EP2296697A1

EP2296697A1 - Immunogenic peptides derived from the midkine protein, as an anticancer vaccine

Info

Publication number: EP2296697A1
Application number: EP09766025A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jérôme KERZERHO; Bernard Maillere; Emmanuel Favry
Original assignee: Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA; Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Current assignee: Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Priority date: 2008-06-20
Filing date: 2009-06-19
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Also published as: FR2932681B1; CN102123731A; WO2009153463A1; US20110159022A1; AU2009261813A1; FR2932681A1; JP2011525108A; CA2728459A1

Abstract

A peptide derived from the Midkine protein, comprising at least one CD4+ T or CD8+ T epitope restricted by the HLA molecules predominant in the Caucasian population, or a polynucleotide encoding said peptide, as an anticancer vaccine or as a reagent for immunomonitoring of the cellular response against Midkine over the course of a cancer or of an anticancer treatment.

Description

IMMUNOGENIC PEPTIDES FROM MIDKIN PROTEIN AS ANTICANCER VACCINE

The invention relates to the use as an anticancer vaccine of peptides derived from the Midkine protein capable of inducing CD4 ⁺ T and / or CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes which recognize said midkine protein in the majority of individuals of the Caucasian population, in many types of cancers.

The invention also relates to the use of such peptides recognized by Midkine-specific CD4 ⁺ and / or CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes, in the majority of individuals of the Caucasian population, in many types of cancers, such as reagent for the immunomonitoring of the cellular response against midkine during cancer or anticancer treatment.

Tumor cells express a set of proteins that healthy cells do not express or little, or that are found in only a few cell types. These proteins being preferentially expressed in the tumor cells, can constitute a tumor antigen, that is to say a protein present in the tumor and which induces an immune response capable of recognizing the tumors and ideally eliminating them. This response may be either an antibody response as the antigen is membrane-bound or a cellular response involving CD8 ⁺ or CD4 ⁺ T cells. Most tumor antigens are intracellular and induce a cellular response. They are prime targets for vaccine development.

T cells contribute to the cellular immune response directed against tumors. They can be induced spontaneously in patients with cancer and infiltrate tumors, giving in rare cases a spontaneous regression. They can be induced by vaccines that are intended to facilitate their recruitment. There are two kinds of T lymphocytes involved in antitumor immunity. CD8 ⁺ T cells are cytotoxic (CTL CD8 ⁺ ) and can lyse tumor cells. The lysis of cells during their recognition involves perforin and granzymes. CD8 ⁺ T cells recognize the tumor antigen in the form of peptides, called CD8 ⁺ T epitopes, that are present on the surface of tumors by HLA class I molecules (HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C). . CD4 ⁺ helper T cells recognize tumor antigens in the form of peptides, termed CD4 ⁺ T epitopes, presented to them by HLA class II molecules. CD4 ⁺ T cell recognition of tumors can be achieved directly when tumors express class II molecules or indirectly through the capture of cell debris by dendritic cells that are cells that have a high number of cells. HLA class II molecules on their surface. CD4 ⁺ T lymphocytes involved in anti-tumor immunity play a multiple role in the control of tumors and in particular are involved in the recruitment and maintenance of CD8 ⁺ CTLs. CD4 ⁺ T cells play a role in dendritic cell (DC) activation via a CD40-dependent mechanism. They increase the secretion of IL-12 by DC and the expression on their surface of co-stimulation or adhesion molecules (I-CAM-1, CD80, CD86). This activation allows the recruitment of CTL. In addition, the results observed in mice not expressing class I molecules also indicate that helper T cells exert tumor control via CTL-independent mechanisms probably via macrophage activation. Finally, CD4 ⁺ T cells can themselves be cytotoxic. Dendritic cells also intervene in anti-tumor immunity by initiating this response. The tumor-specific naïve T lymphocytes are in fact recruited and activated by the dendritic cells and not by the tumor cells. The discovery of the first tumor antigens in the 1990s has led to numerous studies on these proteins expressed in tumors. Depending on their mode of expression, the tumor antigens were divided into several categories.

* Tumor specific antigens This is the most important group of antigens, which was initially found in melanomas but is actually expressed in many tumors. These antigens are also called "Cancer Testis" because of their expression in the testes which is the only healthy tissue that expresses them. Some of these antigens are also expressed in the placenta or ovaries. Because the testes and placenta lack conventional HLA molecules, these antigens are not visible to T cells in normal tissues. The main antigens are the MAGE-A, MAGE-B, MAGE-C, GAGE, LAGE and SSX antigens. * Differentiation antigens

Differentiation antigens are proteins expressed by tumors and by the cell tissue that gave rise to them. The best known examples are melanoma antigens which are also expressed in melanocytes. These are tyrosinases (TYRO, TRP-I and TRP-2) and GpIOO and MELAN-A / MART-1 antigens. Other differentiation antigens are also known for prostate tumors (kallikrein-4 and PSA) or cancer of the digestive tract (CEA).

* Over-expressed antigens Over-expressed antigens are highly expressed proteins in many tumor cells, whereas their expression level is low in normal cells. This is the case of the HER-2 / neu antigen which is found in about 30% of carcinomas of the breast and ovaries and in some carcinomas of the colon and kidney. P53 is also frequently overexpressed in tumors. This protein, which inhibits cell multiplication, is normally very quickly recycled to normal cells. Telomerase (hTERT) is found in more than 80% of tumors, regardless of tissue origin, whereas it is absent or low-noise in normal cells. The action of telomerase serves to compensate for the reduction in telomeres that occurs during cell division. Maintaining a constant telomere length of telomeres promotes cell proliferation and thus tumorigenesis. Apoptosis inhibiting proteins (APIs) such as the Survivin protein are a family of proteins that, by inhibiting caspases, inhibit cell death. * Other antigens Other categories of antigens are antigens resulting from mutation or genetic arrangement (MUM-I, CDK4, beta-catenin, HLA-A2, BCR-ABL, CASP-8) and tumor antigens of viral origin (E6 and E7 proteins of papillomaviruses involved in cancer of the cervix).

Although many tumor antigens have already been discovered, vaccines to fight cancer are not developed. Vaccination trials are still rather disappointing and the cases of regression caused by vaccines are rare. These failures result from low immunogenicity of the identified antigens or escape mechanisms that cause the tumor to no longer express the target antigen. Targeted antigens are often not vital to the cell so tumor escape can occur. The identified antigens have been mainly on melanomas and are not adapted to many other cancers. There are few known antigens with a wide spectrum of expression and which make it possible to have a vaccine adapted to many cancers. These are mainly overexpressed antigens such as telomerase and survivin (PCT International Application WO 2007/036638).

However, there are many proteins that are preferentially expressed in tumor cells irrespective of their origin and which could therefore constitute vaccines adapted to many cancers. For these proteins to have a vaccine interest, it is necessary to show that they induce T lymphocytes capable of recognizing tumor cells that express these proteins. It is indeed possible that they are only weakly immunogenic because of tolerance mechanisms or the absence of T epitopes in their sequence. It is also possible that they are capable of inducing an immune response but that the induced cells do not recognize the tumors. The T epitopes derived from these proteins may indeed not be presented on the surface of the tumor cells because of an insufficient level of expression or poor protein pretreatment in the tumor cells.

Midkine protein (MDK), also known as NEGF2 (Neurite outgrowth-promoting factor 2), was identified in 1988 as a protein of retinoic acid-induced embryonic carcinoma cells (Kadomatsu et al., Biochem Biophys. Commun., 1988, 151, 1312-1318, for a review see http://www.midkine.org). In humans, the midkine gene is located on chromosome 11 at position 1 IpI 1.2. It has 4 exons and has a size of 3.5kb; the coding sequence corresponds to NCBI access number M69148 (SEQ ID NO: 1 in the attached sequence listing). The regulatory region contains a retinoic acid response site and two WT1 tumor suppressor response sites (Wilms Tumor Suppressor 1). The retinoic acid response site is responsible for the induction of Midkine expression by retinoic acid, whereas the WT1 response sites are involved in the decrease of WT1 expression. A variant splicing of the human Midkine protein, called INSP 106, has also been described (PCT International Application WO 2004/052928).

Midkine is a 143 amino acid protein rich in basic residues and has five disulfide bridges [(37,61); (45.70); (52,74); (84,116); (94.126)]. The human sequence corresponds to SwissProt access number P21741 (Figure 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 in the attached sequence listing). It is expressed in the form of a precursor comprising a signal peptide of 22 amino acids (FIG. 1). It has about 50% homology with the protein Pleiotrophin. The structure of Midkine was resolved by NMR in 1997. The protein has two different domains, each consisting of three anti-parallel beta sheets maintained by disulfide bridges; the two domains are connected by a flexible region. Biological activity (neurite growth, fibrinolysis and nerve cell migration) requires only the C-terminal domain. This domain is conserved and is found from the Drosophila to the man, which confirms its functional role. It also has two sites for fixing heparin. At least four receptors capable of binding midkine are known, which gives it many activities: members of the Syndecan family which are proteoglycans comprising heparin sulphates; PTPζ which is a proteoglycan comprising chondroitin sulfate; ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase); LRP which is a member of the LDL receptor family.

In a normal individual, midkine is mainly expressed during embryogenesis with peak expression in the midgut. Midkine is involved in the development of neurons. It causes the growth of neurites and the migration of nerve cells. It is involved in the development of the neuromuscular junction and the protection of neurons. During embryogenesis Midkine is involved in the development of teeth, lungs, kidneys and bones. Midkine deficient mice are viable and are only affected in neuronal functions consistent with the role of midkine in the development of the nervous system. It has also been observed that mice rendered defective for the midkine gene are less affected than control mice by the induction of nephritis. They are also less prone to restenosis (narrowing of the arteries due to the proliferation of damaged arterial tissues). Midkine is overexpressed in many tumors whereas in healthy individuals and adults its expression is less and local (small intestine, brain). Midkine is one of the 40 most expressed genes in tumors compared to healthy tissues (Velculescu et al, Nat Genet, 1999, 23, 387-388). Midkine is overexpressed in about 80% of the cases of many human cancers, particularly carcinomas. Its high expression has been observed especially in cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, thyroid, lungs, breast, bladder, uterus, ovary, prostate, hepatocellular carcinomas, osteosarcomas, neuroblastomas, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, leukemias, and Wiim tumors (Moon et al., Gynecology Oncology, 2003, 88, 289-297, Hidaka et al, Leukemia Res., 2007, 8, 1045-1051, Maeda et al, Br J. Cancer, 2007, 97, 405-411, Ren et al, World J. Gastroenterol., 2006, 12, 2006-2010). Elevated expression has been correlated with poor prognosis in bladder cancer, glioblastoma, and neuroblastoma (O'Brien, Cancer Res., 1996, 56, 2515-2518). In addition, overexpression of midkine is correlated with increased resistance to chemotherapy in human gastric cancer cell lines. Its expression is not only tissue. A high level of midkine has been observed in the serum of more than 60% of patients with carcinomas (Muramatsu et al., J. Biochem., 2003, 132, 259-371). This level decreases when the tumor is removed. The presence of midkine in the serum could therefore have a diagnostic value. Midkine seems to have many activities related to tumorigenesis. It has indeed a transforming activity, anti-apoptotic, mitogenic, angiogenic, fibrinolytic and chemotactic (Kadomatsu et al, Cancer Letters, 2004, 127-143). It has been shown that an antisense strategy targeting the midkine gene suppresses tumorigenesis of carcinoma in mice (Takei et al, Cancer Research, 2001, 61, 8486-8491).

Because of its many biological activities, Midkine or its modulators (inhibitors) are useful for stimulating angiogenesis, rhematopoiesis, preventing atherosclerosis and restenosis, inhibiting apoptosis, in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory, cardiac pathologies (myocardial infarction), cerebral, hepatic, nerve, renal, ocular (retinopathies), neurofibrosis, respiratory (asthma and pulmonary hyperplasia), post-surgical (Requests US 2003/0072739, US 2003/0185794, US 2004/0077579, US 2005/0079151, US 2006/0148738 and US 2005/0130928; European application EP 1832296, PCT International Applications WO 2007/055397 and WO 2000/031541; U.S. Patents 5,629,284; US 6,383,480; US 6,572,851). In addition, because of the frequent expression of midkine in tumors, associated with the presence of protein in the blood and urine, as well as the existence of a midkine polymorphism associated with cancer risk Midkine is a marker for risk assessment, diagnosis and prognosis of cancer (US Patent 7,090,983 and US Applications 2003/0149534 and US 2004/0219614). The detection of midkine is in particular carried out using monoclonal antibodies specific for a truncated midkine corresponding to positions 23 to 25 and 82 to 143 of the Midkine precursor (US Application US 2004/0219614). The midkine promoter is also used in gene-suicide strategies.

In contrast, the immunogenicity of Midkine protein has not been studied.

The inventors have shown that the Midkine protein which possesses a preferential expression in tumors contains peptides capable of inducing specific CD4 ⁺ and / or CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes that recognize the Midkine protein expressed by tumor cells in many types of cancer. among the majority of individuals in the Caucasian population. These peptides represent potential candidates for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination against cancer, since they are capable of inducing a CD4 ⁺ T and CD8 ⁺ T response directed against the tumor, in the majority of vaccinated patients, to the extent that where: (i) they are derived from an antigen expressed by many tumors, (ii) they are capable of inducing specific CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ T cells recognizing the antigen expressed by the tumors, and (iii) they are recognized by CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ T cells in the majority of individuals in the Caucasian population because they take into account the polymorphism of HLA molecules and are restricted to predominant HLA molecules in the Caucasian population. In addition, these peptides that are recognized by T lymphocytes

CD4 ⁺ and / or T CD8 ⁺ specific for a tumor antigen expressed by the majority of tumors, are useful for the immunomonitoring of the cellular response against Midkine during the course of a cancer and especially after an anticancer treatment (surgical, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy).

The present invention accordingly relates to the use of a midkine protein derived from the peptide comprising at least one CD4 ⁺ T epitope or CD8 ⁺ T cells restricted to HLA molecules predominant in the Caucasian population or a polynucleotide encoding said peptide, for the preparation of an anti-cancer vaccine for the treatment of cancers associated with tumor overexpression of said midkine protein.

Definitions - "Peptide derived from Midkine" means both protein

Midkine (precursor of 143 amino acids or mature protein (positions 23 to 143 of the precursor) that a peptide fragment of at least 8 consecutive amino acids of said protein. "Midkine" means a Midkin protein derived from which mammal, preferably, is the human protein The positions of the peptides derived from midkine are indicated with reference to the human sequence (SwissProt P21741, Figure 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2).

"Preponderant HLA molecule in the Caucasian population" or "predominant HLA molecule" means an HLA I molecule (HLA-A HLA-B or HLA-C) or predominant HLA II molecule. These are the HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C molecules comprising an alpha chain encoded by an allele whose frequency is greater than 5% in the Caucasian population, as specified in Table I below.

* the predominant HLA I molecules (gene frequency> 5%) are indicated in bold

They are also HLA II molecules comprising a beta chain encoded by an allele whose frequency is greater than 5% in the Caucasian population, as specified in Table II below.

the predominant HLA II molecules (gene frequency> 5%) are indicated in bold Some of the predominant HLA molecules in the Caucasian population, and in particular the HLA-DP401 and HLA-DP402 molecules, are also predominant in other populations (South America, India, Japan, Africa, Table II). Consequently, the peptides according to the invention are not restricted to use in the Caucasian population, and they can also be used to vaccinate individuals from countries other than those of North America and Europe, in which said molecules HLA are preponderant, as specified in Table II.

For the purposes of the present invention, the terms "prevailing", "predominant" and "predominant" are considered as equivalent and used interchangeably.

The term "CD4 + T epitope of the Midkine restricted to the predominant HLA II molecules in the Caucasian population" means a peptide of 11 to 15 amino acids which binds at least one HLA II molecule, predominant in the Caucasian population and is recognized by CD4 ⁺ T cells in individuals of this population; the peptide comprises a sequence of 9 amino acids including the anchoring residues to HLA II molecules, flanked at one of its ends, preferably at both ends, with at least 2 amino acids, preferably 3 amino acids. The term "CD8 + T epitope of the Midkine restricted to the predominant HLA I molecules in the Caucasian population" is understood to mean a peptide of 8 to 13 amino acids which binds at least one predominant HLA I molecule in the Caucasian population and is recognized by lymphocytes. CD8 ⁺ T in individuals of this population; the peptide comprises a sequence of 8 to 9 amino acids including the anchoring residues to the HLA I molecules.

Cancer is a cancer associated with the overexpression of the Midkine protein by tumor cells such as, but not limited to: cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, thyroid, lung, breast, bladder, uterine, ovarian, prostate, hepatocellular carcinoma, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, astrocytoma, leukemia, and tumors. WiIm. The term "natural or synthetic amino acid" is intended to mean the naturally occurring α-amino acids commonly found in the proteins (A, R, N, D, C, Q, E, G, H, I, L, K, M, F). , P, S, T, W, Y and V), some amino acids rarely encountered in proteins (hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, methyllysine, dimethyllysine ..), amino acids that do not exist in proteins such as β- alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, homocysteine, ornithine, citrulline, canavanine, norleucine, cyclohexylalanine ..., amino acids D derived from amino acids L and the analogs of the preceding amino acids .

The term "hydrophobic amino acid" is understood to mean an amino acid selected from (one-letter code): A, V, L, I, P, W, F and M.

By aromatic amino acid is meant an amino acid selected from (one-letter code): F, W and Y.

The peptides according to the invention are recognized by CD4 ⁺ and / or CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes in the majority of individuals insofar as they are presented by HLA I and HLA II molecules which are predominant in the Caucasian population. They are immunogenic, ie they are capable of inducing Midkine-specific CD4 ⁺ and / or CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes from the precursors present in the majority of naive individuals or to stimulate such T cells. in the majority of individuals with cancer associated with overexpression of midkine. In addition, the CD4 ⁺ and / or CD8 ⁺ T cells that are induced in the majority of individuals recognize midkine expressed by the tumors of these individuals. The immunogenicity of the peptides may be determined, in particular from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), by any appropriate assay known to those skilled in the art, for example: a cell proliferation test, a cytotoxicity test, a test ELISPOT (assay for cytokine-producing cells) or a cytokine assay (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-5, TNF-α and TGF-β).

The invention encompasses natural or synthetic variant peptides obtained by mutation (insertion, deletion, substitution) of one or more amino acids in the midkine sequence, since said peptide retains good affinity for the predominant HLA molecules and is immunogenic. The natural variants result in particular from the polymorphism of midkine. In addition, other variants can be easily constructed since the amino acid residues involved in the binding to the HLA-DR and HLA-DP4 molecules (anchoring residues) and the effect of the modifications of these residues on the binding to the HLA-DR and HLA-DP4 molecules are known to those skilled in the art; PCT International Application WO 03/040299 teaches in particular that, in order to bind HLA-DP4, the residue at P6 must be aromatic or hydrophobic or consist of a cysteine residue (C), and at least one of the residues P1, P9 is such that P1 is aromatic or hydrophobic and / or P9 is aromatic or hydrophobic or consists of a residue C, D, Q, S, T or E, while the residue at P4 can be any amino acid residue. US Pat. No. 6,649,166 describes a general method for determining the anchoring residues to HLA DR molecules (P1, P4, P6, P7 and P9) and the nature of the mutations of these residues making it possible to modify the affinity for the molecules. HLA DR. Binding patterns for HLA DR molecules are described in particular in Sturnolio et al., Nat. Biotech, 1999, 17, 533-534 and Rammensee et al, Immunogenetics, 1995, 41, 178-228. The amino acid residues involved in the binding to the HLA-I molecules (anchoring residues) and the effect of the modifications of these residues on the binding to the HLA-I molecules are known to those skilled in the art. Peptide binding motifs to HLA class I molecules are described in Rammensee et al., Immunogenetics, 1995, 41, 178-228 and in Table III below.

