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Yan J, Bangalore CR, Nikouyan N, Appelberg S, Silva DN, Yao H, Pasetto A, Weber F, Weber S, Larsson O, Höglund U, Bogdanovic G, Grabbe M, Aleman S, Szekely L, Szakos A, Tuvesson O, Gidlund EK, Cadossi M, Salati S, Tegel H, Hober S, Frelin L, Mirazimi A, Ahlén G, Sällberg M. Distinct roles of vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies and T cells in protection and disease. Mol Ther 2024; 32:540-555. [PMID: 38213030 PMCID: PMC10862018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.007] [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] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) lack cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV species and variants and fail to mediate long-term protection against infection. The maintained protection against severe disease and death by vaccination suggests a role for cross-reactive T cells. We generated vaccines containing sequences from the spike or receptor binding domain, the membrane and/or nucleoprotein that induced only T cells, or T cells and NAbs, to understand their individual roles. In three models with homologous or heterologous challenge, high levels of vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 NAbs protected against neither infection nor mild histological disease but conferred rapid viral control limiting the histological damage. With no or low levels of NAbs, vaccine-primed T cells, in mice mainly CD8+ T cells, partially controlled viral replication and promoted NAb recall responses. T cells failed to protect against histological damage, presumably because of viral spread and subsequent T cell-mediated killing. Neither vaccine- nor infection-induced NAbs seem to provide long-lasting protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, a more realistic approach for universal SARS-CoV-2 vaccines should be to aim for broadly cross-reactive NAbs in combination with long-lasting highly cross-reactive T cells. Long-lived cross-reactive T cells are likely key to prevent severe disease and fatalities during current and future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Yan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska ATMP Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Negin Nikouyan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Daniela Nacimento Silva
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska ATMP Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haidong Yao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska ATMP Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Pasetto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska ATMP Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Friedemann Weber
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Gordana Bogdanovic
- Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Grabbe
- Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Soo Aleman
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laszlo Szekely
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Attila Szakos
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Hanna Tegel
- Department of Protein Science, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophia Hober
- Department of Protein Science, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska ATMP Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ali Mirazimi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Public Health Agency of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Ahlén
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska ATMP Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matti Sällberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska ATMP Center, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Ablikim D, Zeng X, Xu C, Zhao M, Yang X, Feng X, Liu J. The Multiple Facets and Disorders of B Cell Functions in Hepatitis B Virus Infection. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12052000. [PMID: 36902786 PMCID: PMC10004556 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12052000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a global public health burden. B cells play a pivotal role in mediating HBV clearance and can participate in the development of anti-HBV adaptive immune responses through multiple mechanisms, such as antibody production, antigen presentation, and immune regulation. However, B cell phenotypic and functional disorders are frequently observed during chronic HBV infection, suggesting the necessity of targeting the disordered anti-HBV B cell responses to design and test new immune therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the multiple roles of B cells in mediating HBV clearance and pathogenesis as well as the latest developments in understanding the immune dysfunction of B cells in chronic HBV infection. Additionally, we discuss novel immune therapeutic strategies that aim to enhance anti-HBV B cell responses for curing chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilhumare Ablikim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zeng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Chunli Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Mengxiao Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xuecheng Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xuemei Feng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Joint International Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-186-9615-9826
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3
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Codelivery of HBx-siRNA and Plasmid Encoding IL-12 for Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus and Reactivation of Antiviral Immunity. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071439. [PMID: 35890334 PMCID: PMC9318813 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B is a critical cause of many serious liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The main challenges in hepatitis B treatment include the rebound of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related antigen levels after drug withdrawal and the immunosuppression caused by the virus. Herein, we demonstrate that the HBV-related antigen can be effectively inhibited and antiviral immunity can be successfully reactivated through codelivery of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HBV X protein (HBx) and the plasmid encoding interleukin 12 (pIL-12) to hepatocytes and immune cells. After being treated by the siRNA/pIL-12 codelivery system, HBx mRNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are dramatically reduced in HepG2.215 cells. More importantly, the downregulated CD47 and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and the upregulated interferon-β promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1), retinoic acid-inducible gene-1 (RIG-1), CD80, and human leukocyte antigen-1 (HLA-1) in treated HepG2.215 cells indicate that the immunosuppression is reversed by the codelivery system. Furthermore, the codelivery system results in inhibition of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathways, as well as downregulation of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and upregulation of p53, implying its potential in preventing the progression of HBV-induced HCC. In addition, J774A.1 macrophages treated by the codelivery system were successfully differentiated into the M1 phenotype and expressed enhanced cytokines with anti-hepatitis B effects such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Therefore, we believe that codelivery of siRNA and pIL-12 can effectively inhibit hepatitis B virus, reverse virus-induced immunosuppression, reactivate antiviral immunity, and hinder the progression of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. This investigation provides a promising approach for the synergistic treatment of HBV infection.
