1
|
Siddiqui A, Aaqil SI, Jawed A, Haider R, Ochani S. Panantiviral agents: implications for treating cancers associated with oncoviruses. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:909-912. [PMID: 37227720 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tweetable abstract Panantiviral agents have emerged as a promising class of drugs for cancer therapy, targeting multiple oncoviruses simultaneously. Challenges include drug resistance, safety and developing specific inhibitors. Future research should focus on viral transcription regulators and new panantivirals. #cancer #oncovirus #panantiviral #drugresistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amna Siddiqui
- Department of Medicine, Karachi Medical & Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Syeda Ilsa Aaqil
- Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Areesha Jawed
- Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Ramsha Haider
- Department of Medicine, Karachi Medical & Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sidhant Ochani
- Department of Medicine, Khairpur Medical College, Khairpur, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bradshaw JL, Cushen SC, Ricci CA, Tucker SM, Gardner JJ, Little JT, Osikoya O, Goulopoulou S. Gestational exposure to unmethylated CpG oligonucleotides dysregulates placental molecular clock network and fetoplacental growth dynamics, and disrupts maternal blood pressure circadian rhythms in rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532649. [PMID: 36993698 PMCID: PMC10055100 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial infections and impaired mitochondrial DNA dynamics are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) motifs are common in bacterial and mitochondrial DNA and act as potent immunostimulators. Here, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to CpG oligonucleotides (ODN) during pregnancy would disrupt blood pressure circadian rhythms and the placental molecular clock machinery, mediating aberrant fetoplacental growth dynamics. Rats were repeatedly treated with CpG ODN in the 3 rd trimester (gestational day, GD, 14, 16, 18) and euthanized on GD20 (near term) or with a single dose of CpG ODN and euthanized 4 hours after treatment on GD14. Hemodynamic circadian rhythms were analyzed via Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis on 24-h raw data collected continuously via radiotelemetry. A p -value ≥ 0.05 indicates the absence of a circadian rhythm. Following the first treatment with CpG ODN, maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressure circadian rhythms were lost ( p ≥ 0.05). Blood pressure circadian rhythm was restored by GD16 and remained unaffected after the second treatment with CpG ODN ( p < 0.0001). Diastolic blood pressure circadian rhythm was again lost after the last treatment on GD18 ( p ≥ 0.05). CpG ODN increased placental expression of Per2 and Per3 and Tnfα ( p ≤ 0.05) and affected fetoplacental growth dynamics, such as reduced fetal and placental weights were disproportionately associated with increases in the number of resorptions in ODN-treated dams compared to controls. In conclusion, gestational exposure to unmethylated CpG DNA dysregulates placental molecular clock network and fetoplacental growth dynamics and disrupts blood pressure circadian rhythms.
Collapse
|
3
|
Nooraei S, Sarkar Lotfabadi A, Akbarzadehmoallemkolaei M, Rezaei N. Immunogenicity of Different Types of Adjuvants and Nano-Adjuvants in Veterinary Vaccines: A Comprehensive Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020453. [PMID: 36851331 PMCID: PMC9962389 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is the best way to prevent and reduce the damage caused by infectious diseases in animals and humans. So, several vaccines are used for prophylactic purposes before the pathogen infects, while therapeutic vaccines strengthen the immune system after infection with the pathogen. Adjuvants are molecules, compounds, or macromolecules that enhance non-specific immunity and, in collaboration with antigen(s), can improve the body's immune responses and change the type of immune response. The potential and toxicity of adjuvants must be balanced to provide the safest stimulation with the fewest side effects. In order to overcome the limitations of adjuvants and the effective and controlled delivery of antigens, attention has been drawn to nano-carriers that can be a promising platform for better presenting and stimulating the immune system. Some studies show that nanoparticles have a more remarkable ability to act as adjuvants than microparticles. Because nano-adjuvants inactively target antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and change their chemical surface, nanoparticles also perform better in targeted antigen delivery because they cross biological barriers more easily. We collected and reviewed various types of nano-adjuvants with their specific roles in immunogenicity as a prominent strategy used in veterinary vaccines in this paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soren Nooraei
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord 8818634141, Iran
- Animal Model Integrated Network (AMIN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 1419733151, Iran
| | - Alireza Sarkar Lotfabadi
- Animal Model Integrated Network (AMIN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 1419733151, Iran
| | - Milad Akbarzadehmoallemkolaei
- Animal Model Integrated Network (AMIN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 1419733151, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Animal Model Integrated Network (AMIN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 1419733151, Iran
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Gharib St, Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran 1419733151, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417653761, Iran
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kwon HK, Choi GB, Huh JR. Maternal inflammation and its ramifications on fetal neurodevelopment. Trends Immunol 2022; 43:230-244. [PMID: 35131181 PMCID: PMC9005201 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to heightened inflammation in pregnancy caused by infections or other inflammatory insults has been associated with the onset of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in children. Rodent models have provided unique insights into how this maternal immune activation (MIA) disrupts brain development. Here, we discuss the key immune factors involved, highlight recent advances in determining the molecular and cellular pathways of MIA, and review how the maternal immune system affects fetal development. We also examine the roles of microbiomes in shaping maternal immune function and the development of autism-like phenotypes. A comprehensive understanding of the gut bacteria-immune-neuro interaction in MIA is essential for developing diagnostic and therapeutic measures for high-risk pregnant women and identifying targets for treating inflammation-induced neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Keun Kwon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases and Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea.
| | - Gloria B. Choi
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jun R. Huh
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Correspondence: Ho-Keun Kwon () and Jun R. Huh ()
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Prevention of Teratogenesis in Pregnancies of Obese Rats by Vitamin E Supplementation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10081173. [PMID: 34439421 PMCID: PMC8389020 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital malformations are a common adverse outcome in pregnancies complicated by pregestational obesity, although the underlying mechanisms are still unrevealed. Our aim was to study the effect of oxidative stress in obesity-induced teratogenesis. Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet for 13 weeks, with (OE group) or without (O group) vitamin E supplementation. Then, rats were mated and sacrificed at day 11.5 of gestation. Embryos from O dams presented a 25.9 ± 3.5% rate of malformations (vs. 8.7 ± 3.4% in C rats), which was reduced in the OE group (11.5 ± 2.3%). Pregestational obesity induced hepatic protein and DNA oxidation and a decline in antioxidant enzymes. Importantly, glutathione content was also decreased, limiting the availability of this antioxidant in the embryos. Vitamin E supplementation efficiently maintained glutathione levels in the obese mothers, which could be used in their embryos to prevent oxidation-induced malformations. To test the effect of decreasing glutathione levels alone in a cell culture model of neuroepithelium, murine embryonic stem cells (ESC) were induced to form neuronal precursors and glutathione synthesis was inhibited with the gamma–glutamylcysteine synthesis inhibitor, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). BSO inhibited the expression of Pax3, a gene required for neural tube closure that is also inhibited by oxidative stress. Taken together, our data indicate that obesity causes malformations through the depletion of maternal glutathione, thereby decreasing glutathione-dependent free radical scavenging in embryos, which can be prevented by vitamin E supplementation.
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Fetal neurodevelopment in utero is profoundly shaped by both systemic maternal immunity and local processes at the maternal-fetal interface. Immune pathways are a critical participant in the normal physiology of pregnancy and perturbations of maternal immunity due to infections during this period have been increasingly linked to a diverse array of poor neurological outcomes, including diseases that manifest much later in postnatal life. While experimental models of maternal immune activation (MIA) have provided groundbreaking characterizations of the maternal pathways underlying pathogenesis, less commonly examined are the immune factors that serve pathogen-independent developmental functions in the embryo and fetus. In this review, we explore what is known about the in vivo role of immune factors in fetal neurodevelopment during normal pregnancy and provide an overview of how MIA perturbs the proper orchestration of this sequence of events. Finally, we discuss how the dysregulation of immune factors may contribute to the manifestation of a variety of neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Lu-Culligan
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA; .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
pUC18-CpG Is an Effective Adjuvant for a Duck Tembusu Virus Inactivated Vaccine. Viruses 2020; 12:v12020238. [PMID: 32093377 PMCID: PMC7077240 DOI: 10.3390/v12020238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is an emerging pathogenic flavivirus responsible for massive economic losses in the duck industry. However, commercially inactivated DTMUV vaccines have been ineffective at inducing protective immunity in ducks. The widely used adjuvant cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) reportedly improve humoral and cellular immunities in animal models. However, its effectiveness in DTMUV vaccines requires validation. Here, we assessed the protective efficacy of pUC18-CpG as an adjuvant in an inactivated live DTMUV vaccine in ducks. Our results revealed that the serum hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers, positive rates of anti-DTMUV antibodies, the concentration of serum cytokines, and protection efficacy were significantly increased in ducks immunized with pUC18-CpG compared to that in the control group. Moreover, ducks immunized with a full vaccine dose containing a half dose of antigen supplemented with 40 μg of pUC18-CpG exhibited the most potent responses. This study suggests that pUC18-CpG is a promising adjuvant against DTMUV, which might prove effective in treating other viral diseases in waterfowl.
Collapse
|
8
|
Batista-Duharte A, Martínez DT, Carlos IZ. Efficacy and safety of immunological adjuvants. Where is the cut-off? Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 105:616-624. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
|
9
|
Yong HY, Luo D. RIG-I-Like Receptors as Novel Targets for Pan-Antivirals and Vaccine Adjuvants Against Emerging and Re-Emerging Viral Infections. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1379. [PMID: 29973930 PMCID: PMC6019452 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging viruses pose a significant public health challenge around the world, among which RNA viruses are the cause of many major outbreaks of infectious diseases. As one of the early lines of defense in the human immune system, RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) play an important role as sentinels to thwart the progression of virus infection. The activation of RLRs leads to an antiviral state in the host cells, which triggers the adaptive arm of immunity and ultimately the clearance of viral infections. Hence, RLRs are promising targets for the development of pan-antivirals and vaccine adjuvants. Here, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of developing RLR agonists into antiviral therapeutic agents and vaccine adjuvants against a broad range of viruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yee Yong
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dahai Luo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tong M, Johansson C, Xiao F, Stone PR, James JL, Chen Q, Cree LM, Chamley LW. Antiphospholipid antibodies increase the levels of mitochondrial DNA in placental extracellular vesicles: Alarmin-g for preeclampsia. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16556. [PMID: 29185455 PMCID: PMC5707355 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16448-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of preeclampsia remains unclear but placental factors are known to play a crucial role causing maternal endothelial cell dysfunction. One potential factor is placental micro- and nano- vesicles. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) increase the risk of preeclampsia ten-fold, in part by damaging the mitochondria in the syncytiotrophoblast. Since mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a danger- associated molecular pattern (DAMP/alarmin) that may activate endothelial cells, the aims of the current study were to investigate whether aPL affect the number of placental vesicles extruded, their mtDNA content and their ability to activate endothelial cells. Exposure of first trimester human placental explants to aPL affected neither the number nor size of extruded micro- and nano- vesicles (n = 5), however their levels of mtDNA were increased (n = 6). These vesicles significantly activated endothelial cells (n = 5), which was prevented by blocking toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9), a receptor for extracellular DNA. Thus, aPL may increase the risk of preeclampsia in part by increasing the amount of mtDNA associated with placental vesicles. That mitochondrial DNA is recognised as a DAMP by TLR-9 to cause endothelial cell activation, raises the possibility that placental vesicles or TLR-9 might be a target for pharmaceutical intervention to reduce the consequences of aPL in pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mancy Tong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.
| | - Caroline Johansson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SE-581 83, Sweden
| | - Fengyi Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.,The Hospital of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peter R Stone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Joanna L James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Lynsey M Cree
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Lawrence W Chamley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cushen SC, Goulopoulou S. New Models of Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension. Am J Hypertens 2017; 30:1053-1062. [PMID: 28472224 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpx063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders are leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality. These include: pre-pregnancy hypertension that persists throughout gestation (chronic/preexisting hypertension), de novo hypertension that is diagnosed after 20 weeks of gestation and resolves after birth (gestational hypertension), de novo hypertension that is diagnosed after 20 weeks of gestation with or without proteinuria and end-organ damage (preeclampsia and eclampsia), and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia during gestation. Preeclampsia is the most severe form of these disorders. Animal models have been developed by employing surgical, genetic, and pharmacological approaches in order to recapitulate the maternal symptoms of preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The scope of this brief review is to present an up-to-date synthesis of our knowledge of experimental models of pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders. Novel models, defined in this review as characterized within the last 5 years, will be described and critically discussed. In this review, we will also discuss established experimental models of pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders in the context of their contribution to new advances in our knowledge about the pathophysiology of these disorders and potential therapeutics. Emphasis will be placed on animal models of preeclampsia; however, models of other hypertensive disorders in pregnancy will also be reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Spencer C Cushen
- Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Styliani Goulopoulou
- Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Delannois F, Planty C, Giordano G, Destexhe E, Stanislaus D, Da Silva FT, Stegmann JU, Thacker K, Reynaud L, Garçon N, Segal L. Signal management in pharmacovigilance and human risk assessment of CpG 7909, integrating embryo-fetal and post-natal developmental toxicity studies in rats and rabbits. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 75:110-120. [PMID: 28951173 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The potential reproductive and developmental toxicity of the synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) CpG 7909, a component of GSK's AS15 immunostimulant, was examined in rat and rabbit studies following intermittent intramuscular injections. Previous studies using subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections in mice, rats and rabbits revealed that CpG ODNs induced developmental effects. To analyze the safety signal, GSK conducted additional animal studies using the intended clinical route of administration. CpG 7909 injections were administered intramuscularly to rats or rabbits 28 and 14days before pairing, on 4 or 5 occasions during gestation, and on lactation day 7. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level for female fertility, embryo-fetal and pre- and post-natal development was 4.2mg/kg in both species, approximately 500-fold higher than the anticipated human dose. In conclusion, the anticipated risk to humans is considered low for sporadic intramuscular exposure to CpG 7909.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Camille Planty
- (at the time of study) GSK Vaccines, Rue de l'Institut 89, 1330, Rixensart, Belgium.
