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A phage display selected Fab fragment with MHC class I-restricted specificity for MAGE-A1 allows for retargeting of primary human T lymphocytes

Abstract

The clinical benefit of adoptive transfer of MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL) for the treatment of cancer is hampered by the low success rate to generate antitumor CTLs. To bypass the need for tumor-specific CTL, we developed a strategy that allows for grafting of human T lymphocytes with MHC-restricted antigen specificity using in vitro selected human Fab fragments fused to the Fc(ɛ)RI-γ signaling molecule. Retroviral introduction of a Fab-based chimeric receptor specific for MAGE-A1/HLA-A1 into primary human T lymphocytes resulted in binding of relevant peptide/MHC complexes. Transduced T lymphocytes responded to native MAGE-A1/HLA-A1POS target cells by specific cytokine production and cytolysis. Therefore, peptide/MHC-specific Fab fragments represent new alternatives to TCR to confer human T lymphocytes with tumor specificity, which provides a promising rationale for developing immunogene therapies. Gene Therapy (2001) 8, 000-000.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by EU grant BIO4-CT97-2196 to PC and HRH, EU grant No. QLK3-1999-01262 and a grant from the Dutch Technology Foundation STW (project RGN44.3498) to RLHB.

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Willemsen, R., Debets, R., Hart, E. et al. A phage display selected Fab fragment with MHC class I-restricted specificity for MAGE-A1 allows for retargeting of primary human T lymphocytes. Gene Ther 8, 1601–1608 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3301570

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