Cancer antigen helper peptide

Abstract

The present invention relates to a WT1 peptide which has an amino acid sequence consisting of contiguous amino acids derived from a WT1 protein and induces WT1-specific helper T cells by binding to an MHC class II molecule, a pharmaceutical composition comprising them and the like.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A peptide that induces WT1-specific helper T cells by binding to an MHC class II molecule, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:4;   (b) the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:5; and   (c) an amino acid sequence in which one or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added in the amino acid sequences depicted in (a) to (b).   
     
     
         19 . The peptide according to  claim 18 , wherein the amino acid sequence is the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         20 . The peptide according to  claim 18 , wherein the amino acid sequence is the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         21 . The peptide according to  claim 18 , wherein the MHC class II molecule is selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1201, DRB1*1403, DRB1*1501, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, DPB1*0402, DPB1*0501, DPB1*0901, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0401, DQB1*0501, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DRB5*0102. 
     
     
         22 . The peptide according to  claim 18 , wherein the MHC class II molecule is selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, and DQB1*0601. 
     
     
         23 . A polynucleotide encoding the peptide according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         24 . An expression vector comprising the polynucleotide according to  claim 23 . 
     
     
         25 . An antibody against the peptide according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         26 . An antibody against the polynucleotide according to  claim 23 . 
     
     
         27 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing cancer, comprising the peptide according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         28 . A method for treating or preventing cancer, which comprises administering an effective amount of the peptide according to  claim 18  to a subject having an MHC class II molecule selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1201, DRB1*1403, DRB1*1501, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, DPB1*0402, DPB1*0501, DPB1*0901, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0401, DQB1*0501, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DRB5*0102. 
     
     
         29 . A method for treating or preventing cancer, which comprises administering an effective amount of the polynucleotide according to  claim 23  to a subject having an MHC class II molecule selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1201, DRB1*1403, DRB1*1501, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, DPB1*0402, DPB1*0501, DPB1*0901, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0401, DQB1*0501, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DRB5*0102. 
     
     
         30 . A method for treating or preventing cancer, which comprises administering an effective amount of the vector according to  claim 24  to a subject having an MHC class II molecule selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1201, DRB1*1403, DRB1*1501, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, DPB1*0402, DPB1*0501, DPB1*0901, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0401, DQB1*0501, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DRB5*0102. 
     
     
         31 . Antigen presenting cells which display the peptide according to  claim 18  through an MHC class II molecule selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1201, DRB1*1403, DRB1*1501, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, DPB1*0402, DPB1*0501, DPB1*0901, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0401, DQB1*0501, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DRB5*0102. 
     
     
         32 . A method for inducing antigen presenting cells, which comprises culturing immature antigen presenting cells in the presence of the peptide according to  claim 18 , and inducing antigen presenting cells, which display the peptide through an MHC class II molecule selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1201, DRB1*1403, DRB1*1501, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, DPB1*0402, DPB1*0501, DPB1*0901, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0401, DQB1*0501, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DRB5*0102, from the immature antigen presenting cells. 
     
     
         33 . WT1-specific helper T cells which are induced by the peptide according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         34 . A method for inducing WT1-specific helper T cells, which comprises culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of the peptide according to  claim 18 , and inducing WT1-specific helper T cells from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. 
     
     
         35 . A kit for inducing WT1-specific helper T cells, comprising, as an essential ingredient, the peptide according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         36 . A kit for preventing or treating cancer, comprising, as an essential ingredient, the peptide according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         37 . A method for determining the presence or amount of WT1-specific helper T cells in a subject having an MHC class II molecule which is selected from the group consisting of DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0901, DRB1*1201, DRB1*1403, DRB1*1501, DRB1*1502, DPB1*0201, DPB1*0202, DPB1*0402, DPB1*0501, DPB1*0901, DQB1*0301, DQB1*0302, DQB1*0401, DQB1*0501, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DRB5*0102, 
       wherein said method comprises the steps of:
 (a) reacting the peptide according to  claim 18  with a sample derived from the subject; and 
 (b) determining the presence or amount of a cytokine contained in the sample.