Cancer Research CR Mantle  2010 Workshops
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cancer Research Clinical Cancer Research
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
Molecular Cancer Research Cancer Prevention Research
Cancer Prevention Journals Portal Cancer Reviews Online
Annual Meeting Education Book Meeting Abstracts Online

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Doan, T.
Right arrow Articles by Tindle, R. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Doan, T.
Right arrow Articles by Tindle, R. W.
[Cancer Research 60, 2810-2815, June 1, 2000]
© 2000 American Association for Cancer Research


Advances in Brief

Peripheral Tolerance to Human Papillomavirus E7 Oncoprotein Occurs by Cross-Tolerization, Is Largely Th-2-independent, and Is Broken by Dendritic Cell Immunization1

Tracy Doan, Karen A. Herd, Paul F. Lambert, Germain J. P. Fernando, Michael D. Street and Robert W. Tindle2

Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre, Clinical Medical Virology Centre, University of Queensland, Royal Children’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia [T. D., K. A. H., M. D. S., R. W. T.]; McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 [P. F. L.]; and Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia [G. J. P. F.]


    ABSTRACT
 Top
 ABSTRACT
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 REFERENCES
 
The E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus 16 functions as a tumor-specific antigen in transformed epithelial cells of the uterine cervix to which immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at CTL induction may be directed. We previously have shown in mice transgenic for the E7 gene driven off an epithelial specific (keratin-14) promoter, that expression of E7 protein in peripheral epithelium is sufficient to tolerize E7-directed CTL precursors (pCTL; Doan et al., J. Virol., 73: 6166–1670, 1999). Here we show that E7 is presented to T cells for tolerization by cells of bone marrow origin ("cross-tolerization"). We demonstrate that tolerization of E7-directed pCTLs occurs within 2 weeks of exposure to E7 in epithelium. It is maintained in the near absence of CD4+ cells and in the absence of the thymus, and is independent of a coexisting E7-directed Th2-type antibody response. Tolerance was broken by immunization with E7 CTL epitope-pulsed dendritic cells. These findings have implications for immunotherapy of patients with human papillomavirus 16-associated cervical carcinoma, whose immune systems may have experienced long-term exposure to E7-expressing epithelial cells.


    Introduction
 Top
 ABSTRACT
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 REFERENCES
 
Persistence of the HPV163 -derived E7 oncoprotein in transformed cervical epithelium provides a tumor-specific antigen against which CTL-engendering therapeutic vaccine strategies for carcinoma of the cervix may be directed (1) . Encouraging results from E7-transfected tumor challenge models in animals (e.g., Ref. 2 ) have inspired clinical trials of vaccines designed to elicit E7-directed CTL responses (3 , 4) .

Transgenic mice that express the HPV16 E7 oncogene driven off a K14 promoter only in basal or suprabasal epithelial cells display epithelial hyperplasia and dysplasia with a propensity to papillomatosis and squamous cell carcinoma (5) . These mice provide a model for E7-mediated epithelial cell transformation in humans (6) . Additionally, they allow investigation of the presentation of the E7 oncoprotein expressed uniquely in epithelium to the immune system, and the subsequent immunological outcome. We have reported that E7 expression in keratinocytes is sufficient to peripherally tolerize the E7-directed pCTL repertoire, measured as diminished CTL responses in vitro following specific immunization (7 , 8) . Furthermore, specific immunization of E7 transgenic mice failed to prevent or control E7-associated tumor development, as it did in non-E7 transgenic control mice.

On the basis of these observations, the possibility arises that in cervical carcinoma patients, chronic expression of E7 in transformed cervical epithelial cells during the life of the tumor serves to functionally tolerize E7-directed pCTLs. Indeed, patients with HPV16-associated cervical carcinoma make poor E7-directed CTL responses either to endogenously expressed E7 (9) or following E7 immunization (3) . Thus, the challenge for immunotherapy for cervical cancer may become how to circumvent tolerance to generate an E7-directed CTL response effective in the control of E7-expressing cells.

In the present study, we use the K14-driven E7 transgenic mouse system to further investigate cognate pCTL tolerance induced by E7 expression in peripheral epithelium. We show that E7 is "cross-presented" to the immune system for specific pCTL tolerization by antigen-presenting cells of bone marrow origin. We also show that pCTL tolerization can be induced within 2 weeks of exposure to E7 in epithelial cells and that it can occur in the presence of a coexisting E7-directed Th2-type antibody response. We demonstrate that E7-directed pCTL peripheral tolerance is largely independent of CD4+ T cells and does not require the persistence of the thymus. We show that immunization with peptide-pulsed DCs is sufficient to overcome tolerance and generate E7-directed CTL responses in E7 transgenic mice equivalent to those seen in non-E7 transgenic controls. These results are relevant to the understanding of the immunological consequences of epithelial E7 expression and have implications for the formulation of therapeutic vaccine strategies for cervical dysplasia/neoplasia that target the E7 oncoprotein.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 ABSTRACT
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 REFERENCES
 
Mice.
KA (E7+ A2.1Kb+) and FA (E7- A2.1Kb+) F1 mice have been described (8) . KC57 (E7+ A2.1Kb-) F1 mice were derived by crossing K14.HPV16E7 males (5) with C57Bl/6 females. Mice were housed under specific pathogen-free conditions, and genetic authenticity was tested at intervals. Mice were used at 6–15 weeks of age, but within a given experiment were littermates or closely age- and sex-matched.