| | - Giulia Giordano
- GSK Vaccines, Rue de l'Institut 89, 1330, Rixensart, Belgium
| | - Eric Destexhe
- GSK Vaccines, Rue de l'Institut 89, 1330, Rixensart, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Karen Thacker
- Envigo CRS Limited Formerly Huntingdon Life Sciences, Eye, Suffolk, UK
| | - Lucie Reynaud
- WIL Research Europe-Lyon Laboratories, 69210, Saint-Germain-Nuelles, France
| | - Nathalie Garçon
- (at the time of study) GSK Vaccines, Rue de l'Institut 89, 1330, Rixensart, Belgium
| | - Lawrence Segal
- (at the time of study) GSK Vaccines, Parc de la Noire Epine, Rue Fleming 20, 1300, Wavre, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Goulopoulou S, Wenceslau CF, McCarthy CG, Matsumoto T, Webb RC. Exposure to stimulatory CpG oligonucleotides during gestation induces maternal hypertension and excess vasoconstriction in pregnant rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2016; 310:H1015-25. [PMID: 26873968 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00834.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial infections increase risk for pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth. Unmethylated CpG DNA sequences are present in bacterial DNA and have immunostimulatory effects. Maternal exposure to CpG DNA induces fetal demise and craniofacial malformations; however, the effects of CpG DNA on maternal cardiovascular health have not been examined. We tested the hypothesis that exposure to synthetic CpG oligonucleotides (ODNs) during gestation would increase blood pressure and cause vascular dysfunction in pregnant rats. Pregnant and nonpregnant female rats were treated with CpG ODN (ODN 2395) or saline (Veh) starting on gestational day 14or corresponding day for the nonpregnant groups. Exposure to CpG ODN increased systolic blood pressure in pregnant (Veh: 121 ± 2 mmHg vs. ODN 2395: 134 ± 2 mmHg,P< 0.05) but not in nonpregnant rats (Veh: 111 ± 2 mmHg vs. ODN 2395: 108 ± 5 mmHg,P> 0.05). Mesenteric resistance arteries from pregnant CpG ODN-treated rats had increased contractile responses to U46619 [thromboxane A2(TxA2) mimetic] compared with arteries from vehicle-treated rats [Emax(%KCl), Veh: 87 ± 4 vs. ODN 2395: 104 ± 4,P< 0.05]. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition increased contractile responses to U46619, and CpG ODN treatment abolished this effect in arteries from pregnant ODN 2395-treated rats. CpG ODN potentiated the involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX) to U46619-induced contractions. In conclusion, exposure to CpG ODN during gestation induces maternal hypertension, augments resistance artery contraction, increases the involvement of COX-dependent mechanisms and reduces the contribution of NOS-dependent mechanisms to TxA2-induced contractions in mesenteric resistance arteries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Goulopoulou
- Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas;
| | | | | | - Takayuki Matsumoto
- Department of Physiology and Morphology, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - R Clinton Webb
- Department of Physiology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; and
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kang X, Zhang X, Zhao A. Macrophage depletion and TNF-α inhibition prevent resorption in CBA/J × DBA/2 model of CpG-induced abortion. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 469:704-10. [PMID: 26686416 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate the mechanism by which embryo-resorption was enhanced by pathogenic CpG ODN motif in abortion-prone CBA/J × DBA/2 model and to develop a counter strategy for normal pregnancy outcome. METHODS This is an animal model-based study. Abortion-prone model is established by CBA/J × DBA/2. An infection was mimicked by CpG ODN injection. RESULTS Embryo-resorption was readily induced by CpG ODN in low doses of CpG ODN (∼25 μg/dam) when intraperitoneally (IP) injected on gestational day(gd) 6.5 in male DBA/2 mated CBA/J female mice. A more modest decline in Progesterone(P4), but not Estrogen(E2) was observed after exposure to CpG ODN in the model. P4 supplement fail to improve pregnancy outcomes, even at pharmocology dose. CpG ODN-induced fetal resorption is prevented by the treatment of anti-F4/80 or by that of anti-TNFα.In the implantation sites, the treatment of anti-F4/80 inhibits the increase both of F4/80(+) macrophage proportion and TNF-αexpression level which are induced by CpG ODN. The anti-TNFαtreatment also recovers CpG ODN-induced reduction of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells. CONCLUSION Circulating P4 is not responsible for the process by which CpG ODN-induced embryonic resorption in an abortion-prone mice. Macrophage depletion and TNF-α inhibition are really noteworthy for CpG ODN-induced pregnancy disruption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200127, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, PR China
| | - Xiaoxin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200127, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, PR China
| | - Aimin Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200127, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Cavagnaro J, Berman C, Kornbrust D, White T, Campion S, Henry S. Considerations for assessment of reproductive and developmental toxicity of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Nucleic Acid Ther 2014; 24:313-25. [PMID: 25137397 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2014.0490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This white paper summarizes the current consensus of the Reproductive Subcommittee of the Oligonucleotide Safety Working Group on strategies to assess potential reproductive and/or developmental toxicities of therapeutic oligonucleotides (ONs). The unique product characteristics of ONs require considerations when planning developmental and reproductive toxicology studies, including (a) chemical characteristics, (b) assessment of intended and unintended mechanism of action, and (c) the optimal exposure, including dosing regimen. Because experience across the various classes of ONs as defined by their chemical backbone is relatively limited, best practices cannot be defined. Rather, points to consider are provided to help in the design of science-based reproductive safety evaluation programs based upon product attributes.
Collapse
|
16
|
Franco R, Rodriguez JM, Elías F, Hernando-Insúa A, Fló J, López R, Nagle C, Lago N, Zorzopulos J, Horn DL, Montaner AD. Non-clinical safety studies of IMT504, a unique non-CpG oligonucleotide. Nucleic Acid Ther 2014; 24:267-82. [PMID: 24720569 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2013.0479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
IMT504 is a non-CpG 24-mer oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) with immunomodulatory as well as tissue repair activity. IMT504 has been previously proven to be effective in animal models of vaccine potency, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, tissue regeneration, and sepsis. Here, we assessed the safety, including pharmacokinetics and toxicity studies in rats and monkeys, of IMT504 in a single- or repeated-dose administration by the subcutaneous (SC) or intravenous (IV) routes. In rats, the maximum tolerated dose was determined to be 50 mg/kg when administered SC. Adverse effects at 50 mg/kg were mild and reversible liver injury, revealed as lobular inflammation, focal necrosis, and small changes in the transaminase profile. Dose-dependent splenomegaly and lymphoid hyperplasia, most probably associated with immune stimulation, were commonly observed. Rats and monkeys were also IV injected with a single dose of 10 or 3.5 mg/kg, and no adverse effects were observed. Rats injected IV with 10 mg/kg showed a transient increase in spleen weight, together with a slight increase in the marginal zone of the white pulp and in leukocyte count 2 days post-administration. In monkeys, this dosage caused slight changes in total serum complement and leukocyte count on day 14. No adverse effects were observed at 3.5 mg/kg IV in rats or monkeys. Therefore, this dose was defined as the "no observed adverse effect level" for this route. Furthermore, repeated-dose toxicity studies were performed in these species using 3.5 or 0.35 mg/kg/day IV for 6 weeks. A transient increase in the spleen and liver weight was observed at 3.5 mg/kg/day only in female rats. No changes in clotting time and activation of the alternative complement pathway were observed. The toxicity profile of IMT504 herein reported suggests a dose range in which IMT504 can be used safely in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raúl Franco
- 1 Immunotech S.A. , Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Batista-Duharte A, Lastre M, Pérez O. Adyuvantes inmunológicos. Determinantes en el balance eficacia-toxicidad de las vacunas contemporáneas. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2014; 32:106-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2012.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Revised: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|
18
|
Sun Y, Qin X, Shan B, Wang W, Zhu Q, Sharma S, Wu J, Lin Y. Differential effects of the CpG-Toll-like receptor 9 axis on pregnancy outcome in nonobese diabetic mice and wild-type controls. Fertil Steril 2013; 99:1759-67. [PMID: 23414919 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate the relationship between CpG-induced activation of innate immunity and pregnancy outcome. DESIGN An animal model-based study. SETTING Academic. ANIMAL(S) Pregnant nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice were compared with nonimmunodeficient mice. INTERVENTION(S) We mimic toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) activation using CpG ODN administration in pregnant wild-type (WT) and natural killer (NK) cell-deficient NOD mice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Evaluation of fetal resorption and preterm birth in pregnant mice; flow-cytometric analysis and ELISA detection. RESULT(S) CpG-induced fetal resorption or preterm birth was observed steadily only in NOD mice but not in WT mice. Concurrently, CpG treatment triggered amplification of uterine macrophages and neutrophils. Moreover, CpG induced a substantial increase of serum mouse keratinocyte-derived cytokine (mKC) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) that were produced by uterine CD11b(+)F4/80(+) cells but not by NK or CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells. In addition, depletion of F4/80(+) cells abrogated a CpG-induced increase in TNF-α production and improved pregnancy outcomes in NOD mice treated with CpG. CONCLUSION(S) These results provide evidence that CpG-driven innate immune activation may lead to activation and amplification of macrophages followed by their migration to fetomaternal microenvironment, up-regulated TNF-α production, and consequent adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Sun
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Toll-like receptor 9 activation: a novel mechanism linking placenta-derived mitochondrial DNA and vascular dysfunction in pre-eclampsia. Clin Sci (Lond) 2012; 123:429-35. [PMID: 22671429 DOI: 10.1042/cs20120130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that in addition to being the 'power houses' of our cells, mitochondria facilitate effector responses of the immune system. Cell death and injury result in the release of mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) that acts via TLR9 (Toll-like receptor 9), a pattern recognition receptor of the immune system which detects bacterial and viral DNA but not vertebrate DNA. The ability of mtDNA to activate TLR9 in a similar fashion to bacterial DNA stems from evolutionarily conserved similarities between bacteria and mitochondria. mtDNA may be the trigger of systemic inflammation in pathologies associated with abnormal cell death. PE (pre-eclampsia) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy with devastating maternal and fetal consequences. The aetiology of PE is unknown and removal of the placenta is the only effective cure. Placentas from women with PE show exaggerated necrosis of trophoblast cells, and circulating levels of mtDNA are higher in pregnancies with PE. Accordingly, we propose the hypothesis that exaggerated necrosis of trophoblast cells results in the release of mtDNA, which stimulates TLR9 to mount an immune response and to produce systemic maternal inflammation and vascular dysfunction that lead to hypertension and IUGR (intra-uterine growth restriction). The proposed hypothesis implicates mtDNA in the development of PE via activation of the immune system and may have important preventative and therapeutic implications, because circulating mtDNA may be potential markers of early detection of PE, and anti-TLR9 treatments may be promising in the management of the disease.
