T-cell-epitope mapping of the idiotypic monoclonal IgG heavy and light chains in multiple myeloma

The idiotypic structures of the myeloma protein might be regarded as tumor-specific antigens. The present study was designed to map T-cell epitopes of the idiotypic myeloma protein to prove the existence of naturally occurring major-histocompatibility-complex-dependent idiotype (peptide)-specific T cells in multiple myeloma. The fine specificity of idiotype-reactive, interferon-γ-producing blood T cells of a patient with multiple myeloma stage I was characterized by identification of idiotype (heavy and light chains)-derived MHC-restricted T-cell epitopes. T cells specifically reacting with peptides corresponding to each of the 3 complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of the heavy-chain variable part (VH) of the autologous idiotype were found. In contrast, none of the peptides corresponding to the 3 CDRs of the light chain (VL) induced a specific T-cell response. The idiotype amino-acid sequence corresponding to the junction of the VH, diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments of the VH appeared to be an important target for T cells, since the sequence expressed MHC-class-I- as well as MHC-class-II-restricted epitopes. The study provides further support for the existence of MHC-restricted idiotype-specific T cells, which may target immunogenic CDR peptides in multiple myeloma. Such T cells could be an important part of the specific anti-tumor immune responses induced in idiotype vaccination protocols. Int. J. Cancer 80:671–680, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.