The immune response of mice and cynomolgus monkeys to macaque mucin 1-mannan

Mice immunised with human epithelial mucin MUC1 coupled to oxidised mannan produce MUC1 specific MHC Class 1 restricted CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells and a re completely protected from the development of MUC1(+) tumours; such thera py may be applicable to humans. In this light we describe pre-clinical stud ies in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), to test the efficacy of ma nnan-MUC1 in higher primates. Monkey MUC1 genomic clones were isolated from a macaque library, peptides and fusion protein synthesised and mice and mo nkeys immunised with macaque MUC1-mannan. In mice CTL responses were induce d (as has been found with human MUC1 mannan conjugates), but in contrast mo nkeys produced a humoral response, with no T cell proliferative, cytotoxic responses or CTLp found. In spite of the presence of anti-MUC1 auto-antibod ies, there was no toxicity or induction of autoimmunity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.