Human endogenous retroviruses form a reservoir of T cell targets in hematological cancers with low mutational burden
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Human endogenous retroviruses form a reservoir of T cell targets in hematological cancers with low mutational burden. / Saini, Sunil Kumar; Orskov, Andreas; Bjerregaard, Anne-Mette; Unnikrishnam, Ashwin; Holmberg-Thyden, Staffan; Borch, Annie; Anande, Govardhan; Bentzen, Amalie; Marquard, Andrea; Tamhane, Tripti; Gang, Anne; Defva, Inge; Szallasi, Zoltan; Eklund, Aron; Pimanda, John; Gronbaek, Kirsten; Hadrup, Sine.
In: Journal of Immunology, Vol. 204, No. 1 supplement, 242.14, 01.05.2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference abstract in journal › Research
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T1 - Human endogenous retroviruses form a reservoir of T cell targets in hematological cancers with low mutational burden
AU - Saini, Sunil Kumar
AU - Orskov, Andreas
AU - Bjerregaard, Anne-Mette
AU - Unnikrishnam, Ashwin
AU - Holmberg-Thyden, Staffan
AU - Borch, Annie
AU - Anande, Govardhan
AU - Bentzen, Amalie
AU - Marquard, Andrea
AU - Tamhane, Tripti
AU - Gang, Anne
AU - Defva, Inge
AU - Szallasi, Zoltan
AU - Eklund, Aron
AU - Pimanda, John
AU - Gronbaek, Kirsten
AU - Hadrup, Sine
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) form a substantial part of the human genome. However, most elements remain transcriptionally silent. Malignant transformation and epigenetic therapies may induce transcription of HERV elements. Such HERV elements could potentially trigger adaptive immune responses and provide targets for immunotherapy applications. Here, we evaluate the potential for T cell recognition of HERV elements in myeloid malignancies. We studied 66 HERV genes reported to retain transcriptional activity and generated a library of 1,169 potential antigenic HERV-derived peptides predicted for presentation by 4 HLA class I molecules. Through the use of DNA barcode-labeled MHC-I multimers, we identified CD8+ T cell populations recognizing 29 HERV-derived peptides, represented by 18 different HERVs. T cell recognition of HERVs was detected in half of the 34 patients analyzed and was significantly enhanced in patients compared to healthy donors. Patients with HERV-derived T cell reactivity demonstrated improved viral-antigen recognition following treatment, indicating that HERV-derived T cell recognition may contribute to the therapy-induced clinical improvement and immune reconstitution. In line with the T cell data, transcriptomic analyses revealed a significantly enhanced transcription of the HERVs in patients compared to healthy donors. DNA-demethylating therapy did not result in additional transcriptional enhancement of the HERVs evaluated for T cell recognition. Our study demonstrates substantial T cell recognition of HERVs in myeloid malignancies. These HERVs could serve as a reservoir of antigens potentially exploited as immunotherapeutic targets in malignancies with low mutational burden.
AB - Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) form a substantial part of the human genome. However, most elements remain transcriptionally silent. Malignant transformation and epigenetic therapies may induce transcription of HERV elements. Such HERV elements could potentially trigger adaptive immune responses and provide targets for immunotherapy applications. Here, we evaluate the potential for T cell recognition of HERV elements in myeloid malignancies. We studied 66 HERV genes reported to retain transcriptional activity and generated a library of 1,169 potential antigenic HERV-derived peptides predicted for presentation by 4 HLA class I molecules. Through the use of DNA barcode-labeled MHC-I multimers, we identified CD8+ T cell populations recognizing 29 HERV-derived peptides, represented by 18 different HERVs. T cell recognition of HERVs was detected in half of the 34 patients analyzed and was significantly enhanced in patients compared to healthy donors. Patients with HERV-derived T cell reactivity demonstrated improved viral-antigen recognition following treatment, indicating that HERV-derived T cell recognition may contribute to the therapy-induced clinical improvement and immune reconstitution. In line with the T cell data, transcriptomic analyses revealed a significantly enhanced transcription of the HERVs in patients compared to healthy donors. DNA-demethylating therapy did not result in additional transcriptional enhancement of the HERVs evaluated for T cell recognition. Our study demonstrates substantial T cell recognition of HERVs in myeloid malignancies. These HERVs could serve as a reservoir of antigens potentially exploited as immunotherapeutic targets in malignancies with low mutational burden.
M3 - Conference abstract in journal
VL - 204
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
SN - 0022-1767
IS - 1 supplement
M1 - 242.14
T2 - Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists - Immunology 2020
Y2 - 8 May 2020 through 12 May 2020
ER -
ID: 257242122