Specific central memory T cells in the bone marrow of patients immunized against tyrosinase peptides

J Immunother. 2006 Mar-Apr;29(2):201-7. doi: 10.1097/01.cji.0000180903.73965.72.

Abstract

The goal of vaccination against tumors is the induction of effector T cells mediating tumor destruction and memory T cells providing long-term immunity. Several previous studies in patients vaccinated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I peptides failed to show induction of central memory T cells, which are considered important to provide long-term memory. This study examined the subset composition and function of specific T cells generated by immunization with MHC class I binding tyrosinase peptides in combination with the adjuvants granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and keyhole limpet hemocyanin in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of melanoma patients. Most of the tyrosinase-specific T cells in PB had a CD45RA(+)CCR7(-) effector phenotype. In contrast to this, a large subset of tyrosinase-specific T cells in BM were memory T cells, including CD45RA(+)CCR7(-) central and CD45RA(-)CCR7(-) effector memory T cells. BM tyrosinase-specific T cells were functional, because they produced interferon-gamma and had a high proliferative potential. This study suggests that peptide vaccination can generate a fully functional memory T-cell response characterized by central and effector memory phenotypes, proliferative potential, and BM tropism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cancer Vaccines*
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Melanoma / immunology*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / therapy
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / chemistry
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase