B cell Lymphomas present Immunoglobulin Neoantigens

Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and somatic hypermutation have the potential to create neoantigens in non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma. However, the presentation of these putative immunoglobulin neoantigens by B cell lymphomas has not been proven. We used MHC immunoprecipitation followed by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to define antigens presented by follicular lymphomas (FL), chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphomas (MCL). We found presentation of the clonal immunoglobulin molecule, including neoantigens by both class I and class II MHC, though more commonly in class II MHC. To determine whether B cell activation could promote presentation of immunoglobulin neoantigens, we used a toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists to upregulate expression of MHC-II. This resulted in enhanced class II MHC presentation of the immunoglobulin variable region including neoantigens. These findings demonstrate that immunoglobulin neoantigens are presented across most subtypes of B cell lymphomas. Activation of lymphoma cells to upregulate antigen presentation boosts presentation of immunoglobulin neoantigens and represents a strategy for augmenting lymphoma immunotherapies.