Anti-Tumor Immunity Induced by Heat Shock Protein 72 and Alpha-Fetoprotein Epitope Peptide Vaccine

摘要

Objective: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an oncofetal antigen during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development which could lead to weak reproducible antitumor immunity, and may act as a target for cancer therapy. Therefore, it is imperative to enhance its immunogenicity and develop therapeutic vaccines to eliminate AFP-expressing tumors. The study is intended to develop a specific anti-tumor peptide vaccine-heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) and alpha-fetoprotein epitope peptide (AFP-P). Methods: By way of glutaraldehyde cross-linking, we constructed a potential therapeutic peptide vaccine, HSP72/AFP-P. In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity assays were used to verify anti-tumor effect of the recombined vaccine. Results: The results showed that cross-linking of AFP epitope peptide with HSP72 induced significant enhancement in specific AFP CD8~+ T cells response and distinct cytotoxic antitumor reaction against AFP-expressing tumors. Priming mice with the reconstructed vaccine, we elicited robust strong protective immunity. Conclusion: Our study suggests that tumor vaccination through cross-linking tumor antigen and HSP72 is an encouraging method for cancer immunotherapy.