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The Journal of Experimental Medicine logoLink to The Journal of Experimental Medicine
. 1991 Jan 1;173(1):273–276. doi: 10.1084/jem.173.1.273

Human T lymphocytes recognize a peptide of single point-mutated, oncogenic ras proteins

PMCID: PMC2118763  PMID: 1670640

Abstract

P21ras proteins are thought to play an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Single nucleotide mutations in the encoding cellular proto-oncogenes often result in p21ras proteins with transforming activity. Such activated ras oncogenes have been demonstrated in a variety of human malignancies and also in preneoplastic changes. Using a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 5-16 of mutated p21ras proteins with an exchange of the normal glycine at position 12 by valine, it is shown here that human CD4+ T cells specifically recognize the mutated protein sequence and can be generated as antigen-specific T lymphocyte lines. The fact that these T lines did not crossreact to the sequence of normal p21ras proteins offers new perspectives for specific immunotherapy of human malignancies and even precancerous lesions.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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