T cell recognition of bcr/abl in healthy donors and in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia

Br J Haematol. 2004 Apr;125(2):213-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.04873.x.

Abstract

In chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), peptides from the fusion region of bcr3/abl2 are likely to play a role in anti-leukaemic T cell immunity. We investigated whether T cells that recognize bcr/abl fusion peptides could be detected in healthy donors and CML patients. T cell responses against bcr3/abl2 fusion peptides were analysed by gamma-interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assays after prestimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of anti-CD3-antibodies and interleukin-2. Our results suggest that the T cell repertoire contains bcr3/abl2-reactive T cells in CML patients who are in cytogenetic remission, but also in some healthy individuals.

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl