A new MAGE gene with ubiquitous expression does not code for known MAGE antigens recognized by T cells

A number of genes of the MAGE family have been shown to code for antigens that are recognized on many human tumors by autologous CTLs. These antigens should be strictly tumor specific because the encoding MAGE genes are not expressed in normal adult cells, except for male germ-line cells, which lack HLA expression. Here, we report that a distant relative of the previously identified MAGE genes is expressed in many, if not all, normal tissues. This gene, which was named MAGE-D, is located in Xp11. Its exon-intron structure is completely different from that of the other MAGE genes. None of the 20 MAGE antigenic peptides presently known to be recognized by T lymphocytes is encoded by the new MAGE gene. It appears, therefore, that this new finding leaves intact the tumor specificity of the antigens encoded by the MAGE genes that are expressed only in tumor and germ-line cells.