Radiation Chimeras.
Radiation chimeras were made as described (8) . To derive mice that expressed E7 in peripheral epithelium and A*0201 only in cells of bone marrow origin, KC57 mice were immunologically ablated by thymectomy, lethal irradiation, and administration of Thy1-depleting antibody. These mice were reconstituted with bone marrow cells depleted of CD4+, CD8+, and Thy1+ cells from KA(E7+) mouse donors, which were made to mature through a FA(E7-) neonatal thymus implant under the kidney capsule. Hematopoietic reconstitution with cells containing the A2.1Kb transgene was confirmed 12–15 weeks later by PCR of DNA derived from spleen cells using A*0201 (A2.1)-specific primers HLA A Ex2 5' 149GTGGATAGAGCAGGAGGGGT167, HLA A Ex3 5' 110CCAAGAGCGCAGGTCCTCT128. CD4+ cell and CD8+ cell reconstitution were confirmed as described (8) . These mice are denoted KA->KC57(FA) mice. Control chimeras that expressed A*0201 in both epithelium and the bone marrow compartment were made by reconstituting immunologically ablated KA mice with KA-derived bone marrow matured through a FA thymus implant [denoted KA->KA(FA) mice]. KA-, FA-, and KC57- "sham" control mice underwent surgical manipulation without cell/organ transfers.

KA->KA(FA) mice have the phenotype E7+ive epithelium, A*0201+ive epithelium, A*0201+ive bone marrow-derived cells. KA->KC57(FA) mice have the phenotype E7+ive epithelium, A*0201-ive epithelium, A*0201+ive bone marrow-derived cells

Cells.
EL4.A2 cells are susceptible to specific CTL lysis through both H-2b and A*0201 pathways and were maintained as described (8) .

Peptides and Epitopes.
Peptides containing H-2b- and HLA A*0201-restricted CTL epitopes of HPV16 E7 [49RAHYNIVTF57 (11) and 82LLMGTLGIV90 (10) , respectively], and HLA A*0201-restricted CTL epitope of influenza matrix protein (58GILGFVFTL66; Ref. 12 ) were synthesized and used as described (8) .

Immunizations.
For induction of Th1 responses (CTL and IFN-{gamma} secretion), groups of three mice were immunized once with 50 µg of an equimolar peptide mixture of CTL epitopes, 10 µg of Quil A adjuvant, and 2.5 µg of tetanus toxoid (CSL, Melbourne, Australia) as a source of T-helper epitope(s) in 100 µl of PBS, s.c. at the base of the tail. Ten days later, splenocytes were harvested and either restimulated in vitro for 6 days in the presence of 1 µg/ml of individual peptide prior to inclusion in CTL assays or set up in ELISPOT assays. For induction of Th2-type antibody responses, groups of three mice were immunized s.c. with 100 µg of HPV16 E7-GST fusion protein in algammulin adjuvant.

CTL and ELISA Assays.
51Chromium-release CTL assays and antibody ELISA assays were conducted as described previously (13) .

IFN-{gamma} ELISPOT.
Cells secreting IFN-{gamma} in an antigen-specific manner were detected using the ELISPOT assay (14) . In brief, splenocytes from immunized mice were incubated overnight in the presence of cognate peptide, in nitrocellulose microtiter plate wells coated with anti IFN-{gamma} antibody (PharMingen). After removal of cells and extensive washing, the wells were reacted with biotin-conjugated anti-IFN-{gamma} detection antibody (PharMingen) and developed with avidin-horseradish peroxidase (Sigma) and metal-enhanced diaminobenzidine substrate (Sigma). Controls included spleen cells from irrelevantly immunized mice, and incubation in the absence of cognate peptide.

Adoptive Transfer of Spleen Cells.
Recipient mice (three per group) were whole-body lethally irradiated (1000 rad) and reconstituted the same day with 5 x 107-108 splenocytes from donor mice, injected into the surgically exposed spleen. Sham control mice were not irradiated and underwent surgical procedure without splenocyte transfer. Fourteen days later, the mice were immunized for specific CTL response induction with a peptide mixture containing E7/A*0201, E7/H-2b, and influenza matrix/A*0201 epitopes. Splenocytes from immunized mice were restimulated in vitro 10 days later with individual peptides, and CTL assays were conducted as described.

CD4+ive T-Cell Depletion.
Mice were depleted of CD4+ T cells as described (8) . This regimen provided >95% CD4+ cell depletion from at least day 15 (the earliest time point tested) until the end of the experiment as confirmed by fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells conducted at intervals (8) .

Immunization with DCs.
DCs were prepared from KA(E7+) mouse bone marrow (femur and tibia). Briefly, erythrocytes were removed by lysis with ammonium chloride, and then lymphocytes, granulocytes, and Ia+ cells were depleted with monoclonal antibodies and a magnetic cell sorter (MACS), according to manufacturer’s instructions. The monoclonal antibodies were as follows: 2.43, anti-CD8; GK1.5, anti-CD4; RA3/3A1/6.1, anti-B220/CD45R; and B21-2, anti-Ia. DC progenitors were cultured to maturity with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 (10 ng/ml each) in DMEM containing 10% FBS for 8–10 days. DCs were washed and resuspended in DMEM containing 10% FBS (2.5 x 106/0.1 ml) containing 1 µg of peptide (an equimolar mix of E7/A*0201 and E7/H-2b epitopes) and incubated at 37°C for 60 min. (We determined that a sample of washed, E7 peptide-pulsed DCs did in fact bear E7 peptide on their surface by showing that they could be specifically lysed by splenocytes from E7 peptide-immunized mice.)

Experimental mice were then immunized i.v. with 5 x 10 5 peptide-pulsed or nonpulsed DCs. After 3 weeks, spleens were removed. Splenocytes were depleted of APCs as described (15) . APC-depleted splenocytes (2 x 106/ml) were restimulated with E7-expressing EL4.E7 cells (2 x 105/ml; Ref. 8 ) in 6-well culture plates for 6 days, and then used in CTL assay. (This procedure was used in preference to peptide stimulation in the presence of APCs because the latter might recall FBS-directed CTLs primed by powerful presentation of the injected DCs that had been grown in FBS-containing medium.)


    Results
 Top
 ABSTRACT
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 REFERENCES
 
E7-directed pCTLs Are Cross-Tolerized by Presentation of E7 by Bone Marrow-derived Cells.
To inquire whether E7 is sampled from epithelial cells by "professional" APCs for cross-presentation to E7-directed pCTLs, we constructed bone marrow radiation chimeras from E7 transgenic mice with differential expression of A*0201. KA->KC57(FA) mice, which express A*0201 in bone marrow-derived cells but not in epithelium, and KA->KA(FA) mice, which express A*0201 in bone marrow-derived cells and epithelium (Fig. 1ACitation ), were immunized twice with an equimolar mix of peptides containing E7/A*0201, influenza/A*0201, and E7/H-2b peptide epitopes. Ten days later, E7-directed activated T-cells were detected in a IFN-{gamma} release assay (ELISPOT; Fig. 1BCitation ) and quantified by calculation of frequency of IFN-{gamma}-secreting cells. KA->KC57(FA) mice were adequately reconstituted for A*0201-restricted responses as evidenced by their capacity to mount influenza-specific responses comparable to FA(E7-) and KA(E7+) control mice (Fig. 1BCitation , photographs 1, 4, and 7). The frequency (x 10-4) of A*0201-restricted E7-directed IFN-{gamma} secreting cells in splenocytes of KA->KC57(FA) mice that expressed E7 but not A*0201 in skin was significantly down-regulated compared with non-E7 transgenic FA(E7-) mice [Fig. 1BCitation , photographs 2 and 5; frequency (x 10-4), 0.05 versus 3.49; {chi}2 =3.4; P < 0.1]. The frequency was similar to the expected down-regulated responses observed in KA->KA(FA) mice [Fig. 1BCitation , photographs 2 and 11; frequency (x10-4), 0.05 versus 0.04; {chi}2 = 0.0004; not significant] and KA mice [Fig. 1BCitation , photographs 2 and 8; frequency (x10-4), 0.05 versus 0.17; {chi}2 = 0.065; not significant], both of which express E7 and A*0201 in skin. Responses to the E7/H-2b epitope, included as an internal control, were down-regulated in all groups of mice expressing both E7 and H-2b in skin (not shown), as expected from our previous studies (7 , 8) . These data show that down-regulation of the E7-directed T-cell response to the E7/A*0201-restricted epitope occurs in mice expressing E7 but not A*0201 in skin, and they are consistent with the notion that bone marrow-derived A*0201+ APCs sampled E7 from epithelial cells for presentation to bone marrow-derived E7-specific A*0201 T cells for cross-tolerization.



View larger version (58K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
 
Fig. 1. A, mononuclear spleen cells of immunologically ablated A*0201-negative mice (KC57) reconstituted with bone marrow from A*0201-positive (KA) mice contain the A*0201 gene. PCR to amplify the {alpha}-1 and {alpha}-2 domains of A*0201 (A2.1) and full-length OTC were used on total cellular DNA prepared from spleen cells of individual mice. PCR products were run on a 2% agarose gel. Lanes 1, molecular weight markers; Lanes 2, pA2.1/Kb plasmid DNA (positive control); Lanes 3 and 7, FA(sham); Lanes 4, KA->KC57(FA); Lanes 5, KA->KA(FA); Lanes 6, KC57(sham); Lanes 8, KA(sham); Lanes 9, no DNA. B, IFN-{gamma} ELISPOT assay of spleen cells from mice immunized with a peptide mixture containing E7/A*0201, influenza matrix protein/A*0201, and E7/H-2b epitopes and stimulated in vitro with individual peptide epitopes as indicated.

 
E7-directed pCTLs Are Tolerized within 14 Days of Exposure to E7 Expressed in Skin.
To ask in what time frame tolerization of naïve E7 pCTLs occurred upon exposure to E7 expressed in keratinocytes, we adoptively transferred splenocytes from FA(E7-) donor mice intrasplenically to lethally irradiated KA(E7+) recipient mice, to derive mice denoted FA(d)->irradKA(r). Fourteen days later, the mice were immunized for CTL responses to the E7/A*0201, E7/H-2b, and influenza matrix/A*0201 epitopes. In experiments repeated several times, irradiated FA(E7-) control mice receiving FA splenocytes [denoted FA(d)->irradFA(r)] had restored responses to the influenza matrix epitope and to both E7 epitopes (Table 1)Citation . In contrast, FA(d)->irradKA(r) mice had restored CTL responses to the influenza matrix epitope, but had no detectable CTL responses to either of the E7 epitopes. As expected, KA donor splenocytes (already tolerized to E7 epitopes; Ref. 7 ) restored influenza matrix CTL responses to irradiated KA(E7+) recipient mice [denoted KA(d)->irradKA(r)] but not CTL responses to either of the E7 epitopes. Together these data indicate that naïve E7 pCTL were tolerized within 14 days of exposure to the E7-expressing epithelial environment of KA(E7+) mice.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 1 CTL lysis by splenocytes from irradiated recipient mice after adoptive transfer of donor mouse splenocytes

 
In a further group, KA donor splenocytes restored influenza matrix CTL responses to irradiated FA(E7-) recipients [denoted KA(d)->irradFA(r)] but not CTL responses to either of the E7 epitopes (Table 1)Citation . This result indicates that E7-directed tolerance persists in peripheral CTLs for at least 14 days after removal of the E7-expressing tolerizing epithelial environment.

E7-directed CTL Tolerance Persists in the Near Absence of CD4+ive Cells.
We wished to ask whether a CD4+ T-cell population was necessary for the persistence of E7-directed pCTL tolerance observed in specifically immunized mice expressing E7 in skin keratinocytes. KA(E7+) mice were depleted of CD4+ T cells, and depletion was maintained for at least 15 days prior to immunization for CTL response induction with a mixture of peptides containing the E7/A*0201, E7/H-2b, and influenza matrix/A*0201 CTL epitopes. Sham depleted KA(E7+) and FA(E7-) control mice were similarly immunized. Depletion removed >95% of CD4+ cells (Fig. 2ICitation ).



View larger version (36K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
 
Fig. 2. I, induction of E7-directed pCTL tolerance occurs in the near absence of CD4+ T cells. CTL responses of splenocytes from CD4-depleted KA(E7+) mice (A), sham-depleted KA (E7+) mice (B), and sham-depleted FA(E7-) mice (C) immunized with an equimolar mixture of peptides containing the E7/A*0201 ({blacksquare}), E7/H-2b ({square}), and influenza matrix/A*0201 ({triangleup}) epitopes. Spleen cells were restimulated with individual peptides in vitro, and CTL assays were conducted. CD4 depletion is shown in insets. Targets were EL4.A2 cells pulsed with individual peptides. II, E7-directed pCTL tolerance persists in the presence of a Th2-type E7 antibody response. KA(E7+) mice were immunized with E7.GST in algammulin or algammulin alone (filled arrows) before (A), concurrent with (B), or after (C) immunization with E7/H-2b epitope (RAHYNIVTF) in Quil A adjuvant (open arrows). Serum was taken at day 31 (group A) or day 55 (groups B and C) for ELISA, and splenocytes were harvested for in vitro restimulation and CTL assay as indicated (CTL). ELISA reactivity to E7 B-epitope is shown in insets (open symbols, mice immunized with algammulin alone; closed symbols, mice immunized with E7.GST/algammulin). CTL responses of splenocytes from mouse groups A, B, and C (A–C), and of FA(E7-) mice immunized with E7/H-2b peptide (RAHYNIVTF) in Quil A (D) are shown in the panels. Splenocytes were restimulated in vitro with E7/H-2b peptide and reacted against EL4 target cells pulsed with E7/H-2b peptide or expressing the E7 gene (EL4.E7). III, CTL responses of splenocytes from neonatally thymectomized (Tx; A and C) and sham neonatally thymectomized (Sh-Tx; B and D) KA(E7+) and FA(E7-) mice (three per group). Mice were immunized with a mixture of peptides containing E7/A*0201 ({blacksquare}), E7/H-2b ({square}), and influenza matrix/A*0201 ({triangleup}) CTL epitopes. Spleen cells were harvested 10 days later and restimulated with individual peptides in vitro. Targets were EL4.A2 cells pulsed with individual peptides epitopes as indicated. The complete absence of residual thymic tissue in thymectomized mice was confirmed anatomically, and in some cases histologically, when spleens were taken for CTL assay. Bars, SD.

 
The expected down-regulated CTL responses to both A*0201- and H-2b-restricted E7 CTL epitopes (but not the "irrelevant" influenza matrix epitope; Refs. 7 , 8 ) were observed in KA(E7+) sham control mice compared with E7-directed CTL responses in FA(E7-) sham mice (Fig. 2Citation , IB and IC). The E7-directed CTL responses in CD4-depleted KA(E7+) mice were down-regulated and comparable to those seen in KA(E7+) sham mice (Fig. 2Citation , IA and IB) This result indicates that the presence of a major peripheral CD4+ T-cell population is not required for the persistence of E7-directed CTL tolerance observed in mice that express E7 in epithelium.

E7-directed CTL Tolerance Occurs in the Presence of a Coexistent Th2-Type Antibody Response to E7.
To inquire whether E7-directed pCTL tolerance is influenced by the presence of a concomitant Th2-type E7 antibody response, groups of KA(E7+) mice were immunized for antibody with E7 in algammulin adjuvant before (Fig. 2Citation , IIA), concurrent with (Fig. 2Citation , IIB), or after (Fig. 2Citation , IIC) immunization for CTLs with E7 minimal CTL epitope RAHYNIVTF in Quil A adjuvant. [In general, immunization with protein/peptide antigen in algammulin induces an antibody response with a predominant Th2 (IgG1) component but no measurable CTLs].

Regardless of whether KA(E7+) mice had an E7 antibody response or not at the time of immunization for CTLs, they maintained a down-regulated E7-directed CTL response (Fig. 2Citation , IIA) compared with FA(E7-) mice (Fig. 2Citation , IID). Similarly, KA(E7+) mice immunized for E7 antibody at the same time as immunization for E7 CTLs displayed down-regulated E7 CTL responses (Fig. 2Citation , IIB), as did KA(E7+) mice immunized first for E7 CTL induction and later for E7 antibody (Fig. 2Citation , IIC).

Together these data indicate that maintenance of E7-directed pCTL tolerance occurs in the presence of a coexisting Th2-type antibody response to E7.

Thymus Is Not Necessary for Maintenance of E7-directed CTL Tolerance.
We have excluded the possibility that E7-directed pCTL tolerance is due to "central" (i.e., thymus-mediated) rather than "peripheral" (i.e., skin epithelium-mediated) tolerization (7) . It has been suggested, however, that the distinction between central (thymic) T-cell tolerance and peripheral T-cell tolerance is not absolute and that intrathymic generation and release to the periphery of cognate immunoregulatory T cells during adult life may contribute to the maintenance of self-tolerance to peripheral antigens (16) . We wished to ask whether the maintenance (in contrast to the induction) of peripheral tolerance to E7 antigen in KA(E7+) mice was dependent on the continued presence of the thymus.

Neonatally thymectomized KA(E7+) mice and controls were immunized at 8–10 weeks for CTL response induction with a mixture of peptides containing the E7/A*0201, E7/H-2b, and influenza matrix/A*0201 CTL epitopes. These mice displayed down-regulation of E7-directed CTL responses similar to that in sham-thymectomized KA(E7+) controls and unlike the nontolerized E7-directed responses displayed by non-E7 transgenic thymectomized or sham-thymectomized FA(E7-) mice (Fig. 2Citation III). Responses to the irrelevant influenza epitope were comparable in all groups of mice, indicating that neonatal thymectomy did not adversely affect generically the capacity to mount CTL responses. These data indicate that the presence of a thymus in adult life is not necessary for the maintenance of E7-directed pCTL tolerance in mice expressing E7 in peripheral epithelium.

Immunization with E7 Peptide-pulsed DCs Overcomes E7-directed CTL Tolerance.
In view of the potent antigen-presenting capacities of DCs, we asked whether immunization of KA(E7+) mice with DCs pulsed with E7 CTL peptides would overcome the down-regulated E7-directed CTL responses observed when KA(E7+) mice were immunized with peptide plus adjuvant. Restimulated splenocytes from KA(E7+) mice immunized with E7 peptide-pulsed DCs, but not DCs alone, specifically killed EL4.E7 target cells with comparable efficiency to splenocytes from identically immunized FA(E7-) mice (Fig. 3 and BCitation ) and also to splenocytes from FA(E7-) mice immunized with E7 peptides in Quil A adjuvant (Fig. 3 and CCitation ). These data indicate that E7 CTL responses similar to those seen in immunized non-E7 transgenic (i.e., not tolerant to E7) mice can be induced in mice expressing E7 in skin (i.e., tolerant to E7), by immunization with DCs presenting E7 CTL epitope.



View larger version (18K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
 
Fig. 3. CTL responses of restimulated splenocytes from FA(E7-) mice and KA(E7+) mice (A and B, respectively) immunized with E7 peptide-pulsed DCs or DCs alone, and from FA(E7-) mice immunized with E7 peptide (C). Effector cells were reacted with EL4.E7 (+E7) and EL4.A2 (-E7) target cells. Bars, SD.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 ABSTRACT
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 REFERENCES
 
Transgenic mouse models in which E7 is driven off skin-specific (keratin) promoters have been used to mimic E7 expression in human cervical epithelium and to investigate immunological outcomes of E7 expression (17 , 18) . We have reported that naïve E7 pCTLs are down-regulated (i.e., tolerized) in mice in which E7 is expressed solely in keratinocytes of peripheral squamous epithelium, as measured by the greatly reduced capacity to make E7-directed CTL responses after specific immunization compared with non-E7 transgenic but otherwise syngeneic mice (7 , 8) . In the present study, we use the E7 transgenic mouse model to immunologically characterize E7-directed pCTL tolerance.

We report that E7 pCTLs recognizing an A*0201-restricted CTL epitope were down-regulated in mice in which A*0201 was expressed solely on cells of bone marrow origin and not on E7-expressing keratinocytes. Because bone marrow-derived cells do not express E7 in this K14 promoter-driven system (reverse transcription-PCR; Ref. 8 ) and therefore cannot present putative endogenous E7 to pCTLs (7) , the data in the present study indicate that E7 in keratinocytes was accessed by bone marrow-derived APCs for processing and presentation to bone marrow-derived E7-directed pCTLs through the A*0201 pathway. These data are in agreement with a prevailing view that peripherally expressed antigens are "sampled" from the periphery by APCs that present processed antigen to specific T cells in the lymph node for activation (i.e., cross-priming) or tolerization (i.e., cross-tolerance; Ref. 19 ). Although the determinants of whether pCTLs are tolerized, (as reported here), remain ignorant (naïve), or are activated in response to neo-antigen are not fully understood, the amount of antigen and its location clearly play significant roles. We previously have argued that the E7-directed peripheral CTL tolerance seen in KA(E7+) mice but not in other lines of transgenic mice expressing E7 in squamous epithelium (e.g., Ref. 18 ) is likely due to higher levels of E7 expression in KA(E7+) mice (7) . Our data do not preclude a role for direct presentation of E7 to the immune system by keratinocytes in addition to the presentation by cells of bone marrow derivation reported here. Processed self-peptides presented at the keratinocyte surface in the context of MHC class 1 but in the absence of appropriate second signal molecules (B7.1/CD28, CTLA) may anergize cognate T cells (20) .

Our results indicate that tolerization of naïve E7-directed pCTLs occurs within 14 days of exposure to the E7-expressing epithelial environment, in agreement with findings for epithelially expressed antigens in other systems (21) . We report that E7 pCTL tolerance persisted after a >95% reduction in CD4+ cells. Our data thus suggest that maintenance of tolerance is independent of the availability of CD4+ cognate help. The possibility remains that CD4+ T-cell depletion removed tolerance but did not return the E7-directed CTL response to normal levels if stimulation (as opposed to tolerization) of E7-specific CTLs required CD4+ T-cell help. This is unlikely, however, because it has been shown that peptide-generated E7-specific CTLs are CD4+ T-cell help independent (i.e., CD4+ cells neither enhanced nor suppressed anti-E7 CTL activity in nontolerized mice; Ref. 22 ). Kurts et al. (23) have shown that provision of OVA-specific CD4+ helper T-cells impaired peripheral CTL tolerance by preventing OVA-specific CD8+ CTL deletion in mice expressing an OVA transgene as a cell membrane-associated protein in pancreatic islets. This suggests a regulatory role for CD4+ cells. The location (pancreas versus epithelium), antigen availability (membrane-bound versus nucleo-cytoplasmic), and numbers of cognate T cells (high versus low) are likely to play roles in the apparent difference between the OVA transgenic system and ours with regard to the effect of CD4+ cells on the maintenance of CTL tolerance.

We asked whether E7-directed pCTL tolerance was influenced by the presence of a concomitant E7-directed antibody response. We show that induction of a Th2-type antibody response either before, concurrent with, or after immunization for CTLs did not modify the down-regulated state of E7 pCTLs in mice expressing E7 constitutively in epithelium.

We have shown in our previous studies (7) that the induction of E7-directed CTL tolerance observed in KA mice is not due to central tolerization by the concomitant expression of E7 in thymic cortical epithelium that occurs in these mice. (Expression of antigen in thymic cortical epithelium transmits a positive, rather than a negative, T-cell selection signal; Ref. 24 ). In the present study, we demonstrate that E7-directed pCTL tolerance persisted in adult KA(E7+) mice thymectomized at birth, indicating that the continued presence of a thymus in adult life is not necessary for the maintenance of E7-directed CTL tolerance. These data suggest that intrathymic generation and release to the periphery of cognate immunoregulatory T-cells as reported in other systems (e.g., Ref. 16 ) does not contribute substantially to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance in mice expressing E7 in the skin. It also suggests that a putative accessing of E7 in thymic cortical epithelium by E7-directed pCTLs or APCs in adult life does not contribute to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance.

By immunizing E7-tolerant (E7 transgenic) mice with DCs pulsed with E7 peptide, we generated CTL responses approaching in magnitude those seen in nontolerant (non-E7 transgenic) mice. Reversal of tolerance to a tumor antigen by DC immunization has been observed in MUC-1 carcinoma transgenic mice (25) . It is not clear from our studies why presentation of epitopes derived from endogenous E7 in skin induces CTL tolerance, whereas presentation of the same epitopes by pulsed DCs used for immunization induces CTL activation. Toes et al. (26) have reported that administration of a given peptide in adjuvant to the immune system may be tolerogenic, whereas administration of the same peptide pulsed onto DCs is stimulatory; together with our result, this emphasizes the importance of the mode of epitope delivery in determining the balance of T-cell tolerization and activation. Reduction in growth of a challenge dose of E7-expressing tumor, but not control tumor, obtained by prior immunization of mice with DCs pulsed with the E7 CTL epitope has been reported (27) .

We argue from our animal models that the chronic expression of E7 in transformed epithelial cells of women with progressive HPV-associated cervical disease may serve to functionally tolerize E7-directed pCTLs in the periphery. The challenge for immunotherapy for cervical cancer becomes how to vaccinate to circumvent E7-directed CTL tolerance. Vaccines comprising DCs presenting cognate antigen have been efficacious in eliciting CTL responses in human clinical trials. Induction of HPV16 E7-specific, A*0201-restricted CTLs by E7-pulsed autologous DCs in patients with HPV-associated cervical cancer recently has been demonstrated (28) , suggesting the validity of the DC approach to the derivation of a therapeutic vaccine for cervical cancer.

Other vaccine strategies known to enhance E7-directed CTLs, e.g., intracellular rerouting of E7 into the MHC class 11 compartment using E7-DNA vaccine encoding the lysosomal-associated membrane protein sorting signal, may be similarly effective in surmounting E7-directed tolerance (29 , 30) . DCs expressing Sig/E7/lysosomal-associated membrane protein induce E7-directed CTLs in immunized mice (30) .


    Acknowledgments
 
Dr. Simone Zehtner provided help with the preparation of DCs. We thank members of the Center for Immunology and Cancer Research for helpful discussion, and Donna West and her staff for animal husbandry.


    FOOTNOTES
 
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

1 This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Queensland Cancer Fund, and the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. Contribution No. 118 of the Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Center. Back

2 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4029, Australia. Phone: 61 7 3636 8716; Fax: 61 7 3636 1401; E-mail: r.tindle{at}mailbox.uq.edu.au Back

3 The abbreviations used are: HPV16, human papillomavirus 16; K14, keratin-14; pCTL, CTL precursor; DC, dendritic cell; FBS, fetal bovine serum; APC, antigen-presenting cell; OVA, ovalbumin. Back

Received 11/24/99. Accepted 4/11/00.


    REFERENCES
 Top
 ABSTRACT
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 REFERENCES
 

  1. Tindle R. W. Human papillomavirus vaccines for cervical cancer. Curr. Opin. Immunol., 8: 643-650, 1996.[Medline]
  2. Chen L. P., Thomas E. K., Hu S. L., Hellstrom I., Hellstrom K. E. Human papillomavirus type 16 nucleoprotein E7 is a tumor rejection antigen. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88: 110-114, 1991.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  3. Borysiewicz L. K., Fiander A., Nimako M., Man S., Wilkinson G. W., Westmoreland D., Evans A. S., Adams M., Stacey S. N., Boursnell M. E., Rutherford E., Hickling J. K., Inglis S. C. A recombinant vaccinia virus encoding human papillomavirus types 16 and 18, E6 and E7 proteins as immunotherapy for cervical cancer [see comments]. Lancet, 347: 1523-1527, 1996.[Medline]
  4. Ressing M., Toes R., Schoenberger S., Brandt R., de Jong J., Kast W., Offringa R., Melief C. Anti-tumour immunotherapy with synthetic peptides representing tumor-associated T-cell epitopes: implications for peptide based vaccination of cervical cancer Tindle R. eds. . Vaccines for Human Papillomavirus Infection and Anogenital Disease, : 53-68, Landes Bioscience Austin, TX 1999.
  5. Herber R., Liem A., Pitot H., Lambert P. F. Squamous epithelial hyperplasia and carcinoma in mice transgenic for the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncogene. J. Virol., 70: 1873-1881, 1996.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Frazer I. H., Leippe D. M., Dunn L. A., Liem A., Tindle R. W., Fernando G. J., Phelps W. C., Lambert P. F. Immunological responses in human papillomavirus 16 E6/E7-transgenic mice to E7 protein correlate with the presence of skin disease. Cancer Res., 55: 2635-2639, 1995.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  7. Doan T., Herd K., Street M., Bryson G., Fernando G., Lambert P., Tindle R. Human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein expressed in peripheral epithelium tolerizes E7-directed cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursors restricted through human (and mouse) major histocompatibility complex class I alleles. J. Virol., 73: 6166-6170, 1999.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  8. Doan T., Chambers M., Street M., Fernando G. J., Herd K., Lambert P., Tindle R. Mice expressing the E7 oncogene of HPV16 in epithelium show central tolerance, and evidence of peripheral anergising tolerance, to E7-encoded cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes. Virology, 244: 352-364, 1998.[Medline]
  9. Ressing M. E., van Driel W. J., Celis E., Sette A., Brandt M. P., Hartman M., Anholts J. D., Schreuder G. M., ter Harmsel W. B., Fleuren G. J., Trimbos B. J., Kast W. M., Melief C. J. Occasional memory cytotoxic T-cell responses of patients with human papillomavirus type 16-positive cervical lesions against a human leukocyte antigen-A*0201-restricted E7-encoded epitope. Cancer Res., 56: 582-588, 1996.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Ressing M. E., Sette A., Brandt R. M., Ruppert J., Wentworth P. A., Hartman M., Oseroff C., Grey H. M., Melief C. J., Kast W. M. Human CTL epitopes encoded by human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 identified through in vivo and in vitro immunogenicity studies of HLA-A*0201-binding peptides. J. Immunol., 154: 5934-5943, 1995.[Abstract]
  11. Feltkamp M. C., Smits H. L., Vierboom M. P., Minnaar R. P., de Jongh B. M., Drijfhout J. W., ter Schegget J., Melief C. J., Kast W. M. Vaccination with cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope-containing peptide protects against a tumor induced by human papillomavirus type 16-transformed cells. Eur. J. Immunol., 23: 2242-2249, 1993.[Medline]
  12. Gotch F., Rothbard J., Townsend A., McMichael A. Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes recognise a fragment of influenza virus matrix protein in association with HLA A2. Nature (Lond.), 326: 881-882, 1987.[Medline]
  13. Herd K., Fernando G. J., Dunn L. A., Frazer I. H., Lambert P., Tindle R. W. E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus type 16 expressed constitutively in the epidermis has no effect on E7-specific B-or Th-repertoires or on the immune response induced or sustained after immunization with E7 protein. Virology, 231: 155-165, 1997.[Medline]
  14. Miyahira Y., Murata K., Rodriguez D., Rodriguez J. R., Esteban M., Rodrigues M. M., Zavala F. Quantification of antigen specific CD8+ T cells using an ELISPOT assay. J. Immunol. Methods, 181: 45-54, 1995.[Medline]
  15. Porgador A., Gilboa E. Bone marrow-generated dendritic cells pulsed with a class I-restricted peptide are potent inducers of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. J. Exp. Med., 182: 255-260, 1995.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  16. Wang Y., Goldschneider I., Foss D., Wu D. Y., O’Rourke J., Cone R. E. Direct thymic involvement in anterior chamber-associated immune deviation: evidence for a nondeletional mechanism of centrally induced tolerance to extrathymic antigens in adult mice. J. Immunol., 158: 2150-2155, 1997.[Abstract]
  17. Borchers A., Braspenning J., Meijer J., Osen W., Gissmann L., Jochmus I. E7-specific cytotoxic T-cell tolerance in HPV-transgenic mice. Arch. Virol., 144: 1539-1556, 1999.[Medline]
  18. Melero I., Singhal M. C., McGowan P., Haugen H. S., Blake J., Hellstrom K. E., Yang G., Clegg C. H., Chen L. Immunological ignorance of an E7-encoded cytolytic T-lymphocyte epitope in transgenic mice expressing the E7 and E6 oncogenes of human papillomavirus type 16. J. Virol., 71: 3998-4004, 1997.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  19. Carbone F. R., Kurts C., Bennett S. R., Miller J. F., Heath W. R. Cross-presentation: a general mechanism for CTL immunity and tolerance. Immunol. Today, 19: 368-373, 1998.[Medline]
  20. Tan K. C., Hosoi J., Grabbe S., Asahina A., Granstein R. D. Epidermal cell presentation of tumor-associated antigens for induction of tolerance. J. Immunol., 153: 760-767, 1994.[Abstract]
