A CTL epitope petide of 22-45 amino acid residues for inducing and/or enhancing an antigen-specific T-cell response

摘要

Described are epitopes derived from human papilloma virus (HPV), and peptides having a size of about 22-45 amino acid residues comprising minimal T cell epitopes. Further provided are clinically relevant approaches for immunizing subjects against (Myco) bacterially and/or virally infected cells or tumour cells, and in particular against HPV. The peptide sequences of 22-35 amino acid residues in length can induce both peptide-specific CD8+ cytolytic cells and CD4+ T-helper cells. Moreover, the vaccination with 22-35 residue long peptides results in a more vigorous CD8+ cytolytic T-cell response than vaccination with peptides of the exact minimal CTL epitope length. Also demonstrated is that the intrinsic capacity of certain minimal CTL epitopes which instead of activating cytolytic effector cells induce tolerance in these cytolytic cells, can be overcome by use of these 22-35 amino acid long peptides. Discussed are clinically relevant approaches for vaccination and/or treatment of subjects against HPV. Also provided are methods ans uses suited to treat subjects suffering from progressive lesions and/or cervical cancer.