The nature of the human T cell response to the cancer antigen 5T4 is determined by the balance of regulatory and inflammatory T cells of the same antigen-specificity: implications for vaccine design

This study mapped the fine specificity of Th1 and Treg cell responses to the 5T4 protein. Surprisingly, both immunogenic peptides and those recognised by Tregs clustered in the same HLA-DR transcending epitope-rich hotspots within the 5T4 protein. Similarly, regions of low Th1-cell immunogenicity also did not contain peptides capable of stimulating Tregs, further supporting the notion that Treg and Th1 cells recognise the same peptides. Understanding the rules which govern the balance of Th1 and Treg cells responding to a given peptide specificity is, therefore, of fundamental importance to designing strategies for manipulating the balance in favour of Th1 cells, and thus the most effective anti-cancer T cell responses.
Source: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research