  21. Klinman D. M., Sechler J. M., Conover J., Gu M., Rosenberg A. S. Contribution of cells at the site of DNA vaccination to the generation of antigen-specific immunity and memory. J. Immunol., 160: 2388-2392, 1998.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Fernando G. J., Stewart T. J., Tindle R. W., Frazer I. H. Th2-type CD4+ cells neither enhance nor suppress antitumor CTL activity in a mouse tumor model. J. Immunol., 161: 2421-2427, 1998.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  23. Kurts C., Carbone F. R., Barnden M., Blanas E., Allison J., Heath W. R., Miller J. F. CD4+ T cell help impairs CD8+ T cell deletion induced by cross-presentation of self-antigens and favors autoimmunity. J. Exp. Med., 186: 2057-2062, 1997.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  24. Laufer T. M., DeKoning J., Markowitz J. S., Lo D., Glimcher L. H. Unopposed positive selection and autoreactivity in mice expressing class II MHC only on thymic cortex. Nature (Lond.), 383: 81-85, 1996.[Medline]
  25. Gong J., Chen D., Kashiwaba M., Li Y., Chen L., Takeuchi H., Qu H., Rowse G. J., Gendler S. J., Kufe D. Reversal of tolerance to human MUC1 antigen in MUC1 transgenic mice immunized with fusions of dendritic cells and carcinoma cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 95: 6279-6283, 1998.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  26. Toes R. E., van der Voort E. I., Schoenberger S. P., Drijfhout J. W., van Bloois L., Storm G., Kast W. M., Offringa R., Melief C. J. Enhancement of tumor outgrowth through CTL tolerization after peptide vaccination is avoided by peptide presentation on dendritic cells. J. Immunol., 160: 4449-4456, 1998.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  27. De Bruijn M. L., Schuurhuis D. H., Vierboom M. P., Vermeulen H., de Kock K. A., Ooms M. E., Ressing M. E., Toes M., Franken K. L., Drijfhout J-W., Ottenhoff T. H. M., Offringa R., Melief C. J. M. Immunization with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) oncoprotein-loaded dendritic cells as well as protein in adjuvant induces MHC class 1-restricted protection to HPV16-induced tumor cells. Cancer Res., 58: 724-731, 1998.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  28. Santin A. D., Hermonat P. L., Ravaggi A., Chiriva Internati M., Zhan D., Pecorelli S., Parham G. P., Cannon M. J. Induction of human papillomavirus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes by E7-pulsed autologous dendritic cells in patients with human papillomavirus type 16- and 18-positive cervical cancer. J. Virol., 73: 5402-5410, 1999.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  29. Wu T. C., Guarnieri F. G., Stavely-O’Carroll K. F., Viscidi R. P., Levitsky H. I., Hedrick L., Cho C. R., August T. J., Pardoll D. M. Engineering an intracellular pathway for major histocompatibility complex class II presentation of antigens. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 11671-11675, 1995.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Ji H., Wang T-L., Chen C. H., Pai S. I., Hung C-F., Lin K. Y., Kurman R. J., Pardoll D. M., Wu T-C. Targetting human papillomavirus type 16 E7 to the endosomal/lysosomal compartment enhances the anti-tumour immunity of DNA vaccines against murine human papillomavirus type 16 E7 expressing tumours. Hum. Gene Ther., 10: 2727-2740, 1999.[Medline]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
CROBMHome page
K. Devaraj, M. L. Gillison, and T.-C. Wu
DEVELOPMENT OF HPV VACCINES FOR HPV-ASSOCIATED HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, September 1, 2003; 14(5): 345 - 362.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
D. J. Powell Jr., L. C. Eisenlohr, and J. L. Rothstein
A Thyroid Tumor-Specific Antigen Formed by the Fusion of Two Self Proteins
J. Immunol., January 15, 2003; 170(2): 861 - 869.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Immunol.Home page
I. H. Frazer, R. D. Kluyver, G. R. Leggatt, H. Yang Guo, L. Dunn, O. White, C. Harris, A. Liem, and P. Lambert
Tolerance or Immunity to a Tumor Antigen Expressed in Somatic Cells Can Be Determined by Systemic Proinflammatory Signals at the Time of First Antigen Exposure
J. Immunol., December 1, 2001; 167(11): 6180 - 6187.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
E. M. Sotomayor, I. Borrello, F.-M. Rattis, A. G. Cuenca, J. Abrams, K. Staveley-O'Carroll, and H. I. Levitsky
Cross-presentation of tumor antigens by bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells is the dominant mechanism in the induction of T-cell tolerance during B-cell lymphoma progression
Blood, August 15, 2001; 98(4): 1070 - 1077.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Virol.Home page
R. W. Tindle, K. Herd, T. Doan, G. Bryson, G. R. Leggatt, P. Lambert, I. H. Frazer, and M. Street
Nonspecific Down-Regulation of CD8+ T-Cell Responses in Mice Expressing Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Oncoprotein from the Keratin-14 Promoter
J. Virol., July 1, 2001; 75(13): 5985 - 5997.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Int ImmunolHome page
G. Ferlazzo, C. Semino, G. M. Spaggiari, M. Meta, M. C. Mingari, and G. Melioli
Dendritic cells efficiently cross-prime HLA class I-restricted cytolytic T lymphocytes when pulsed with both apoptotic and necrotic cells but not with soluble cell-derived lysates
Int. Immunol., December 1, 2000; 12(12): 1741 - 1747.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Doan, T.
Right arrow Articles by Tindle, R. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Doan, T.
Right arrow Articles by Tindle, R. W.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cancer Research Clinical Cancer Research
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
Molecular Cancer Research Cancer Prevention Research
Cancer Prevention Journals Portal Cancer Reviews Online
Annual Meeting Education Book Meeting Abstracts Online