No abstract

Human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPA1* 0103/DPB1 * 0401 (DP0401) is the most common HLA class II molecule and is present in approximately 45% of the Caucasian population. In this study, soluble HLA-DP0401 molecules were expressed as "empty" class II molecules in insect cells. Utilizing these soluble DP molecules and the Tetramer Guided Epitope Mapping (TGEM) approach, the influenza A Puerto Rico/8/34 matrix protein (MP) derived peptide MP 41−60 VLMEWLKTRPILSPLTKGIL and the Clostridium tetani Tetanus Toxin (TT) derived peptide TT 634−653 DKISDVSTIVPYIGPALNIV were identified as the DP0401 restricted MP and TT epitopes, respectively. In addition, T cells specific for the cancer testis antigen NY-ESO-1 and the breast/ovarian cancer over-expressing antigen Her-2/neu were detected in DP0401 subjects by DP0401 tetramers. The availability of HLA-DP0401 tetramers should facilitate the study of DP restricted T cell responses.

No abstract

Great excitement surrounded the initial discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome translocation and the molecular rearrangement of the abl protooncogene which is generated by this translocation in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In this review, we will discuss how molecular analysis of the biological abnormalities generated in the CML cells by this molecular rearrangement can be applied to new directions in therapy for this disease.

No abstract