Collapse
|
20
|
Stewart B, Rose CE, Tokars JI, Martin SW, Keitel WA, Keyserling HL, Babcock J, Parker SD, Jacobson RM, Poland GA, McNeil MM. Health-related quality of life in the CDC Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed Human Clinical Trial. Vaccine 2012; 30:5875-9. [PMID: 22814409 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.06.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND After the Department of Defense implemented a mandatory anthrax vaccination program in 1998 concerns were raised about potential long-term safety effects of the current anthrax vaccine. The CDC multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) Human Clinical Trial to evaluate route change and dose reduction collected data on participants' quality of life. Our objective is to assess the association between receipt of AVA and changes in health-related quality of life, as measured by the SF-36 health survey (Medical Outcomes Trust, Boston, MA), over 42 months after vaccination. METHODS 1562 trial participants completed SF-36v2 health surveys at 0, 12, 18, 30 and 42 months. Physical and mental summary scores were obtained from the survey results. We used Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analyses to assess the association between physical and mental score difference from baseline and seven study groups receiving either AVA at each dose, saline placebo at each dose, or a reduced AVA schedule substituting saline placebo for some doses. RESULTS Overall, mean physical and mental scores tended to decrease after baseline. However, we found no evidence that the score difference from baseline changed significantly differently between the seven study groups. CONCLUSIONS These results do not favor an association between receipt of AVA and an altered health-related quality of life over a 42-month period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brock Stewart
- Immunization Safety Office, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Scharfe-Nugent A, Corr SC, Carpenter SB, Keogh L, Doyle B, Martin C, Fitzgerald KA, Daly S, O'Leary JJ, O'Neill LAJ. TLR9 provokes inflammation in response to fetal DNA: mechanism for fetal loss in preterm birth and preeclampsia. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 188:5706-12. [PMID: 22544937 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth, the major cause of neonatal mortality in developed countries, is associated with intrauterine infections and inflammation, although the exact mechanisms underlying this event are unclear. In this study, we show that circulating fetal DNA, which is elevated in pregnancies complicated by preterm labor or preeclampsia, triggers an inflammatory reaction that results in spontaneous preterm birth. Fetal DNA activates NF-κB, shown by IκBα degradation in human PBMCs resulting in production of proinflammatory IL-6. We show that fetal resorption and preterm birth are rapidly induced in mice after i.p. injection of CpG or fetal DNA (300 μg/dam) on gestational day 10-14. In contrast, TLR9(-/-) mice were protected from these effects. Furthermore, this effect was blocked by oral administration of the TLR9 inhibitor chloroquine. Our data therefore provide a novel mechanism for preterm birth and preeclampsia, highlighting TLR9 as a potential therapeutic target for these common disorders of pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scharfe-Nugent
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Stewart B, Zhang Y, Rose CE, Tokars JI, Martin SW, Franzke LH, McNeil MM. Health-related quality of life in the Anthrax Vaccination Program for workers in the Laboratory Response Network. Vaccine 2012; 30:1841-6. [PMID: 22230591 PMCID: PMC11325479 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2011] [Revised: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 12/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2002 CDC initiated the Anthrax Vaccination Program (AVP) to provide voluntary pre-exposure vaccination with Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) for persons at high risk of exposure to Bacillus anthracis spores. There has been concern that AVA could be associated with long term impairment of physical and/or mental health. OBJECTIVES To ascertain whether physical and mental functional status, as measured by the SF-36v2 health survey (Medical Outcomes Trust, Boston, MA), of AVA recipients and controls changed differently over time. METHODS We enrolled 437 exposed (received AVA) and 139 control subjects. The exposed group received AVA under then-current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. SF-36v2 surveys were completed at 0, 12, and 30 months. SF-36v2 physical and mental scores both range from 0 to 100 with an estimated national average of 50 points. RESULTS For physical scores, the average change from baseline was -0.53 for exposed vs. -0.67 for controls at 12 months (p=0.80) and -1.09 for exposed vs. -1.97 for controls at 30 months (p=0.23). For mental scores, the average change from baseline was -1.50 for exposed vs. -1.64 for controls at 12 months (p=0.86) and -2.11 for exposed vs. -0.24 for controls at 30 months (p=0.06). In multivariable analysis, the difference in mental score change between exposed vs. controls at 30 months was less pronounced (p=0.37) but other findings were similar to univariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS These results do not favor an association between receipt of AVA and an altered health related quality of life over a 30-month period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brock Stewart