Table III: Binding patterns of the main HLA-A * alleles

* the major anchoring residues are in bold.

It is also known that certain substitutions improve the affinity of the peptides for the HLA I molecules without disturbing their antigenicity. This is the case for the introduction of a tyrosine at position 1 on an HLA-A2 binding peptide (Tourdot et al. al., Eur J. Immunol., 2000, 30, 3411-3421).

The invention also encompasses the modified peptides derived from the foregoing by introduction of any modification at the level of amino acid residue (s), peptide bond or peptide ends, since said modified peptide retains a good affinity for the molecules. HLA preponderant and is immunogenic. These modifications, which are introduced into the peptides by conventional methods known to those skilled in the art, include in a nonlimiting manner: the substitution of an amino acid by a nonproteinogenic amino acid (amino acid D or the like of an acid amine); adding a chemical group (lipid, oligo or polysaccharide) at a reactive function, in particular the side chain R; modification of the peptide bond (-CO-NH-), in particular by a retro-type or retro-inverso bond (-NH-CO-) or a bond different from the peptide bond; cyclization; the fusion of a peptide (epitope of interest for vaccination, label useful for the purification of the peptide, especially in cleavable form with a protease); the fusion of the sequence of said peptide with that of a protein, in particular an α chain of an HLA I or HLA II molecule, a β chain of an HLA II molecule or the extracellular domain of said chain or else a sequence of targeting in the endosome derived in particular from the invariable chain II or the LAMP-I protein; coupling to a suitable molecule, in particular a marker, for example a fluorochrome or biotin. These modifications are intended in particular to increase the stability and more particularly the resistance to proteolysis, as well as the solubility, the immunogenicity or to facilitate the purification or the detection, either of the peptide according to the invention, or of CD4 ⁺ cells and or CD8 ⁺ specific for said peptide. According to an advantageous embodiment of said use, said peptide is constituted by the Midkine protein. Preferably, it is the human protein of sequence SEQ ID NO: 2.

The present invention encompasses the use of the denatured midkine protein by any suitable means known to those skilled in the art, and in particular reduced midkine protein.

The present invention also encompasses the use of variants of Midkine protein in which at least one of the cysteines involved in a disulfide bridge is replaced by another amino acid, for example a serine.

The present invention also encompasses the use of amino acids of at least eight peptides derived from the midkine protein that comprise at least one CD4 ⁺ T epitope or CD8 ⁺ T cells as defined above. The invention encompasses the use of peptides that bind to one of the HLA I molecules and / or one of the HLA II molecules. more frequent in the Caucasian population, in particular the HLA-A2 molecule (Table I) and / or the HLA-DR7, HLA-DRB4, HLA-DP401 or HLA-DP402 molecules (Table II). The invention also encompasses the use of peptides which bind several different HLA I and / or HLA II molecules, so as to widen the immunization coverage to the majority of the Caucasian population.

The invention also encompasses the use of peptides of at least 8 amino acids from the Midkine N-terminal domain (positions 1-84 with reference to the midkine precursor sequence) which comprise at least one CD4 ⁺ T epitope. or T CD8 ⁺ as defined above. According to the invention, said fragment has a length of

From 8 to 100 amino acids, preferably from 8 to 50 amino acids, preferably from 10 to 25 amino acids (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 , 23, 24 or 25 amino acids).

According to another advantageous embodiment of said use, said peptide is a fragment of at least 8 amino acids of the Midkine protein comprising at least one CD8 + T epitope restricted to the HLA-A2 molecule, which peptide comprises at least the 14 positions. at 21 or 114-122 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein.

Preferably, said peptide comprises positions 12 to 21, 13 to 21, 13 to 22, 14 to 22 or 13 to 122 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein.

Preferably, said peptide is constituted by positions 12 to 21 (MDK 12-21), 13 to 21 (MDK 13-21), 13 to 22 (MDK 13-22), 14 to 22 (MDK 14-22) 113-122 (MDK 113-122) or 114-122 (MDK 114-122) of the amino acid sequence of Midkine protein; these peptides correspond, respectively, to the sequences SEQ ID NO: 3 to 8 in the sequence listing in the appendix.

According to another advantageous embodiment of said use, said peptide is a fragment of at least 8 amino acids of the Midkine protein comprising at least one CD4 + T epitope restricted to at least one predominant HLA II molecule in the Caucasian population, which peptide comprises at least positions 9 to 15, 14 to 28, 52 to 64, 64 to 78, 70 to 84, 74 to 88, 78 to 92, 84 to 98, 99 to 113, 105 to 119, 1 to 124 or 119 to 133 of the amino acid sequence of said protein Midkine. Examples of these peptides are the peptides of SEQ ID NO: 9, 10, 13 to 15, 21 to 26, 28, 29 and 30 (Table VII).

Preferably, said predominant HLA II molecule in the Caucasian population is chosen from the HLA-DR1, HLA-DR3, HLA-DR4, HLA-DR7, HLA-DRI1, HLA-DR1, HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR1 molecules. DRB3, HLA-DRB4, HLA-DRB5, HLA-DP401 and HLA-DP402. Said HLA II molecules are advantageously coded respectively by the HLA DRB 1 * 0101, DRB 1 * 0301, DRB1 * 0401, DRB1 * 0701, DRB1 * 11O1, DRB1 * 13O1, DRB1 * 15O1, DRB3 * 0101, DRB4 * 0104 alleles, DRB5 * 0101, DP * 0401 and DP * 0402. Preferably, said peptide binds at least four different HLA II molecules predominant in the Caucasian population and comprises at least positions 9 to 15, 14 to 28 or 110 to 124 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein. Said peptide advantageously comprises the positions 1 to 15 4 to 18 ₅ 9 to 21, 9 to 22, 9 to 23 or l4 to 28 of the amino acid sequence of midkine protein.

Preferably, said peptide is constituted by positions 1 to 15 (MDK 1-15), 4 to 18 (MDK 4-18), 9 to 21 (MDK 9-21), 9 to 22 (MDK 9-22) , 9-23 (MDK 9-23), 14-28 (MDK 14-28), or 110-124 (MDK 110-124) of the amino acid sequence of Midkine protein; these peptides correspond, respectively, to the sequences SEQ ID NO: 9 to 15 in the sequence listing in the appendix.

According to the invention, said peptide advantageously comprises several CD4 ⁺ and / or CD8 ⁺ T epitopes of the Midkine protein, optionally combined with other CD4 ⁺ , TCD8 ⁺ or T epitopes. The epitopes are advantageously CD4 ⁺ T epitopes. or CD8 ⁺ T derived from tumor antigen as described at http://www.cancerimmunity.org/peptidedatabase/tumorspecific.htm, including CD4 ⁺ or CD8 ⁺ T epitopes derived from MAGE, NY-ESO-I or survivin.

According to an advantageous arrangement, preceding embodiments, said peptide is a fragment of the Midkine protein comprising at least one CD8 ⁺ T epitope restricted to the HLA-A2 molecule and at least one CD4 ⁺ T epitope restricted to at least four HLA II molecules. various predominant in the Caucasian population, which peptide comprises positions 9 to 21, 9 to 22, 9 to 23 or 110 to 124 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein. Preferably cation, said peptide is constituted by positions 9 to 21 (MDK 9-21), 9 to 22 (MDK 9-22), 9 to 23 (MDK 9-23) or 110 to 124 (MDK 1 10-124) of the amino acid sequence of the Midkine protein.

Such a peptide advantageously makes it possible to induce both CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes specific for numerous tumors in the majority of the individuals of the Caucasian population presenting these tumors.

The different epitopes can be included in the vaccine composition in the form of a mixture of isolated peptides, a multiepitopic peptide, a fusion protein or a polynucleotide encoding the foregoing peptides / protein. The said peptides / protein may be modified or associated with liposomes or lipids, in particular in the form of lipopeptides. Preferably, said polynucleotide is included in a vector, in particular an expression vector.

Among the epitopes that can be incorporated into the vaccine composition of the invention, mention may be made especially of: MAGE CD8 + T epitopes as described in the US Pat.

6,063,900 and PCT Application WO 2004/052917,

MAGE CD4 + T epitopes such as MAGE-A3 267-282 restricted to DR1 (PCT International Application WO 02/095051); MAGE-A3 149-160 restricted to DR4 and DR7 (Kobayashi et al, Cancer Research, 2001, 61, 4773-4778); MAGE-A3 191-205 and 281-295 restricted to DR1 (Consogno et al., Blood, 2003, 101, 1038-1044, Manici et al., J. Exp. Med., 1999, 189, 871-876) and MAGE-A3 121-134 restricted to DR13 (US Patent 6,716,809); MAGE-A1 281-292 restricted to DR15 (PCT International Application WO 00/78806); DR4-restricted MAGE-A6 102-116, 121-144, 140-170, 145-160, 150-165 and 246-263 (Tatsumi et al, Clinical Cancer Research, 2003, 9, 947-954) MAGE-A1 281 -292 restricted to DRl 5 (PCT International Application WO 00/78806); DR4-restricted MAGE-A6 102-1 16, 121-144, 140-170, 145-160, 150-165 and 246-263 (Tatsumi et al., Clinical Cancer Research, 2003, 9, 947-954) and epitopes MAGE restricted to HLA-DP4 as described in PCT International Application WO 2007/026078, - a CD8 ⁺ T epitope of survivin selected from: survivin 96-104

(LTLGEFLKL, SEQ ID NO: 39) or 95-104 (ELTLGEFLKL, SEQ ID NO: 40), survivin-2B 80-88 (AYACNTSTL, SEQ ID NO: 41) and the peptides as described in Table I of Bachinsky et al, Cancer Immun., 2005, 5, 6-,

a survivin CD4 ⁺ T epitope as described in PCT International Application WO 2007/036638 and in particular peptide 19-33, 90-104 or 93-107,

- a CD4 ⁺ T epitope natural or synthetic universal such that the peptide of the tetanus toxin TT 830-846 (O ¹ SULLIVAN et al, J. Immunol, 1991, 147, 2663-2669.), The haemagglutinin peptide virus HA 307-319 influenza (O'Sullivan et al, supra), PADRE peptide (KXV AA WTLKAA, SEQ ID NO: 16, Alexander et al., Immunity, 1994, 1, 751-761) and peptides derived from Plasmodium falciparum antigens such as CS.T3 peptide (Sinigaglia et al., Nature, 1988, 336, 778-780) and CSP, SSP2, LSA-I and EXP-I peptides (Doolan et al., J. Immunol. , 2000, 165, 123-1137),

an epitope B consisting of a sugar (Alexander et al., cited above), said epitope B being preferably in the form of a glycopeptide, and

an epitope B of Midkine specifically recognized by antibodies directed against said tumor antigen.

