INTRODUCTION OF A DISULFIDE BOND IN THE ALPHA-1 DOMAIN OF THE H-2K(B)MOLECULE CONFERS IMMUNOGENICITY TO THE TRANSFECTED RMA-S TUMORS

The use of major histocompatibility complex class I genes is an emergi ng approach for the immunotherapy of human cancer. The conformational stability of class I molecules is important for their immunologic reco gnition. We have engineered a disulfide bond in the alpha 1 domain of a murine class I molecule, Kb. The expression of the engineered, but n ot the wild-type, K-b molecules conferred immunogenicity to a nonimmun ogenic and antigen presentation-defective tumor cell line, RMA-S. Mice that rejected the engineered K-b-transfected RMA-S cells developed a long-lived antitumor immune response. These data indicate the possibil ity of genetically engineering class I molecules to improve their ther apeutic potential.