- Immunization Safety Office, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Mukhopadhyay P, Brock G, Appana S, Webb C, Greene RM, Pisano MM. MicroRNA gene expression signatures in the developing neural tube. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 91:744-62. [PMID: 21770019 DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2010] [Revised: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 03/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurulation requires precise, spatio-temporal expression of numerous genes and coordinated interaction of signal transduction and gene regulatory networks, disruption of which may contribute to the etiology of neural tube defects (NTDs). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key modulators of cell and tissue differentiation. To define potential roles of miRNAs in development of the murine neural tube (NT), miRNA microarray analysis was conducted to establish expression profiles, and identify miRNA target genes and functional gene networks. METHODS The miRNA expression profiles in murine embryonic NTs derived from gestational days 8.5, 9.0, and 9.5 were defined and compared utilizing miRXplore microarrays from Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Gene expression changes were verified by TaqMan quantitative Real-Time PCR. The clValid R package and the UPGMA (hierarchical) clustering method were utilized for cluster analysis of the microarray data. Functional associations among selected miRNAs were examined via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. RESULTS The miRXplore chips enabled examination of 609 murine miRNAs. Expression of approximately 12% of these was detected in murine embryonic NTs. Clustering analysis revealed several developmentally regulated expression clusters among these expressed genes. Target analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs enabled identification of numerous target genes associated with cellular processes essential for normal NT development. Utilization of Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed interactive biologic networks which connected differentially expressed miRNAs with their target genes, and highlighted functional relationships. CONCLUSIONS The present study defined unique gene expression signatures of a range of miRNAs in the developing NT during the critical period of NT morphogenesis. Analysis of miRNA target genes and gene interaction pathways revealed that specific miRNAs might direct expression of numerous genes encoding proteins, which have been shown to be indispensable for normal neurulation. This study is the first to identify miRNA expression profiles and their potential regulatory networks in the developing mammalian NT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Partha Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology, University of Louisville Birth Defects Center, 501 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Progress in understanding adjuvant immunotoxicity mechanisms. Toxicol Lett 2011; 203:97-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2010] [Revised: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
25
|
Liu L, Shen L, Liu X, Yu Y, Li Y, Wang L, He C, Sun J, Li B. A safety study of a B-class CpG ODN in Sprague-Dawley rats. J Appl Toxicol 2011; 32:60-71. [PMID: 21538408 DOI: 10.1002/jat.1683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2010] [Revised: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG ODNs) are potent immune activators and are being tested as anti-tumor, antimicrobial agents and as adjuvants in vaccines. Little has been reported, however, about the systematic and comprehensive safety evaluation on repeated CpG ODN administration. To investigate the safety profile of a newly developed CpG ODN, CpG 684, we conducted a 28-day repeated dose toxicity study in rats, at dose levels of 5, 20 and 150 µg CpG 684 per rat. No abnormalities in clinical observations, growth, urinalysis and bone marrow cell counts were found in CpG 684 treated rats. CpG 684 was proved biologically active, capable of up-regulating the expressions of CD40 and CD86 molecules. The monocyte numbers were increased at the dose levels of 20 and 150 µg per rat. The spleen weights were increased in female rats at the dose level of 150 µg per rat. Microscopically, 5, 20 and 150 µg per rat CpG 684 caused local inflammatory cell infiltration and hyperplasia of fibrous tissue at injection sites; the treatment of 5 and 150 µg per rat CpG 684 induced enhanced inflammatory reaction in inguinal lymphoid tissue, and the dose of 150 µg per rat induced cell hyperplasia in white pulp of spleen and white pulp expansion. CpG 684 at 150 µg per rat led to decreases in peripheral lymphocyte, serum globulin, glucose, alkaline phosphatase and K+ levels in female rats, and induced the decrease in serum albumin and total protein in rats of both sexes. The data from this study will provide an important reference for developing CpG 684 as an adjuvant for vaccines of human use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Department of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100102, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
TLR-mediated preterm birth in response to pathogenic agents. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2010; 2010. [PMID: 20827416 PMCID: PMC2933901 DOI: 10.1155/2010/378472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2010] [Revised: 06/28/2010] [Accepted: 07/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of preterm birth in developed countries has risen in the past decades. Underlying causes for this enigmatic pregnancy complication are numerous, yet infectious agents that induce dysregulation of immunity at the maternal-fetal interface pose one of the most probable causes of preterm birth. This paper highlights two factors regarding maternal infections that trigger unscheduled inflammatory sequences that are deleterious to the maternal-fetal balance necessary to maintain pregnancy. Firstly, we discuss the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as sentinels of uterine immunity in the context of response to pathogens. We highlight the idea that particular TLR activations lead to differential immune cascades that induce preterm birth. Secondly, two alternative routes of pathogenic entry may prove to be critical for inducing preterm birth via a cytokine storm or a secondary and currently unknown cell-mediated mechanism of uterine inflammation. This paper summarizes pathways that underlie activation of adverse and diverse immune responses to foreign agents that may result in preterm birth.