The combination of Midkine CD4 + and / or CD8 + T epitope (s) with at least one of the epitopes as defined above advantageously makes it possible to improve the anti-tumor immune response and in particular the establishment of a long-term immune memory.

According to another advantageous embodiment of said use, said peptide derived from midkine is a multi-epitopic peptide comprising the concatenation of at least two identical or different epitopes of which at least one is a CD4 ⁺ T epitope and / or CD8 ⁺ T of Midkine. The multi-epitope peptide advantageously comprises other epitopes (CD4 ⁺ T epitope or CD8 ⁺ T of another tumor antigen), as defined above. According to the invention, the sequences of the different epitopes are linked together by a peptide bond or separated by heterologous sequences, that is to say sequences different from those naturally present at this position in the sequence. amino acids of Midkine. Preferably, said multiepitopic peptide has a length of 20 to 1000 amino acids, preferably 20 to 100 amino acids. Said multiepitopic peptide advantageously comprises a label fused at one of its ends for the purification or detection of said fragment. The tag, particularly a polyhistidine sequence or an epitope B of an antigen, is preferably separated from the multiepitope sequence by a protease cleavage site so as to isolate the multiepitope sequence from the fusion.

According to another advantageous embodiment of said use, said peptide derived from Midkine is a lipopeptide comprising a peptide or a multiepitopic fragment, as defined above. Said lipopeptide is especially obtained by adding a lipid on an α-amino function or on a reactive function of the side chain of an amino acid of said peptide or multiepitopic fragment; it may comprise one or more chains derived from C _4-20 fatty acids, optionally branched or unsaturated (palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, 2-amino hexadecanoic acid, pimelautide, trimetauxide) or a derivative of a steroid. The preferred lipid portion is in particular represented by a N ^α -acetyl-lysine N ^ε (palmitoyl) group, also called Ac-K (Pam).

According to another advantageous embodiment of said use, said peptide derived from midkine is fused with a heterologous protein or protein fragment (fusion protein).

The peptide or multiepitopic fragment may be fused with the NH ₂ or COOH end of said protein or inserted into the sequence of said protein. According to an advantageous embodiment of said fusion protein, it consists of a peptide as defined above, fused with a targeting sequence in the endosome, preferably derived from a human invariable chain Ii or from the protein LAMP-I. The targeting sequences in the endosome and their use for the targeting of antigens in the endosome are notably described in Sanderson et al. (Proc Nat Sci USA, 1995, 92, 7217-7222), Wu et al. (Proc Nat Sci USA, 1995, 92, 11671-11675) and Thompson et al. (J. Virol., 1998, 72, 2246-2252).

According to an advantageous arrangement of said fusion protein, it consists of a peptide as defined above, fused with one of the chains of an HLA molecule, preferably the beta chain of an HLA II molecule or the alpha chain of an HLA I molecule, or with a fragment thereof corresponding to a soluble HLA molecule, in particular a fragment corresponding to the domain extracellular preceded by the homologous signal peptide or a heterologous signal peptide. Said peptide is advantageously inserted between the signal peptide and the NH ₂ end of the extracellular domain of the α or β chain, as described for the HLA-DR molecule (Kolzin et al, PNAS, 2000, 97, 291-296).

Alternatively, said peptide or said multiepitopic fragment are fused with a protein facilitating their purification or their detection, known to those skilled in the art such as Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and fluorescent proteins (GFP and derivatives). In this case, the sequence of the peptide or multi-epitope fragment of interest is preferably separated from the rest of the protein by a protease cleavage site, to facilitate the purification of said peptide or said multiepitopic fragment. According to another advantageous embodiment of said use, said polynucleotide encodes a peptide, a multi-epitope fragment or a fusion protein as defined above.

According to the invention, the sequence of said polynucleotide is that of the cDNA coding for said peptide or multiepitopic fragment or said fusion protein. Said sequence may advantageously be modified in such a way that codon usage is optimal in the host in which it is expressed. In addition, said polynucleotide may be linked to at least one heterologous sequence.

Within the meaning of the present invention, heterologous sequence is understood to mean a nucleic acid sequence encoding midkine, any nucleic acid sequence other than those which, in nature, are immediately adjacent to said nucleic acid sequence encoding said Midkine peptide. Preferably, said polynucleotide is inserted into a vector. For the purpose of the present invention, the term vector is understood to mean a nucleic acid molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid with which it is associated. One type of vector that can be used in the present invention includes, but is not limited to, a linear or circular DNA or RNA molecule consisting of chromosomal, non-chromosomal, synthetic, nucleic acids. or semi-synthetic, such as in particular a viral vector, a plasmid or an RNA vector.

Many vectors in which a nucleic acid molecule of interest can be inserted in order to introduce and maintain it in a eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cell are known per se; the choice of an appropriate vector depends on the use envisaged for this vector (for example replication of the sequence of interest, expression of this sequence, maintenance of this sequence in extrachromosomal form, or integration into the chromosomal material of the host), as well as the nature of the host cell. For example, it is possible to use naked nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) or viral vectors such as adenoviruses, retroviruses, lentiviruses and AAVs in which the sequence of interest has been inserted beforehand; said sequence (isolated or inserted in a plasmid vector) may also be associated with a substance enabling it to cross the membrane of host cells, such as a transporter such as a nanotransporter or a preparation of liposomes, or of cationic polymers, or introduce it into said host cell using physical methods such as electroporation or micro injection. In addition, these methods can advantageously be combined, for example by using electroporation associated with liposomes.

Preferably, said vector comprises all the elements necessary for the expression of the peptide or of the protein as defined above. For example, said vector comprises an expression cassette including at least one polynucleotide as defined above, under the control of appropriate transcriptional regulatory and possibly translational sequences (promoter, activator, intron, initiation codon ( ATG), stop codon, polyadenylation signal, splice site). The vaccine composition according to the invention advantageously comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, a carrier substance and / or an adjuvant.

The pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles, the carrier substances and the adjuvants are those conventionally used. The adjuvants are advantageously chosen from the group consisting of: oily emulsions, mineral substances, bacterial extracts, oligonucleotides containing CpG, saponin, alumina hydroxide, monophosphoryl lipid A and squalene.

The carrier substances are advantageously selected from the group consisting of: unilamellar or multilamellar liposomes, ISCOMS, virosomes, viral pseudoparticles, saponin micelles, solid microspheres of saccharide nature (poly (lactide-co-glycolide)) or auriferous, and nanoparticles.

The vaccine composition comprises an effective peptide / protein / lipopeptide / vector dose for obtaining a prophylactic / therapeutic effect on cancer associated with tumor overexpression of midkine as defined above. This dose is determined and adjusted according to factors such as the age, sex and weight of the subject. The vaccine composition is generally administered according to the usual vaccination protocols, at doses and for a time sufficient to induce a cell response directed against Midkine protein. Administration may be subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal, intraperitoneal, oral, sublingual, rectal, vaginal, intranasal, inhalation or transdermal.

The composition is in a dosage form adapted to a chosen administration: sterile injectable solution, powder, tablets, capsules, suspension, syrup, suppositories, which are prepared according to the standard protocols.

According to an advantageous embodiment of said composition, it comprises at least one CD4 + T epitope and a Midkine CD8 + T epitope, in the form of a mixture of peptides, a multiepitopic fragment and / or a DNA vector. an expression encoding said peptides or said fragment as defined above. According to an advantageous arrangement of this embodiment of said composition, it comprises at least the peptide MDK 9-21, MDK 9-22, MDK 9-23 or MDK 110-124.

Preferably, the peptide MDK 9-21, MDK 9-22 or MDK 9-23 is combined with peptide MDK 74-88 or 78-92, peptide MDK 14-28 or 99-113 and peptide MDK 4-18.

Such peptide combinations which bind the HLA-A2 molecule and the set of molecules HLA-DR1, HLA-DR3, HLA-DR4, HLA-DR7, HLA-DRI, HLA-DR13, HLA-DRl5, HLA-DRB3, HLA-DRB4, HLA-DRB5, HLA-DP401 and HLA-DP402 (Table VII) advantageously makes it possible to induce CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in almost all of the cells. vaccinated individuals.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said composition, it comprises a peptide including a universal CD4 + T epitope and / or a CD4 + T and / or CD8 + T epitope of another tumor antigen, as defined above.

Peptides according to the present invention and derived products

(Multiepitope peptide, fusion protein, lipopeptide, recombinant vector) can be used in immunotherapy for the treatment of tumors overexpressing midkine. Said peptides or derivatives are used either as a vaccine or in cell therapy, or even by a combination of both approaches.

Cellular therapy comprises, the preparation of antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells) by a conventional protocol comprising isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a patient to be treated and culturing of the dendritic cells in the presence of peptide (s). In a second step the antigen presenting cells loaded with the peptide are reinjected into the patient.

The subject of the present invention is also a vaccine composition, characterized in that it comprises at least one peptide fragment derived from midkine as defined above, a multiepitopic peptide, a fusion protein, a lipopeptide or a vector such as defined above, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a carrier substance or an adjuvant.

The present invention also relates to a method of antitumor vaccination, prophylactic or therapeutic, characterized in that it comprises the administration of a vaccine composition as defined above, to an individual, by any appropriate means as defined above.

The subject of the present invention is also the use of at least one peptide as defined above for the preparation of an immunomonitoring reagent of the cellular response against midkine intended for the evaluation of the prognosis or follow-up of cancer treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy). Preferably, said reagent comprises a peptide or a fusion protein as defined above, for example labeled and / or complexed with an HLA molecule, in the form of multimeric HLA / peptide complexes such as tetramers of HLA / peptide complexes, labeled.

The subject of the present invention is also an in vitro method for immunomonitoring the cellular response against midkine in an individual suffering from cancer, characterized in that it comprises:

contacting a biological sample of said individual with a peptide as defined above, and

the detection of CD4 + T lymphocytes and / or CD8 + T cells specific for midkine, by any appropriate means. The method according to the invention makes it possible to follow the evolution of the CD8 + T and / or CD8 + T response directed against midkine during a cancer or an antitumor treatment, in particular antitumor immunotherapy; Midkine-specific CD4 + T lymphocytes may be of TH1 type (secretion of IFN-gamma), TH2 (secretion of IL-4) or regulatory T (secretion of IL-10 or of TGF-β); it is expected that the TH1 type T response is a sign of a favorable evolution of the cancer whereas the regulatory T response is a sign of an unfavorable evolution of this cancer. Detection is performed from a biological sample containing CD4 + and / or CD8 + T cells, including a sample of mononuclear cells isolated from a peripheral blood sample (PBMCs). Midkine-specific CD4 + and / or CD8 + T cells are detected by any means, known per se. For example, it is possible to use direct means such as flow cytometry in the presence of multimeric complexes as defined above, or indirect means such as lymphocyte proliferation assays, cell cytotoxicity assays and cytokine assays. such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IFN-gamma, in particular by immunoenzymatic techniques (ELISA, RIA, ELISPOT) or by flow cytometry (assay of intracellular cytokines).

More precisely:

A cell suspension (PBMC, PBMC depleted in CD4 + or CD8 + cells, T lymphocytes previously enriched by an in vitro culture step with the peptides as defined above or cloned T lymphocytes) is placed in the presence of said peptides and if necessary. appropriate presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, autologous or heterologous PBMCs, lymphoblastoid cells such as those obtained after infection with EBV or genetically modified cells. The presence of Midkine-specific CD4 + and / or CD8 + T cells in the initial suspension is detected using the peptides, by one of the following methods:

* proliferation test:

The proliferation of Midkine-specific CD4 + and / or CD8 + T cells is measured by incorporation of tritiated thymidine into the DNA of the cells.

* ELISPOT test: The ELISPOT test makes it possible to reveal the presence of cytokine secreting T cells (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α and TGF-β) specific for a peptide as defined above. The principle of this test is described in Czerkinsky et al. , J. Immunol. Methods, 1983, 65, 109-121 and Schmittel et al, J. Immunol. Methods, 1997, 210, 167-174, and its implementation is illustrated in International Application WO 99/51630 or Gahéry-Ségard et al., J. Viral., 2000, 74, 1694-1703.

* detection of cytokines:

The presence of cytokine-secreting midkine-specific T cells (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-gamma, TNF-α and TGF-β) is detected, either by cytokine assay. present in the culture supernatant, by an enzymatic immunoassay, in particular using a commercial kit, or by detection of intracellular cytokines in flow cytometry. The principle of detection of intracellular cytokines is described in Goulder et al. , J. Exp. Med., 2000, 192, 1819-1832 and Maecker et al, J. Immunol. Methods, 2001, 255, 27-40 and its implementation is illustrated in Draenert et al, J. Immunol. Methods, 2003, 275, 19-29. * multimeric complexes

a biological sample, preferably peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), is brought into contact with marked multimeric complexes, in particular with a fluorochrome, formed by the binding between soluble HLA molecules and peptides as defined above and the cells labeled with said multimeric complexes are analyzed, in particular by flow cytometry. Advantageously, prior to bringing the biological sample into contact with said complexes, it is enriched in CD4 + T cells and / or CD8 + T cells, by bringing it into contact with anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibodies.

The HLA / peptide multimeric complexes can be prepared from native molecules extracted from cells expressing an HLA I molecule and or

HLA II or recombinant molecules produced in appropriate host cells as specified, for example in NOVAK et al. (J. Clin., Investig., 1999, 104, R63-

R67) or in KURODA et al. (J. Virol., 2000, 74, 18, 8751-8756). These molecules

HLA can in particular be truncated (deletion of the transmembrane domain) and their sequence can be modified in order to make them soluble or to facilitate the pairing of alpha and beta chains (Novak et al, cited above).

The loading of HLA molecules with the peptide can be done by contacting a preparation of HLA molecules as above, with the peptide. For example, soluble and biotinylated HLA molecules are incubated, for 72 hours at 37 ° C., with a 10-fold excess of peptides as defined above, in a 10 mM phosphate-citrate buffer, 0.15 NaCl. M at a pH of between 4.5 and 7.

Alternatively, the peptide sequence can be introduced into one of the chains of the HLA molecule as a fusion protein that allows the preparation of HLA / peptide multimeric complexes from appropriate host cells expressing said fusion protein. Said complexes can then be labeled, in particular with biotin.

The multimeric complexes of tetramer type are obtained in particular by adding to the charged HLA molecules, streptavidin labeled with a fluorochrome in a quantity four times smaller (mole to mole) relative to the molecules.

HLA. The assembly is then incubated for a sufficient time, for example overnight at room temperature.

The multimeric complexes can also be formed, either by incubation of HLA / peptide monomers with streptavidin-coupled magnetic beads as described for HLA I molecules (Bodinier et al., Nature,

2000, 6, 707-710), or by insertion of HLA / peptide monomers into vesicles lipids as described for murine class II MHC molecules (Prakken, Nature Medicine, 2000, 6, 1406-1410).

To use these multimeric HLA / peptide complexes, especially of the tetramer type, a suspension of cells (PBMC, PBMC depleted in CD4 + and / or CD8 + cells, T lymphocytes previously enriched by an in vitro culture step with peptides such as defined above or cloned T lymphocytes) with HLA / peptide multimeric complexes at a suitable concentration (for example of the order of 10 to 20 μg / ml), for a time sufficient to allow the binding between the complexes and the Midkine-specific CD4 + and / or CD8 + T cells (e.g., on the order of 1 to 3 hours). After washing, the suspension is analyzed by flow cytometry: the labeling of the cells is visualized by the multimeric complexes which are fluorescent. Flow cytometry makes it possible to separate the cells labeled with the HLA / peptide multimeric complexes from the unlabeled cells and thus perform cell sorting. The present invention also relates to an immunomonitoring reagent comprising at least one peptide as defined above. Preferably, said reagent is included in a box (kit). Said immunomonitoring reagent advantageously comprises a peptide or a fusion protein as defined above, optionally labeled or complexed, in particular complexed with labeled HLA molecules, for example biotinylated, in the form of multimeric HLA / peptide complexes such as tetramers. of HLA / peptide complexes, labeled.

Another subject of the present invention is therefore a method for analyzing Midkine-specific CD4 + and / or CD8 + T lymphocytes, characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps:

the bringing into contact, in vitro, of a cell sample with labeled HLA / peptide multimeric complexes, in particular with a fluorochrome, said complexes being formed by the binding of soluble HLA molecules with at least one peptide as defined above and the analysis of the cells bound to said HLA / peptide complexes, in particular in flow cytometry. According to an advantageous embodiment of said method, the analysis of the cells (CD4 + T lymphocytes and / or CD8 + T) comprises the sorting of said cells.

The present invention further relates to a peptide fragment derived from Midkine, a multiepitopic peptide, a fusion protein, a lipopeptide, as defined above.

The present invention also relates to a polynucleotide, an expression cassette, a recombinant vector, a prokaryotic or modified eukaryotic host cell derived from the preceding peptides / protein.

The invention encompasses in particular: a) expression cassettes comprising at least one polynucleotide as defined above, under the control of appropriate transcriptional regulatory and possibly translational sequences (promoter, enhancer, intron, codon of initiation (ATG), stop codon, polyadenylation signal), and b) recombinant vectors comprising a polynucleotide according to the invention. Advantageously, these vectors are expression vectors comprising at least one expression cassette as defined above.

The polynucleotides, the recombinant vectors and the transformed cells as defined above are especially useful for the production of the peptides, multiepitopic fragments and fusion proteins according to the invention. The polynucleotides according to the invention are obtained by conventional methods, known per se, following the standard protocols such as those described in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Frederick M. A USUBEL, 2000, Wiley and Son Inc., Library of Congress, USA). For example, they can be obtained by amplification of a nucleic sequence by PCR or RT-PCR, by screening genomic DNA libraries by hybridization with a homologous probe, or by total or partial chemical synthesis. Recombinant vectors are constructed and introduced into host cells by conventional methods of recombinant DNA and genetic engineering, which are known per se.

The peptides and their derivatives (variants, modified peptides, lipopeptides, multiepitopic fragments, fusion proteins) as defined above, are prepared by standard techniques known to those skilled in the art, in particular by solid or liquid phase synthesis or by expression of a recombinant DNA in a suitable cellular system (eukaryote or prokaryote). More precisely:

the peptides and their derivatives (variants, multiepitopic peptides) can be synthesized in solid phase, according to the Fmoc technique, originally described by Merrifield et al. (J. Am Chem Soc., 1964, 85: 2149-) and purified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography,

the lipopeptides may especially be prepared according to the process described in International Applications WO 99/40113 or WO 99/51630. the peptides and derivatives such as the variants, the multiepitopic fragments and the fusion proteins can also be produced from the corresponding cDNAs, obtained by any means known to those skilled in the art; the cDNA is cloned into a eukaryotic or prokaryotic expression vector and the protein or fragment produced in the cells modified with the recombinant vector are purified by any appropriate means, in particular by affinity chromatography.

In addition to the foregoing, the invention also comprises other arrangements, which will emerge from the description which follows, which refers to examples of implementation of the subject of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in FIG. which: - Figure 1 represents the peptide sequence of the human Midkine

(SEQ ID NO: 2). The complete sequence corresponds to the precursor. The signal peptide is indicated in bold and underlined.

FIG. 2 illustrates the peptide specificity of CD8 + T lymphocytes induced against the peptides of Midkine. T cell lines (267.29A, 278.1 IA, 314.28) were obtained by stimulation of T cells from three healthy individuals expressing HLA-A2 (267, 278, 314). After 4 weeks of culture, their specificity was tested by Elispot IFN-γ.

FIG. 3 illustrates the restriction to HLA-A2 of CD8 + T lymphocytes specific for Midkine peptides. The restriction was evaluated by Elispot IFN-γ, using C 1 R and C 1 R-A2 cells (C 1 R transfected with HLA-A2).

FIG. 4 illustrates the recognition of cells transfected with a Midkine expression plasmid by CD8 + T lymphocytes specific for peptides of Midkine. C1R-A2 cells were transfected with a recombinant pcDNA3.1 plasmid containing the midkine coding sequence (pMDK). Activation of CD8 ⁺ T cells by pMDK-transfected or non-transfected C1R-A2 cells was assessed by Elispot IFN-γ. - Figure 5 illustrates the expression of midkine in tumor cells. Expression of Midkine was assessed in C1R-A2, DLD-I and Hep G2 cells by flow cytometry using an anti-Midkine antibody. Gray surface: negative control. Area under the black line: natural expression of Midkine. Black surface: Expression of midkine after transfection of cells by a Midkine expression plasmid.

FIG. 6 illustrates the recognition of tumor lines by CD8 + T lymphocytes specific for Midkine peptides. Recognition of tumors was tested by IFN-γ Elispot using cell HLA-A2 ^"1" CIR-A2 (MDK ^"), DLD-I ^(MDK") and Hep G2 (MDK ^+). The cells marked with a star were cultured in the presence of IFN-γ.

FIG. 7 illustrates the detection of Midkine-specific CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes by labeling with specific tetramers. T cell lines 314.7 (A and C) and 314.28 (B and D) are specific for the MDK 114-122 and MDK 13-21 peptides, respectively. Each line was labeled with anti-CD8 antibody and HLA-A2 / MDK1 14-122 (A and B) and HLA-A2 / MDK13-21 (C and D) tetramers and analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentage of each cell population is indicated in each quadrant.

FIG. 8 illustrates the restriction to HLA II of the CD4 + T lymphocytes specific for the peptide 9-23 of Midkine. The restriction was evaluated by Elispot IFN-γ, using L cells transfected with an HLA II molecule (HLA-DR7, -DRl 1, -DRl 5, -DRB5) and loaded with the peptide 9-23.

FIG. 9 illustrates the detection of the recognition of tumor lysates by the T 331.24 line of CD4 + T lymphocytes specific for the Midkine peptide 9-23. Recognition of tumors was tested by IFN-γ Elispot, using HeLa cells (MDK ^"), HeLa-pMDK (MDK ⁺⁾ and Hep G2 (MDK ^+). Example 1 Induction of a Specific CD8 + T Response of Peptides of the Midkine Protein

1) Materials and methods a) Peptides

Seven peptides representing potential CD8 + T epitopes restricted to the HLA-A2 molecule, the most represented Class I Pallele HLA in the Caucasian population, were selected using the BIMAS program (http: // www- bimas.cit. nih.gov). The sequences of the selected peptides are presented in Table IV and the attached sequence listing.

Table IV: List of selected peptides

The peptides were synthesized according to the Fmoc strategy in solid phase parallel synthesis, purified by HPLC and controlled by mass spectrometry (ES-MS). b) Obtaining CD8 + T Lines Specific for Midkine Peptides and Restricted to HLA-A2

The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy subjects with the HLA-A2 molecule were separated on a Ficoll gradient. The PBMCs were then cultured in AIM V (LIFE TECHNOLOGIES) medium and incubated overnight at 37 ° C in the presence of 5% CO ₂ /95% air. CD8 + T cells were purified from non-adherent cells by immunomagnetic sorting and frozen. The adherent cells were differentiated into immature dendritic cells by culture for 5 days in AIM V medium containing 100 μ / ml of GM-CSF and 100 μ / ml of IL-4 and then in mature dendritic cells by 2 days of culture in the presence of 1 μg / ml of LPS, 1000 U / ml of IL-4 and 1000 U / ml of GM-CSF. The mature dendritic cells were incubated in the presence of 5 μg / ml of beta-2-microglobulin and 10 μg / ml of each of the peptides of Table IV. After 4 hours, the cells were washed and then cultured in 96-well plates, in the presence of purified CD8 T lymphocytes, in IMDM medium containing 10% of human serum of group AB, IL-6 (100 / mL) and IL-12 (5 ng / mL). Each week, the culture was re-stimulated by mature, autologous dendritic cells loaded with the above peptide mixture in medium containing 20 U / mL IL-2 and 10 ng / mL IL-7. After 4 weeks of culture, the specificity of the T cell lines contained in each well was tested by Elispot IFNγ. c ^* ) Presentation of Midkine Protein to CD8 ⁺ T Lymphocytes Specific to Midkine Peptides

The peptide-specific CD8 ⁺ T cell lines were cultured in the presence of C1R-A2 cells transfected with a recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1 (IN VITROGEN) comprising the coding sequence of Midkine under the control of the CMV promoter and the polyadenylation signal. bovine growth hormone. Activation of CD8 ⁺ T cells by these transfected C1R-A2 cells was assessed by ELISPOT as specified below. d) Recognition of tumor cells by CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes specific for Midkine peptides

Peptide-specific CD8 ⁺ T cell lines were cultured in the presence of different tumor lines: DLD-I (ATCC® # CCL-221) and Hep G2 (ATCC® # HB-8065). The activation of CD8 ⁺ T cells by these tumor cells was evaluated by ELISPOT as specified below. e) ELISPOT

Anti-IFN-gamma antibodies (1-D1K, MABTECH) diluted to 2.5 μg / ml in PBS buffer were adsorbed on nitrocellulose (MILLIPORE) plates for 1 hour at 37 ° C. The plates were then washed with PBS and then saturated with ISCOVE medium containing 10% human serum AB group (100 .mu.l / well) for 2 h at 37.degree.

The antigen-presenting cells are either cells of the ClR line of lymphoblastoid B cells (Hogan et al., J. Immunol., 1988, 141, 2519-), lacking HLA-A and HLA-B molecules, transfected with the CDNA encoding HLA-A2 (C1R-A2) and loaded with a single peptide (10 μg peptide) or the mixture peptides (10 μg of each peptide), or C1R-A2 cells transfected with a Midkine expression plasmid, or else tumor cells expressing midkine.

To verify the specificity of the lines with respect to the HLA-A2 molecule, the ClR cells transfected with HLA-A2 (30,000 cells / well) and 5000 lymphocytes to be tested were then added to the plates and incubated for 24 hours. 37 ° C., in the presence or in the absence of a single peptide (10 μg of peptide) or of a mixture of peptides (10 μg of each peptide). For dose-response analyzes, the peptides are used at different concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 10 μg / mL. To analyze recognition by peptide-specific CD8 + T cells, Midkine-transfected HLA-A2-expressing cells, HLA-A2-transfected ClR cells and a Midkine expression plasmid (30,000 cells / well) and 5000 test lymphocytes were then added to the plates and incubated for 24 h at 37 ° C. To analyze the recognition of tumor cells expressing the

Midkine by peptide-specific CD8 + T cells, tumor cells (30,000 cells / well) and 5000 test lymphocytes were then added to the plates and incubated for 24 h at 37 ° C.

After three successive washings with water, 0.05% PBS Tween buffer, and PBS alone, 100 μl of biotinylated anti-IFN-γ secondary antibody (7-B6-1-biotin, MABTECH), diluted 0.25 μg / ml in PBS containing 1% BSA, was added to each well. After incubation for one hour at room temperature, the plates were washed again and then incubated for one hour at ambient temperature with 100 μl / well of Extravidin-AKP (E-2636, SIGMA) diluted 1/6000. After washing the plates in PBS buffer, 100 μl of NBT / BCIP substrate (B-5655, SIGMA) diluted in water (1 tablet in 10 ml of water) was dispensed into each well. Immunoenzymatic revelation was stopped after about 10 minutes, by extensive rinsing of the plates in water. After drying the plates, the colored spots were counted using an automatic reader (AID). The lines are considered positive when the number of spots is greater than three times that obtained with the negative control (control without peptides) with a minimum of 50 spots. The witness without cells presenters makes it possible to check the specificity of the response for HLA-A2 (restriction control).

