Val Gln His Glu 275 280 285Gly Leu Pro Lys Pro
Leu Thr Leu Arg Trp Glu Pro Ser Ser Gln Pro 290 295 300Thr Ile Pro
Ile Val Gly Ile Ile Ala Gly Leu Val Leu Phe Gly Ala305 310 315
320Val Ile Thr Gly Ala Val Val Ala Ala Val Met Trp Arg Arg Lys Ser
325 330 335Ser Asp Arg Lys Gly Gly Ser Tyr Ser Gln Ala Ala Ser Ser
Asp Ser 340 345 350Ala Gln Gly Ser Asp Val Ser Leu Thr Ala Cys Lys
Val 355 360 365315362PRTHomo sapiens 315Met Leu Val Met Ala Pro Arg
Thr Val Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Ala Ala1 5 10 15Leu Ala Leu Thr Glu Thr
Trp Ala Gly Ser His Ser Met Arg Tyr Phe 20 25 30Tyr Thr Ser Val Ser
Arg Pro Gly Arg Gly Glu Pro Arg Phe Ile Ser 35 40 45Val Gly Tyr Val
Asp Asp Thr Gln Phe Val Arg Phe Asp Ser Asp Ala 50 55 60Ala Ser Pro
Arg Glu Glu Pro Arg Ala Pro Trp Ile Glu Gln Glu Gly65 70 75 80Pro
Glu Tyr Trp Asp Arg Asn Thr Gln Ile Tyr Lys Ala Gln Ala Gln 85 90
95Thr Asp Arg Glu Ser Leu Arg Asn Leu Arg Gly Tyr Tyr Asn Gln Ser
100 105 110Glu Ala Gly Ser His Thr Leu Gln Ser Met Tyr Gly Cys Asp
Val Gly 115 120 125Pro Asp Gly Arg Leu Leu Arg Gly His Asp Gln Tyr
Ala Tyr Asp Gly 130 135 140Lys Asp Tyr Ile Ala Leu Asn Glu Asp Leu
Arg Ser Trp Thr Ala Ala145 150 155 160Asp Thr Ala Ala Gln Ile Thr
Gln Arg Lys Trp Glu Ala Ala Arg Glu 165 170 175Ala Glu Gln Arg Arg
Ala Tyr Leu Glu Gly Glu Cys Val Glu Trp Leu 180 185 190Arg Arg Tyr
Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Asp Lys Leu Glu Arg Ala Asp Pro 195 200 205Pro
Lys Thr His Val Thr His His Pro Ile Ser Asp His Glu Ala Thr 210 215
220Leu Arg Cys Trp Ala Leu Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ala Glu Ile Thr Leu
Thr225 230 235 240Trp Gln Arg Asp Gly Glu Asp Gln Thr Gln Asp Thr
Glu Leu Val Glu 245 250 255Thr Arg Pro Ala Gly Asp Arg Thr Phe Gln
Lys Trp Ala Ala Val Val 260 265 270Val Pro Ser Gly Glu Glu Gln Arg
Tyr Thr Cys His Val Gln His Glu 275 280 285Gly Leu Pro Lys Pro Leu
Thr Leu Arg Trp Glu Pro Ser Ser Gln Ser 290 295 300Thr Val Pro Ile
Val Gly Ile Val Ala Gly Leu Ala Val Leu Ala Val305 310 315 320Val
Val Ile Gly Ala Val Val Ala Ala Val Met Cys Arg Arg Lys Ser 325 330
335Ser Gly Gly Lys Gly Gly Ser Tyr Ser Gln Ala Ala Cys Ser Asp Ser
340 345 350Ala Gln Gly Ser Asp Val Ser Leu Thr Ala 355
360316266PRTHomo sapiens 316Met Val Cys Leu Lys Leu Pro Gly Gly Ser
Ser Leu Ala Ala Leu Thr1 5 10 15Val Thr Leu Met Val Leu Ser Ser Arg
Leu Ala Phe Ala Gly Asp Thr 20 25 30Arg Pro Arg Phe Leu Glu Leu Arg
Lys Ser Glu Cys His Phe Phe Asn 35 40 45Gly Thr Glu Arg Val Arg Tyr
Leu Asp Arg Tyr Phe His Asn Gln Glu 50 55 60Glu Phe Leu Arg Phe Asp
Ser Asp Val Gly Glu Tyr Arg Ala Val Thr65 70 75 80Glu Leu Gly Arg
Pro Val Ala Glu Ser Trp Asn Ser Gln Lys Asp Leu 85 90 95Leu Glu Gln
Lys Arg Gly Arg Val Asp Asn Tyr Cys Arg His Asn Tyr 100 105 110Gly
Val Gly Glu Ser Phe Thr Val Gln Arg Arg Val His Pro Gln Val 115 120
125Thr Val Tyr Pro Ala Lys Thr
Gln Pro Leu Gln His His Asn Leu Leu 130 135 140Val Cys Ser Val Ser
Gly Phe Tyr Pro Gly Ser Ile Glu Val Arg Trp145 150 155 160Phe Arg
Asn Gly Gln Glu Glu Lys Ala Gly Val Val Ser Thr Gly Leu 165 170
175Ile Gln Asn Gly Asp Trp Thr Phe Gln Thr Leu Val Met Leu Glu Thr
180 185 190Val Pro Arg Ser Gly Glu Val Tyr Thr Cys Gln Val Glu His
Pro Ser 195 200 205Val Thr Ser Ala Leu Thr Val Glu Trp Arg Ala Arg
Ser Glu Ser Ala 210 215 220Gln Ser Lys Met Leu Ser Gly Val Gly Gly
Phe Val Leu Gly Leu Leu225 230 235 240Phe Leu Gly Ala Gly Leu Phe
Ile Tyr Phe Arg Asn Gln Lys Gly His 245 250 255Ser Gly Leu Gln Pro
Thr Gly Phe Leu Ser 260 265317254PRTHomo sapiens 317Met Ile Leu Asn
Lys Ala Leu Leu Leu Gly Ala Leu Ala Leu Thr Thr1 5 10 15Val Met Ser
Pro Cys Gly Gly Glu Asp Ile Val Ala Asp His Val Ala 20 25 30Ser Tyr
Gly Val Asn Leu Tyr Gln Ser Tyr Gly Pro Ser Gly Gln Tyr 35 40 45Thr
His Glu Phe Asp Gly Asp Glu Gln Phe Tyr Val Asp Leu Gly Arg 50 55
60Lys Glu Thr Val Trp Cys Leu Pro Val Leu Arg Gln Phe Arg Phe Asp65
70 75 80Pro Gln Phe Ala Leu Thr Asn Ile Ala Val Thr Lys His Asn Leu
Asn 85 90 95Ile Leu Ile Lys Arg Ser Asn Ser Thr Ala Ala Thr Asn Glu
Val Pro 100 105 110Glu Val Thr Val Phe Ser Lys Ser Pro Val Thr Leu
Gly Gln Pro Asn 115 120 125Thr Leu Ile Cys Leu Val Asp Asn Ile Phe
Pro Pro Val Val Asn Ile 130 135 140Thr Trp Leu Ser Asn Gly His Ser
Val Thr Glu Gly Val Ser Glu Thr145 150 155 160Ser Phe Leu Ser Lys
Ser Asp His Ser Phe Phe Lys Ile Ser Tyr Leu 165 170 175Thr Phe Leu
Pro Ser Ala Asp Glu Ile Tyr Asp Cys Lys Val Glu His 180 185 190Trp
Gly Leu Asp Glu Pro Leu Leu Lys His Trp Glu Pro Glu Ile Pro 195 200
205Ala Pro Met Ser Glu Leu Thr Glu Thr Val Val Cys Ala Leu Gly Leu
210 215 220Ser Val Gly Leu Val Gly Ile Val Val Gly Thr Val Phe Ile
Ile Arg225 230 235 240Gly Leu Arg Ser Val Gly Ala Ser Arg His Gln
Gly Pro Leu 245 250
* * * * *