NY-ESO-1 (157-165) - SLLMWITQC

NY-ESO-1 (157-165) peptide – SLLMWITQC: HLA-A*02 allele is expressed in class I Human MHC Leukocyte Antigens (HLA), that are cell surface receptors, presenting peptides to the immune system. If a non-self-peptide is recognized by cytotoxic T-cells in the blood, cell death will be initiated via apoptosis. Peptides presented by MHC class I molecule are usually between 7 and 11 amino acids, originating from proteins expressed by the cell. SLLMWITQC peptide derives from New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1 : UniProt – P78358) protein, which is part of a well-characterized group of cancer/testis antigens (CTAs). Normally, NY-ESO-1 expression is restricted to germ cells and placental cells. However it is also expressed in 82% of neuroblastomas and 46% of melanomas, as well as in many other solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Class I HLA molecules of the cancerous cells cited above present peptides from NY-ESO-1 protein, including SLLMWITQC, that binds the binding cleft of the HLA-A*0201 complex. NY-ESO-1 being the most immunogenic among the CTA family members, its peptides constitute attractive targets for specific immunotherapies and the stimulation of human NY-ESO-1 specific CD8+ T cells. NY-ESO-1 (157-165) peptide is used to stimulate specific cytotoxic T-cells in PBMCs and to analyze by ELISPOT peptide epitope, specificity, and cytokine production, like IFN-γ. SLLMWITQC peptide has been used with adjuvant in protein nanoparticles in order to study cell-mediated immune responses and is also used in clinical trial to study the immunological effects of vaccines containing NY-ESO-1 (157-165).