Mage-a3 peptides presented by hla-dr1 molecules

Abstract

The invention describes HLA class II binding peptides encoded by the MAGE tumor associated genes, as well as nucleic acids encoding such peptides and antibodies relating thereto. The peptides stimulate the activity and proliferation of CD4 + T lymphocytes. Methods and products also are provided for diagnosing and treating conditions characterized by expression of MAGE genes.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a MAGE HLA class II-binding peptide comprising SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, or SEQ ID NO:42 or consisting of SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:36, or SEQ ID NO:63, wherein the MAGE HLA class II-binding peptide does not include a full length MAGE protein, wherein the nucleic acid molecule does not encode a full length MAGE protein. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a MAGE HLA class II-binding peptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, or SEQ ID NO:42. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a MAGE HLA class II-binding peptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28 and SEQ ID NO:29. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 3 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a MAGE HLA class II-binding peptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:26 or SEQ ID NO:27. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding an endosomal targeting signal. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the endosomal targeting signal comprises an endosomal targeting portion of human invariant chain Ii. 
     
     
         7 . An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , operably linked to a promoter. 
     
     
         8 . An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 , operably linked to a promoter. 
     
     
         9 . An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 3 , operably linked to a promoter. 
     
     
         10 . An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 4 , operably linked to a promoter. 
     
     
         11 . An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5 , operably linked to a promoter. 
     
     
         12 . An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 6 , operably linked to a promoter. 
     
     
         13 . The expression vector of  claim 7 , further comprising a nucleic acid molecule which encodes an HLA-DR1 molecule. 
     
     
         14 . A host cell transfected or transformed with the expression vector of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         15 . A host cell transfected or transformed with the expression vector of claim  26 . 
     
     
         16 . The host cell of  claim 14 , wherein the host cell expresses an HLA-DR1 molecule.