Wang-Johanning F et al. – Human endogenous retroviral (HERV) gene products are capable of acting as tumor-associated antigens activating both T-cell and B-cell responses in breast cancer (BC) pts Methods
Study of the extent of HERV-K env expression in human BC and whether BC pts have both humoral and cell-mediated immunity against HERV-K
Results
HERV-K env protein expression in 88% of BC (119 pts) but not in normal breast (76 pts) tissues
ELISA screening assays detected significant titers of anti–HERV-K env IgG in most BC pts
T-cell responses against HERV-K were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from BC pts stimulated with autologous dendritic cells pulsed with HERV-K env SU antigens
Responses included induction of T-cell proliferation, IFN-{gamma} production measured by enzyme-linked immunospot, and multiplex cytokine secretion
Multiplex cytokine analysis found a T-helper 1 cytokine response, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, and IP-10 secretion during in vitro stimulation of BC PBMC with HERV-K antigen
HERV-K–specific CTLs were capable of lysing target cells expressing HERV-K env protein in BC pts but not in normal female controls without cancer
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