Abstract
The mucin MUC1 is overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated by many epithelial cancer cells manifested by truncated O-linked saccharides. Although tumor-associated MUC1 has generated considerable attention because of its potential for the development of a therapeutic cancer vaccine, it has been difficult to design constructs that consistently induce cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) and ADCC-mediating antibodies specific for the tumor form of MUC1. We have designed, chemically synthesized, and immunologically examined vaccine candidates each composed of a glycopeptide derived from MUC1, a promiscuous Thelper peptide, and a TLR2 (Pam3CysSK4) or TLR9 (CpG-ODN 1826) agonist. It was found that the Pam3CysSK 4-containing compound elicits more potent antigenic and cellular immune responses, resulting in a therapeutic effect in a mouse model of mammary cancer. It is thus shown, for the first time, that the nature of an inbuilt adjuvant of a tripartite vaccine can significantly impact the quality of immune responses elicited against a tumor-associated glycopeptide. The unique adjuvant properties of Pam3CysSK4, which can reduce the suppressive function of regulatory T cells and enhance the cytotoxicity of tumor-specific CTLs, are likely responsible for the superior properties of the vaccine candidate 1.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1508-1513 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | ChemBioChem |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 7 2014 |
Keywords
- adjuvants
- cancer
- carbohydrates
- mucins
- peptides
- vaccines
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Organic Chemistry