Collapse
|
27
|
Hernando-Insúa A, Rodriguez JM, Elías F, Fló J, López R, Franco R, Lago N, Zorzopulos J, Montaner AD. A high dose of IMT504, the PyNTTTTGT prototype immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, does not alter embryonic development in rats. Oligonucleotides 2010; 20:33-6. [PMID: 19943802 DOI: 10.1089/oli.2009.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are currently being evaluated as vaccine adjuvants for inducing protective immunity. As maternal vaccination is becoming increasingly common, the potential risk of vaccine formulation using ODN adjuvants should be warranted. A recent study performed in mice suggests that exposure to CpG motifs during pregnancy could result (although at very high doses as compared to the ones proposed for human vaccination) in fetal loss and morphological defects. PyNTTTTGT ODNs are immunostimulatory ODNs not bearing CpG motifs, which are very efficient vaccine adjuvants. In this report, we analyzed the potential teratogenic effect of its prototype IMT504 in rats. This animal model was chosen because PyNTTTTGT ODNs are barely active in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of IMT504 at a dose of 20 mg/kg (more than 1000 times higher than the one proposed for a vaccine dose in humans) at day 6 of pregnancy did not produce a significant decrease in the mean number of implanted fetuses or in the number of live pups delivered. Neither the fetuses nor the offspring presented malformations.
Collapse
|
28
|
Thaxton JE, Romero R, Sharma S. TLR9 activation coupled to IL-10 deficiency induces adverse pregnancy outcomes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 183:1144-54. [PMID: 19561095 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0900788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy outcome is severely compromised by intrauterine infections and inflammation. Although the pregnant uterine microenvironment is replete with innate immune cells and TLR expression, the mechanisms that facilitate adverse effects of their activation are largely unknown. In this study, we mimic the activation of TLR9 with its pathogenic ligand hypomethylated CpG and demonstrate that IL-10 proficiency protects against CpG-induced pregnancy complications. We show that fetal resorption and preterm birth are rapidly induced in IL-10(-/-) mice by low doses of CpG (approximately 25 microg/mouse) when injected i.p. on gestational day 6 or gestational day 14, respectively. In contrast, wild-type mice failed to experience such effects at comparable doses, but pups born at term displayed craniofacial/limb defects in response to higher doses (approximately 400 microg/mouse). Pregnancy complications in IL-10(-/-) mice were associated with unexpected and robust TLR9-triggered activation and amplification of uterine neutrophil and macrophage subpopulations followed by their migration to the placental zone. Furthermore, a dramatic increase in serum levels of mouse KC and TNF-alpha production by uterine F4/80(+) cells, but not uterine NK or Gr-1(+)CD11b(+) cells, was observed. Depletion of F4/80(+) macrophages or neutralization of TNF-alpha rescued pregnancy to term. Our results have important implications for IL-10-mediated "uterine tolerance" against CpG-driven innate immune activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Thaxton
- Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02905 USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Higgins D, Marshall JD, Traquina P, Van Nest G, Livingston BD. Immunostimulatory DNA as a vaccine adjuvant. Expert Rev Vaccines 2007; 6:747-59. [PMID: 17931155 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.6.5.747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Immunostimulatory DNA containing unmethylated CpG motifs is recognized by Toll-like receptor 9, resulting in the activation of innate immune responses that subsequently amplify the adaptive-immune response. Advances in the characterization of Toll-like receptor 9 signaling have identified immunostimulatory sequences (ISS) with distinct biological activities. Numerous animal models have demonstrated that synthetic ISS are effective adjuvants that enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses in diverse indications, ranging from infectious disease to cancer and allergy. An added benefit supporting the use of ISS as a vaccine adjuvant is that the specific activation of a pathway critical to the regulation of the immune response results in minimal toxicity. To date, clinical testing has largely affirmed the potency and safety of ISS-adjuvanted vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debbie Higgins
- Preclinical Research, Dynavax Technologies, 2929 Seventh Street, Suite 100, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Novel plant virus-based vaccine induces protective cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated antiviral immunity through dendritic cell maturation. J Virol 2007; 82:785-94. [PMID: 17989184 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01811-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently used vaccines protect mainly through the production of neutralizing antibodies. However, antibodies confer little or no protection for a majority of chronic viral infections that require active involvement of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Virus-like particles (VLPs) have been shown to be efficient inducers of cell-mediated immune responses, but administration of an adjuvant is generally required. We recently reported the generation of a novel VLP system exploiting the self-assembly property of the papaya mosaic virus (PapMV) coat protein. We show here that uptake of PapMV-like particles by murine splenic dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo leads to their maturation, suggesting that they possess intrinsic adjuvant-like properties. DCs pulsed with PapMV-like particles displaying the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) p33 immunodominant CTL epitope (PapMV-p33) efficiently process and cross-present the viral epitope to p33-specific transgenic T cells. Importantly, the CTL epitope is also properly processed and presented in vivo, since immunization of p33-specific T-cell receptor transgenic mice with PapMV-p33 induces the activation of large numbers of specific CTLs. C57BL/6 mice immunized with PapMV-p33 VLPs in the absence of adjuvant develop p33-specific effector CTLs that rapidly expand following LCMV challenge and protect vaccinated mice against LCMV infection in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the efficiency of this novel plant virus-based vaccination platform in inducing DC maturation leading to protective CTL responses.
Collapse
|