Folding and Immunogenicity of Zinc-Finger Peptide Constructs Corresponding to Loop Regions of the Protein Antigens LDH-C\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e and β-hCG

This paper describes our continuing studies on stabilization of peptide structures in supersecondary conformations that are designed to mimic conformational antigenic epitopes. In this work we have used the consensus Cys2His2 zinc-finger peptide motif as a template to engineer and synthesize antigenic loop peptide segments from two protein antigens, lactate dehydrogenase C4 isozyme (LDH-C4) and human chorionic gonadotropin β subunit (β-hCG). Confirmation that the engineered peptide constructs assumed a zinc-finger conformation was obtained by absorption spectroscopy of the Co2+ complexes. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the free peptides show random coil conformations, while the Zn2+-complexed peptides acquired the zinc-finger motif upon titration with Zn2+, as evidenced by the appearance of absorbances indicating α-helix and some β-conformation. No peptide aggregation was observed, as these peptides were monomeric under all conditions tested. In order to examine the immunogenicity of the zinc-finger constructs, one sequence from LDH-C4 (ZFLMVF) and two sequences from β-hCG (ZF2TT3 and ZF4TT3) were selected and chimeras were synthesized to incorporate promiscuous T-cell epitopes from either tetanus toxoid or measles virus. The ZFLMVF construct was highly immunogenic in rabbits, and the ZF2TT3 and ZF4TT3 peptides were highly immunogenic in both mice and rabbits, eliciting high-titer antipeptide antibodies specific for their immunogenic sequences. However, the antibodies raised to the zinc-finger constructs showed minimal reactivity against their respective native protein antigens as determined by ELISA. This is surprising in the case of β-hCG, since the ZF2 zinc-finger peptide was an effective inhibitor of binding of anti-β-hCG-loop(38-57) antibodies to whole hCG, as assessed by a competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay. This implies that, although the cyclized 40-52 sequence from βhCG and the zinc-finger peptide ZF2 exhibit similar conformations in solution, the zinc-finger engineered loop is apparently not in a sufficiently correct conformation for antibody recognition of native hCG. Our results with the LDH-C4 zinc finger loop imply that antibody recognition of antigen involves specific side-chain interactions that must be maintained by a precise conformation

Enhanced Immunogenicity of a Conformational Epitope of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Using a Novel Chimeric Peptide

The ability of a peptide vaccine derived from the human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) surface envelope glycoprotein protein (gp46) to mimic the native protein and elicit a protective immune response has been examined. This peptide construct, designated MVFMF2, comprises amino acids (aa) 175-218 of gp46 linked by a four residue turn (GPSL) to a promiscuous T-cell epitope from the measles virus fusion protein (MVF, aa 288-302). The peptide was structurally characterized by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and was found to contain α-helical secondary structure. The immunogenicity of MVFMF2 in rabbits and mice was evaluated by direct ELISA and competitive ELISA using peptide constructs and the recombinant protein ACH-RE3 (aa 165-306). This peptide, when administered with adjuvant (N-acetyl-glucosamine-3yl-acetyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, nor-MDP) was immunogenic in an outbred population of both rabbits and mice. Furthermore, the peptide construct was encapsulated in biodegradable microspheres of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) to eliminate booster immunization and to examine adjuvant requirements. The data indicate that MVFMF2 shows enhanced immunogenicity when encapsulated in biodegradable microspheres. Inoculation of the encapsulated peptide produced a similar humoral response to that of the free peptide, but did not require the use of adjuvant. Elicited anti-rabbit and anti-mouse antibodies recognized whole viral preparations and the recombinant protein ACH-RE3 in ELISA assays. Additionally, inoculated rabbits exhibited enhanced reactivity to viral antigens by western blot compared to non-vaccinated controls. Although anti-rabbit and anti-mouse antibodies were capable of inhibiting syncytium formation at low dilutions, rabbits were not protected from cell-associated viral challenge. Future development of vaccines to HTLV-1 may need to incorporate the ability to elicit cell-mediated immune responses in order to protect against cell-associated viral infection

Phase I Active Immunotherapy With Combination of Two Chimeric, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2, B-Cell Epitopes Fused to a Promiscuous T-Cell Epitope in Patients With Metastatic and/or Recurrent Solid Tumors

Purpose To evaluate the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), safety profile, and immunogenicity of two chimeric, B-cell epitopes derived from the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) extracellular domain in a combination vaccine with a promiscuous T-cell epitope (ie, MVF) and nor-muramyl-dipeptide as adjuvant emulsified in SEPPIC ISA 720. Patients and Methods Eligible patients with metastatic and/or recurrent solid tumors received three inoculations on days 1, 22, and 43 at doses of total peptide that ranged from 0.5 to 3.0 mg. Immunogenicity was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, and HER2 signaling assays. Results Twenty-four patients received three inoculations at the intended dose levels, which elicited antibodies able to recognize native HER2 receptor and inhibited both the proliferation of HER2-expressing cell lines and phosphorylation of the HER2 protein. The MTD was determined to be the highest dose level of 3.0 mg of the combination vaccine. There was a significant increase from dose level 1 (0.5 mg) to dose level 4 (3.0 mg) in HER2-specific antibodies. Four patients (one each with adrenal, colon, ovarian, and squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary) were judged to have stable disease; two patients (one each with endometrial and ovarian cancer) had partial responses; and 11 patients had progressive disease. Patients with stable disease received 6-month boosts, and one patient received a 20-month boost. Conclusion The combination vaccines were safe and effective in eliciting antibody responses in a subset of patients (62.5%) and were associated with no serious adverse events, autoimmune disease, or cardiotoxicity. There was preliminary evidence of clinical activity in several patients