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The endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase associated with Ag processing, ERAAP, plays an important role in the trimming of antigenic peptides for presentation at the cell surface complexed with MHC class I molecules. Tumors express varying levels of ERAAP, highlighting a possible mechanism of immune-evasion through alteration of the peptide repertoire. Using the CT26 tumor model, we investigated the effects of ERAAP modulation on peptide presentation and the use of ERAAP inhibition as an antitumor therapy. We show that generation of the cross-protective tumor Ag GSW11 in the colorectal carcinoma CT26 is increased when ERAAP expression is reduced. BALB/c mice with reduced ERAAP expression challenged with CT26 induced protective immunity that was mediated by CD8(+) T cells. This antitumor immunity also protected mice when rechallenged with wild-type CT26 tumor; strong CD8(+) T cell responses to GSW11 were observed, despite its presentation being considerably lower. Furthermore, boosting the tumor immunogenicity through inhibition of ERAAP function with the small molecule inhibitor leucinethiol in vitro, or in established tumors in vivo, abrogated tumor growth and prolonged survival. Thus, our results highlight the promising possibility of using modulation of ERAAP to generate protective antitumor responses as a strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

Original publication

DOI

10.4049/jimmunol.1300220

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)

Publication Date

06/2013

Volume

190

Pages

5839 - 5846

Addresses

Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom. eddjames@soton.ac.uk

Keywords

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Line, Tumor, Animals, Humans, Mice, Neoplasms, Leucyl Aminopeptidase, Antigens, Neoplasm, Enzyme Inhibitors, Antigen Presentation, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Gene Silencing, Gene Knockdown Techniques