Identification of novel HLA-A∗0201-restricted CTL Epitopes from Pokemon

Pokemon is a member of the POK family of transcriptional repressors and aberrant overexpressed in various human cancers. Therefore, the related peptide epitopes derived from Pokemon is essential for the development of specific immunotherapy of malignant tumors. In this study, we predicted and identified HLA-A∗0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes derived from Pokemon with computer-based epitope prediction, peptide-binding assay and testing of the induced CTLs toward different kinds of carcinoma cells. The results demonstrated that effectors induced by peptides of Pokemon containing residues 32–40, 61–69, 87–95, and 319–327 could specifically secrete IFN-γ and lyse tumor cell lines of Pokemon-positive and HLA-A2-matched. The results suggest that Pokemon32, Pokemon61, Pokemon87, and Pokemon319 peptides are novel HLA-A∗0201-restricted restricted CTL epitopes, and could be utilized in the cancer immunotherapy against a broad spectrum of tumors.

► HLA-A∗0201-restricted CTL epitopes from Pokemon were predicted and identified.
► Effectors induced by peptides of Pokemon could secrete IFN-γ and lyse tumor cells.
► These identified peptides are novel HLA-A∗0201-restricted CTL epitopes.