Promiscuous HER-2/Neu CD4 T cell epitopes
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to the discovery of novel T cell epitopes of the human HER-2/Neu protein that is promiscuous for at least 25 different HLA-DR alleles. The invention also relates to compositions that contain one of the novel epitopes or a fusion peptide of such a epitope and a heterologous polypeptide. Further disclosed herein is the use of the epitopes or their fusion peptides, and compositions containing the epitopes or their fusion peptides.
1. An isolated peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:2, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 31.
2. The peptide of claim 1 , which consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:20, 21, 22, or 23.
3. The peptide of claim 1 , which consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:24, 25, or 26.
4. The peptide of claim 1 , which consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:27, 28, 29, or 31.
5. The peptide of claim 1 , which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
6. A fusion peptide comprising the peptide of claim 1 fused to a heterologous polypeptide.
7. The fusion peptide of claim 6 , wherein the peptide of claim 1 is fused to a heterologous polypeptide via a peptide bond.
8. The fusion peptide of claim 6 , wherein the heterologous polypeptide is a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
9. A composition comprising the peptide of claim 1 or the fusion peptide of claim 2 and a physiologically acceptable excipient.
10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
11. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the heterologous polypeptide is a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
12. The composition of claim 9 , further comprising an antigen-presenting cell with the peptide of claim 1 forming a complex with a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule on the surface of the cell.
13. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:20, 21, 22, or 23.
14. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:24, 25, or 26.
15. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:27, 28, 29, or 31.