[Synthesis, Cloning and Expression of a Multiple Epitope Antigen of BCR-ABL Fusion Gene]

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) appears an ideal and exciting immunological target. Novel and rational immunotherapy may therefore play an important adjuvant role in the treatment of CML patients. Peptides derived from the BCR-ABL fusion region have been shown to be immunogenic and are able to stimulate the production of BCR-ABL-specific T cell lines and clones. In this study, A 280 bp multiple epitope region of BCR-ABL fusion antigen was designed and synthesized. This region contains three BCR-ABL antigen epitopes which can bind to HLA-A2, HLA-A3 and HLA-DR11 molecules, respectively, and epitopes of cholera toxin B (CTB) and tetanus toxoid (TT) which are able to elicit vigorous T cell responses. The fusion antigen gene has highly been expressed in E. coli and the purified fusion protein reserved satisfied activity and antigenicity. The results of this investigation provided a basis for further research on the developing specific T cell immunotherapy of CML.