2) Results

The ability of Midkine protein to induce a cellular immune response specific to tumor cells was evaluated. To do this, CD8 ⁺ T epitopes restricted to the HLA-A2 molecule, the most common HLA I molecule in the Caucasian population, were first identified in the midkine sequence. Then, the ability of CD8 ⁺ T cells induced by these epitopes to selectively recognize a tumor line expressing midkine was analyzed. The synthesized peptides were tested for their ability to induce in vitro _Λ response from cells collected from healthy subjects with the HLA-A2 molecule. Six of these peptides induced CD8 ⁺ T cells: MDK 13-21, MDK 13-22, MDK 12-21, MDK 14-22, MDK 113-122 and MDK 114-122. As shown in Figure 2, the CD8 + T cell line 267.29A is specific for peptides 12-21, 13-21, 13-22. The line 278.1 IA is specific for peptides 13-21, 13-22 and 14-22. The line 314.28 is specific for peptide 114-122 and to a lesser extent for peptide 113-122. The peptides 12-21, 13-21, 13-22, 14-22, 113-122 and 114-122 are therefore immunogenic and induce CD8 ⁺ T cells in healthy HLA-A2 ⁺ donors. Restriction of peptide-specific CD8 ⁺ T cell lines by the HLA-A2 molecule is shown in Figure 3. Only HLA-A2 (C1R-A2) cells can present the peptides to specific T cell lines. ClR cells (HLA-A2 ^" ) do not stimulate them even in the presence of peptides In order to verify that the presenting cells were capable of correctly preparing Midkine, C1R-A2 cells were transfected with a pcDNA3.1 plasmid recombinant comprising the Midkine coding sequence, Figure 4 shows that CD8 + T lymphocyte 278.1 IA lines (specific for peptides 13-22 and 14-22), 297.58 (specific for peptides 12-21, 13-21 and 14- 22) and 314.48 (specific for peptide 114-122) are activated by the transfected cells and the CIR-A2 cells loaded by the peptides but not by the non-transfected cells. The recognition of tumor lines expressing or not expressing Midkine by CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes specific for midkine peptides was also studied. Figure 6 shows the expression or not of midkine by the different lines. In FIG. 7, it is observed that CD8 ⁺ T lymphocyte 267.29 A (specific for peptides 13-22, 12-22 and 13-21), 278.1 IA (specific for peptides 13-22 and 14-22 ), and 314.48 (peptide specific 114-122) recognize Hep G2 cells which naturally express Midkine but not ClR-A2 and DLD-I cells that do not express Midkine. The recognition is slightly better when the Hep G2 cells are cultured in the presence of IFN-γ, because of the increase in the expression of HLA molecules on the cells. Line 297.58 (specific for peptides 12-21, 13-21 and 14-22) recognizes Hep G2 cells only when cultured in the presence of IFN-γ.

All of these results show that Midkine contains six peptides divided into two groups of overlapping peptides capable of inducing activation of HLA-A2 restricted CD8 ⁺ T cells that selectively recognize tumor cells expressing midkine.

Example 2 Detection of CD8 ⁺ T Lymphocytes Specific to Midkine Peptides by Labeling with Specific Tetramers

Each lymphocyte line (500,000 cells) obtained in Example 1 was labeled for 1 hour in the dark and at 4 ° C., with 50 μg / ml of tetramer in 200 μl of PBS 2% FCS. These tetramers are HLA-A2 molecules loaded with peptide 13-21 or 114-122, biotinylated and complexed with streptavidin labeled with phycoerythrin, prepared according to the technique previously described in NOVAK et al. (J. Clin. Investig., 1999, 104, R63-R67) or in KURODA et al. (J. Virol., 2000, 74, 18, 8751-8756). The cells were then washed twice with PBS and then labeled for 30 min at 4 ° C. using an anti-CD8 FITC antibody (BD BIOSCIENCES). After washing with PBS, the cells were fixed with 50 μl of PBS containing 1% paraformaldehyde (PAF). The markings were analyzed on a FACSCalibur flow cytometer (BD BIOSCIENCES). The results are shown in Figure 7. Example 3 Induction of a Specific CD4 + T Response of Midkine Protein Peptides 1) Materials and Methods a) Peptides

Peptides of 15 amino acids (15-mer) covering the entire human midkine sequence (SWISSPROT P21741, SEQ ID NO: 2 and FIG. 1) were selected according to the presence of aromatic or hydrophobic residues in position 3 or 4, for anchoring in pocket P 1 HLA-DR and HLA-DP4 molecules.

The sequences of the selected peptides are presented in Table V and the attached sequence listing.

The peptides were synthesized according to the Fmoc strategy in solid phase parallel synthesis, purified by HPLC and controlled by mass spectrometry (ES-MS).

Table V: Selected Peptides (SEQ ID NO: 9, 10, 13-15 and 18-30)

Peptide Positions * Sequence

MDK1 MDK 1-15 M Q H R G L L L T L L L

MDK2 MDK4-18 R G L L L T L L L L L T

MDK3 MDK 9-23 L T L L A L L A T T A A V A K

MDK4 MDK14-28 L L A L T S A V A K K D K V

MDK5 MDK 18-32 T S A V A K K D K V K K G G

MDK6 MDK 25-39 K D K V K K G G P G s E C A E

MDK7 MDK 38-52 A E W A W G P C T P s S K D C

MDK8 MDK 52-64 C G V G E G T C G A Q T Q

MDK9 MDK 64-78 Q T Q R I R C R V P C N W K K

MDK10 MDK 70-84 C R V P C N W K K E F G A D C

MDK11 MDK 74-88 C N W K K E F G A D C K Y K F

MDK12 MDK 78-92 K E F G A D C K Y K F E N W G

MDK13 MDK 84-98 C K Y K F E N W G A C 0 G G T

MDKH MDK 89-103 E N W G A C D G G T G T K V R

MDK15 MDK 99-113 G T K V R Q G T L K K A R Y N

MDK16 MDK 105-119 G T L K K A R Y N A Q C Q E T

MDK17 MDK 110-124 A R Y N A Q C Q E T I R V T K

MDK18 MDK 119-133 E T I R V T K P C T P K T K A

positions are numbered with reference to the 143 amino acid Midkine precursor sequence (SwissProt P21741, FIG. 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2). b) HLA H / peptide binding assay

HLA II binding assays are binding assays in competition with enzyme immunoassay, as described in US Pat. No. 6,649,166 and PCT International Application WO 03/040299, respectively for HLA-DR and HLA molecules. -DP4. The implementation of these tests for measuring the binding activity of peptides derived from different antigens is illustrated in US Pat. No. 6,649,166 and PCT International Applications WO 02/090382, WO 03/040299 and WO 2004/014936.

More specifically, the peptides HA 306-318 (PKYVKQNTLKLAT, SEQ ID NO: 31), A3 152-166 (EAEQLRA YLDGTGVE, SEQ ID NO: 32), MT 2-16 (AKTIAYDEEARRGLE, SEQ ID NO: 33). , Bl 21-36 (TERVRLVTRHIYNREE, SEQ ID NO: 34) YKL (AAYAAAKAAALAA, SEQ ID NO: 35), LOL 191-210 (ESWGAVWRIDTPDKLTGPFT, SEQ ID NO: 36), Oxy 271-287 (EKKYFAATQFEPLAARL, SEQ ID NO: 37) and E2 / E168 (AGDLLAIETDKATI SEQ ID NO: 38), biotinylated at the NH ₂ terminal residue, according to the protocol described in Texier et al., J. Immunol., 2000, 164, 3177-3184), are used as tracer under the conditions as specified in the following.

TABLE VI: Conditions for HLA II binding assays

The sensitivity of each test is reflected by the CIs observed with the non-biotinylated peptides that correspond to the tracers. Concentrations (nM) of competitor peptide that inhibits 50% of maximal binding of the biotinylated tracer peptide (IC ₅₀ ) was calculated for each peptide. The results are expressed in the form of relative activity (ratio of the IC 50 of the competitor peptide to that of the reference peptide (non-biotinylated peptides which corresponds to the tracer). A relative activity of less than 100 characterizes the active peptides. Obtaining CDK + T Lines Specific for Midkine Peptides and Restricted to the HLA II Predominant Molecules Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in healthy individuals whose HLA-DR and HLA-DP genotype were previously determined by SSP, using the OLERUP SSP ™ HLA-DPB1 and HLA-DRB1 kit, were separated on a Ficoll gradient. The PBMCs were then cultured in AIM V medium (LIFE TECHNOLOGIES) and incubated in flasks in an oven at 37 ° C. in the presence of 5% CO ₂ /95% air. After one night of incubation, the non-adherent cells were recovered, and then the CD4 + T cells were purified using anti-CD4 antibodies coupled to magnetic beads (MYLTENYI BIOTEC kit), and frozen. The adherent cells were incubated for 5 days, in AIM V medium containing 1000 U / ml of GM-CSF and 1000 U / ml of IL-4, then the cells differentiated into dendritic cells (immature dendritic cells) were then cultured for 2 days, in the presence of 1 μg / ml of LPS, 1000 U / ml of IL-4 and 1000 U / ml of GM-CSF, so as to induce their maturation.

The mature dendritic cells (100,000 cells / well) were then incubated with a mixture of peptides (10 μg of each peptide in IMDN medium (INVITROGEN) supplemented with glutamine (24 mM, SIGMA), asparagine ( 55 mM, SIGMA), arginine (150 mM, SIGMA), penicillin (50 IU / ml, INVITROGEN), streptomycin (50 mg / ml, INVITROGEN) and 10% human serum), for 4 hours at 37 ° C. The mature dendritic cells were then washed and incubated, in the presence of CD4 + T lymphocytes (100,000 cells / well) previously thawed, in medium containing 1000 U / ml of IL-6 and 10 ng / ml of IL-12. . After 7 days (D7), the culture was stimulated for the first time, using mature dendritic cells previously thawed and loaded with two peptide mixtures covering the entire Midkine sequence (mixture of MDK1 to MDK9 peptides and then mixing MDK1 to MDK18 peptides) in medium containing IL-2 (10 U / ml) and IL-7 (5 ng / ml). After three additional stimulations (J14, J21, J28) using loaded dendritic cells, in medium containing only IL-7 (5 ng / ml), the cells were tested in ELISPOT, at least 6 days later. the last stimulation. d) ELISPOT

Anti-IFN-gamma antibodies (1-D1K, MABTECH) diluted to 2.5 μg / ml in PBS buffer were adsorbed on nitrocellulose (MILLIPORE) plates for 1 hour at 37 ° C. The plates were then washed with PBS and then saturated with ISCOVE medium containing 10% human serum AB group (100 .mu.l / well) for 2 h at 37.degree. The antigen presenting cells are either immature autologous dendritic cells prepared as specified above, or a mouse fibroblast line (L-line), transfected with the cDNA encoding one of the HLA-DR or HLA molecules. -DP4 to be tested (Yu et al., Hum Immunol., 1990, 27, 132-135), so as to verify the specificity of the lines with respect to the HLA-DR and HLA-DP4 molecules. The dendritic cells (10 ⁵ cells / well) or L cells transfected with one of the HLA-DR or HLA-DP4 molecules (30,000 cells / well) and 5000 test lymphocytes were then added to the plates and incubated 24 h at 37 ° C., in the presence or in the absence of a single peptide (10 μg) or a mixture of peptides (10 μg of each peptide). After three successive washes with water, 0.05% PBS Tween buffer, and PBS alone, 100 μl of biotin-conjugated anti-IFN-γ secondary antibody (7-B6-1-biotin, MABTECH) diluted to 0.25 μg / ml in PBS containing 1% BSA, was added to each well. After one hour of incubation, the plates were washed again and incubated with 100 .mu.l / well of Extravidin-AKP (E-2636, SIGMA), diluted to 1/6000. After washing the plates in PBS buffer, 100 μl of NBT / BCIP substrate (B-5655, SIGMA) diluted in water (1 tablet in 10 ml of water) was dispensed into each well. Immunoenzymatic revelation was stopped after about 10 minutes, by extensive rinsing of the plates in water, and the colored spots were counted using an automatic reader (AID). Lines are considered positive when the number of spots is greater than three times that obtained with the negative control (control without peptides) with a minimum of 50 spots.

The control without presenting cells makes it possible to check the specificity of the response for HLA-DR or HLA-DP4 (restriction control). e) recognition of tumor cells by T lymphocytes CD4 ^"1" specific peptides of the midkine

The tumor lines tested are the Hep G2 line which expresses the

Midkine, the HeIa tumor line which does not express Midkine and the HeIa- pMDK line which corresponds to HeLa cells transiently transfected with a Midkine expression plasmid as described in Example 1. The collected cells were lysed. by freeze / thaw cycles. Lymphocyte line 331.24

Midkine peptide 9-23-specific CD4 ⁺ T was incubated in the presence of dendritic cells previously loaded with lysates of tumor lines and its activation was assessed by Elispot as specified above.

2) Results a) Binding activity of Midkine peptides vis-à-vis HLA II molecules

Most of the HLA class II binding sites are in the N-terminal part of midkine, i.e. in the signal peptide (1-

22; Table VII).

* Values are averages of at least two independent experiments. Peptides in the N-terminal region have good affinity for at least 4 HLA II molecules. In particular, peptide 9-23 binds to 8 different HLA II molecules with relative affinities often reflecting high affinity (relative activity less than 10). Other peptides also bind to several HLA II molecules such as peptides 1-15, 4-18, 14-28.

In contrast, peptides from the remainder of the sequence do not show significant binding activity for at least four predominant HLA II molecules in the Caucasian population, with the exception of a peptide from the C-terminal region. 124) which binds with good affinity to four HLA II molecules. b) Induction of a Specific CD4 + T Response by Midkine Peptides

The ability of midkine peptides to induce in vitro stimulation of specific CD4 ⁺ T cells was evaluated from blood samples from healthy (non-tumor-bearing) individuals. It is a question of evaluating the capacity to recruit CD4 + precursor lymphocytes whereas they are in a naïve individual at a very low frequency, that is to say to carry out an in vitro immunization using these peptides.

The CD4 ⁺ T cell lines 331.16, 331.24 and 343.1 were obtained by in vitro stimulation of T cells using mature autologous dendritic cells loaded with two pools of peptides covering the entire midkine sequence. The study of their specificity was made by Elispot IFN-γ and showed that the three lines were specific for peptide 9-23. Each line was tested by Elispot IFN-γ for its ability to be stimulated by L cells transfected with an HLA-DR or HLA-D P4 molecule and loaded with peptide 9-23. FIG. 8 shows that the peptide 9-23 can be presented by the DR7 molecule to the 331 donor lines (331, 16 and 331.24) and that the 343.1 line is restricted to DR1 1 but not to DR15 and DRB5.

The CD4 ⁺ T cell line 331.24 was incubated in the presence of dendritic cells previously loaded with the lysates of tumor lines and its activation was evaluated by Elispot IFN-γ. Figure 9 shows that the 331.24 line is stimulated by dendritic cells loaded with the lysate of transfected HeIa cells but not by the untransfected HeIa cells. This confirms the specificity of the 331.24 T cell line and its ability to recognize midkine present in the transfected cell lysate. It also recognizes midkine naturally produced by Hep G2 tumor line.

All of the results show that peptide 9-23 binds to 8 different HLA II molecules and induces a specific in vitro CD4 ⁺ T response that is restricted to different class II HLA molecules. In addition, CD4 ⁺ T cells induced against this peptide can recognize tumor lysates expressing midkine and presented by dendritic cells. Since this peptide overlaps with the signal peptide (1-22), it can be deduced from these experiments that peptide 9-22 also has CD4 ⁺ T epitopes since the signal peptide of Midkine is cleaved in the cell between Amino acids 22 and 23. It is interesting to note that peptides 9-23 and 9-22 include peptides 12-21, 13-21, 13-22 and 14-22 which have CD8 ⁺ T epitopes. The peptides 9-23 and 9-22 may thus induce responses CD4 ⁺ and CD8 ⁺ T cells specific for tumors expressing midkine.

As is apparent from the above, the invention is not limited to those of its modes of implementation, implementation and application which have just been described more explicitly; it encompasses all the variants that may come to the mind of the technician in the field, without departing from the scope or scope of the present invention.

Claims

1 °) Use of a Peptide Derived from Midkine Protein Comprising at Least a CD4 ⁺ T or CD8 ⁺ T T-Epitope Restricted to the Pre-dominant HLA Molecules in the Caucasian Population or a Polynucleotide Coding for the Peptide, for the Preparation of a Vaccine cancer.

2 °) Use according to claim 1, characterized in that said peptide is constituted by the human midkine protein of sequence SEQ ID NO: 2.

3. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that said peptide is a fragment of at least 8 amino acids of the Midkine protein comprising at least one CD8 + T epitope restricted to the HLA-A2 molecule, which peptide comprises at least less positions 14 to 21 or 114 to 122 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein.

4 °) Use according to claim 3, characterized in that said peptide is constituted by the positions 12 to 21, 13 to 21, 13 to 22, 14 to 22, 113 to 122 or 114 to 122 of the amino acid sequence of Midkine protein.

5 °) Use according to claim 1, characterized in that said peptide is a fragment of at least 8 amino acids of midkine comprising at least one CD4 + T epitope restricted to at least four different predominant HLA II molecules in the Caucasian population, which peptide comprises at least positions 9 to 15, 14 to 28 or 110 to 124 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein.

6 °) Use according to claim 5, characterized in that said peptide is constituted by positions 1 to 15, 4 to 18 or 14 to 28 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein. 7 °) Use according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 5, characterized in that said peptide comprises at least one CD8 + T epitope restricted to the HLA-A2 molecule and at least one CD4 + T epitope restricted to at least four molecules HLA II different predominant in the Caucasian population, which peptide is constituted by positions 9 to 21, 9 to 22, 9 to 23 or 110 to 124 of the amino acid sequence of said midkine protein.

8 °) Use according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said peptide is a multi-epitopic peptide comprising the concatenation of at least two identical or different epitopes at least one of which is a CD4 ⁺ T and / or T CD8 ⁺ T epitope of Midkine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9 °) Use according to claim 8, characterized in that said multi-epitopic peptide comprises a CD4 + T or T CD8 ⁺ T epitope of another tumor antigen.

10 °) Use according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said peptide is fused to a protein or heterologous protein fragment. 11 °) Use according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said peptide is a lipopeptide.

12 °) Use according to claim 1, characterized in that said polynucleotide encodes a peptide as defined in any one of claims 2 to 10. 13 °) Use according to claim 12, characterized in that said polynucleotide is inserted in an expression vector.

14 °) Use according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said vaccine comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, a carrier substance and / or an adjuvant. 15 °) Use of a peptide as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 for the preparation of an immunomonitoring reagent of the cellular response against Midkine, for the evaluation of the prognosis or the follow-up of the treatment of cancer.

16 °) Use according to claim 15, characterized in that said peptide is in the form of tetramers of HLA / peptide molecule complexes, labeled.

17 °) Use according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the cancer is selected from the group consisting of: cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, thyroid , lungs, breast, bladder, uterus, ovary, prostate, hepatocellular carcinomas, osteosarcomas, neuroblastomas, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, leukemias and Wiim tumors . 18 °) vaccine composition, characterized in that it comprises at least one peptide as defined in any one of claims 3 to 11 or a vector as defined in claim 13, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, a carrier substance or an adjuvant. 19 °) In vitro method, of immunomonitoring of the cellular response against midkine in an individual with cancer, characterized in that it comprises:

contacting a biological sample of said individual with a peptide as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 and 16, and detecting Midkine-specific CD4 + and / or CD8 + T cells, by any appropriate means.

20 °) immunomonitoring kit of the cellular response against midkine, characterized in that it comprises a peptide as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 and 16. 21 °) Peptide derived from Midkine as defined in any one of claims 3 to 11.

22 °) Polynucleotide encoding the peptide according to Claim 21. 23 °) Expression vector comprising the polynucleotide according to Claim 22. 24 °) Polynucleotide-modified host cell according to Claim 22 or the vector according to Claim 23.