Inoculation with pure naked DNA in the form of plasmids can stimulate both antibody and T-cell responses in vivo against plasmid-encoded proteins. Peptide products derived from cytosolic degradation of fragments of tumour-specific proteins, expressed de novo under the transcriptional control of strong mammalian or viral promoter/enhancer signals might gain access to the MHC Class I presentation pathway, mimicking the presentation of viral proteins in infected cells. Presentation as neo-antigens or surrogate antigens in this novel context may be a means of breaking immunological tolerance, and may lead to the generation of tumour-specific immune responses.

Related Articles