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Tsounis EP, Mouzaki A, Triantos C. Nucleic acid vaccines: A taboo broken and prospect for a hepatitis B virus cure. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:7005-7013. [PMID: 34887624 PMCID: PMC8613654 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i41.7005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although a prophylactic vaccine is available, hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Current treatment options are improving clinical outcomes in chronic hepatitis B; however, true functional cure is currently the exception rather than the rule. Nucleic acid vaccines are among the emerging immunotherapies that aim to restore weakened immune function in chronically infected hosts. DNA vaccines in particular have shown promising results in vivo by reducing viral replication, breaking immune tolerance in a sustained manner, or even decimating the intranuclear covalently closed circular DNA reservoir, the hallmark of HBV treatment. Although DNA vaccines encoding surface antigens administered by conventional injection elicit HBV-specific T cell responses in humans, initial clinical trials failed to demonstrate additional therapeutic benefit when administered with nucleos(t)ide analogs. In an attempt to improve vaccine immunogenicity, several techniques have been used, including codon/promoter optimization, coadministration of cytokine adjuvants, plasmids engineered to express multiple HBV epitopes, or combinations with other immunomodulators. DNA vaccine delivery by electroporation is among the most efficient strategies to enhance the production of plasmid-derived antigens to stimulate a potent cellular and humoral anti-HBV response. Preliminary results suggest that DNA vaccination via electroporation efficiently invigorates both arms of adaptive immunity and suppresses serum HBV DNA. In contrast, the study of mRNA-based vaccines is limited to a few in vitro experiments in this area. Further studies are needed to clarify the prospects of nucleic acid vaccines for HBV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthymios P Tsounis
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece
| | - Athanasia Mouzaki
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece
| | - Christos Triantos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece
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Maravelia P, Frelin L, Ni Y, Caro Pérez N, Ahlén G, Jagya N, Verch G, Verhoye L, Pater L, Johansson M, Pasetto A, Meuleman P, Urban S, Sällberg M. Blocking Entry of Hepatitis B and D Viruses to Hepatocytes as a Novel Immunotherapy for Treating Chronic Infections. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:128-138. [PMID: 31994701 PMCID: PMC7781452 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic hepatitis B and D virus (HBV/HDV) infections can cause cancer. Current HBV therapy using nucleoside analogues (NAs) is life-long and reduces but does not eliminate the risk of cancer. A hallmark of chronic hepatitis B is a dysfunctional HBV-specific T-cell response. We therefore designed an immunotherapy driven by naive healthy T cells specific for the HDV antigen (HDAg) to bypass the need for HBV-specific T cells in order to prime PreS1-specific T cells and PreS1 antibodies blocking HBV entry. Methods Ten combinations of PreS1 and/or HDAg sequences were evaluated for induction of PreS1 antibodies and HBV- and HDV-specific T cells in vitro and in vivo. Neutralization of HBV by PreS1-specific murine and rabbit antibodies was evaluated in cell culture, and rabbit anti-PreS1 were tested for neutralization of HBV in mice repopulated with human hepatocytes. Results The best vaccine candidate induced T cells to PreS1 and HDAg, and PreS1 antibodies blocking HBV entry in vitro. Importantly, adoptive transfer of PreS1 antibodies prevented, or modulated, HBV infection after a subsequent challenge in humanized mice. Conclusions We here describe a novel immunotherapy for chronic HBV/HDV that targets viral entry to complement NAs and coming therapies inhibiting viral maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Maravelia
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yi Ni
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Noelia Caro Pérez
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Ahlén
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Neetu Jagya
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georg Verch
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lieven Verhoye
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Lena Pater
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Johansson
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anna Pasetto
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matti Sällberg
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of severe liver disease worldwide. It is estimated that around 130-170 million individuals are chronic carriers of the infection and they are over time at an increased risk of developing severe liver disease. HCV is often referred to as a silent epidemic because the majority of infected individuals do not develop any symptoms. Hence, many individuals are diagnosed at a late stage and thus in need of immediate treatment. Today we have very effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), which cure more than 90-95 % of all treated patients. However, this treatment is associated with high-costs and the use is limited to the patients with most advanced liver disease in high-income countries. Notably, a majority of the chronic HCV carriers live in resource-poor countries and do not have access to the new effective DAAs. We therefore need to develop alternative treatments for chronic HCV infection such as therapeutic vaccines. The idea with therapeutic vaccines is to reactivate the infected patient's own immune system. It is well known that patients with chronic HCV infection have dysfunctional immune responses to the virus. Hence, the vaccine should activate HCV-specific T cells that will home to the liver and eradicate the HCV infected hepatocytes. Importantly, one should also consider the combination of a therapeutic vaccine and DAAs as a treatment strategy to equip the resolving patients with post-cure HCV-specific immune responses. This would provide patients with a better protection against reinfection. Numerous genetic vaccine candidates for HCV have been developed and tested in clinical trials with limited effects on viral load and in general inefficient activation of HCV-specific immune responses. In this chapter we describe the rational of developing highly immunogenic vaccines for HCV. Different strategies to improve vaccine immunogenicity and methods to evaluate vaccine efficacy are described. Detailed description of vaccine delivery by intramuscular immunization in combination with in vivo electroporation/electrotransfer (EP/ET) is covered, as well as immunological analysis of primed immune responses by determination of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production by ELISpot assay and direct ex vivo quantification of HCV NS3/4A-specific CD8+ T cells by pentamer staining. To analyze the in vivo functionality of primed NS3/4A-specific T cells we utilized the in vivo bioluminescence imaging technology. In conclusion, this chapter describes a method to design HCV vaccines and also a protocol to assess their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustaf Ahlén
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucyna Cova
- INSERM U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon (CRCL), University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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8
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Holmström F, Chen M, Balasiddaiah A, Sällberg M, Ahlén G, Frelin L. Functional differences in hepatitis C virus nonstructural (NS) 3/4A- and 5A-specific T cell responses. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24991. [PMID: 27141891 PMCID: PMC4855235 DOI: 10.1038/srep24991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus nonstructural (NS) 3/4A and NS5A proteins are major targets for the new direct-acting antiviral compounds. Both viral proteins have been suggested as modulators of the response to the host cell. We have shown that NS3/4A- and NS5A-specific T cell receptors confer different effector functions, and that killing of NS3/4A-expressing hepatocytes is highly dependent on IFN-γ. We here characterize the functional differences in the T cell responses to NS3/4A and NS5A. NS3/4A- and NS5A-specific T cells could be induced at various frequencies in wild-type-, NS3/4A-, and NS5A-transgenic mice. Priming of NS5A-specific T cells required a high DNA dose, and was unlike NS3/4A dependent on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but less influenced by CD25+/GITR+ regulatory T cells. The presence of IL-12 greatly improved specific CD8+ T cell priming by NS3/4A but not by NS5A, suggesting a less dependence of IFN-γ for NS5A. This notion was supported by the observation that NS5A-specific T cells could eliminate NS5A-expressing hepatocytes also in the absence of IFN-γ-receptor-2. This supports that NS3/4A- and NS5A-specific T cells become activated and eliminate antigen expressing, or infected hepatocytes, by distinct mechanisms, and that NS5A-specific T cells show an overall less dependence of IFN-γ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Holmström
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margaret Chen
- Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, S-141 04 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anangi Balasiddaiah
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, S-141 04 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matti Sällberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Ahlén
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Levander S, Sällberg M, Ahlén G, Frelin L. A non-human hepadnaviral adjuvant for hepatitis C virus-based genetic vaccines. Vaccine 2016; 34:2821-33. [PMID: 27109565 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) can act as an adjuvant in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-based DNA vaccines. Since two billion people are, or have been, in contact with HBV, one may question the use of human HBV sequences as adjuvant. We herein evaluated non-human stork hepatitis B virus core gene-sequences from stork as DNA vaccine adjuvants. Full-length and fragmented stork HBcAg gene-sequences were added to an HCV non-structural (NS) 3/4A gene (NS3/4A-stork-HBcAg). This resulted in an enhanced priming of HCV-specific IFN-γ and IL-2 responses in both wild-type (wt)- and NS3/4A-transgenic (Tg) mice, the latter with dysfunctional NS3/4A-specific T cells. The NS3/4A-stork-HBcAg vaccine primed NS3/4A-specific T cells in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-Tg mice with dysfunctional T cells to HBcAg and HBeAg. Repeated immunizations boosted expansion of IFN-γ and IL-2-producing NS3/4A-specific T cells in wt- and NS3/4A-Tg mice. Importantly, NS3/4A-stork-HBcAg-DNA induced in vivo long-term functional memory T cell responses, whose maintenance required CD4(+) T cells. Thus, avian HBcAg gene-sequences from stork can effectively act as a DNA vaccine adjuvant. This technology can most likely be universally expanded to other genetic vaccine antigens, as this completely avoids the use of sequences from a human virus where a pre-existing immunity may interfere with its adjuvant effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Levander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Matti Sällberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gustaf Ahlén
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Lars Frelin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
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10
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Ahlén G, Frelin L, Holmström F, Smetham G, Augustyn S, Sällberg M. A targeted controlled force injection of genetic material in vivo. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2016; 5:16016. [PMID: 27069951 PMCID: PMC4813609 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2016.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A general limitation in gene delivery is the cellular uptake in lager animals including humans. Several approaches have been tested including liposomes, micro-needles, in vivo electro-transfer, ballistic delivery, and needle-free delivery. All these techniques have individual limitations. One approach reproducibly delivering genetic material in muscle tissue in nonhuman primates is hydrodynamic injection, a forced injection of a volume equaling the volume of the tissue to be transfected thereby causing an increased local pressure resulting in an improved uptake of genetic material. We transferred the principle of hydrodynamic injection to a device, where a small injection volume can be delivered to a targeted tissue volume, termed in vivo intracellular injection (IVIN). The device is based on needle(s) with apertures along the needle shafts, where multiple needles can fix the tissue volume to be transfected. The apertures direct the injection from a central needle outward or inward to the centroid of a geometric arrangement thereby targeting the tissue to be transfected. With a controlled force, this results in a targeted injection with increased transfection efficiency. We here show that the IVIN technology reproducibly improved plasmid uptake and expression and the immunogenicity. The IVIN technology can be generally applied to a targeted delivery of genetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustaf Ahlén
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Frelin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Holmström
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Matti Sällberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge , Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Chen M, Jagya N, Bansal R, Frelin L, Sällberg M. Prospects and progress of DNA vaccines for treating hepatitis B. Expert Rev Vaccines 2016; 15:629-40. [PMID: 26652035 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2016.1131615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global cause of liver disease. The preventive HBV vaccine has effectively reduced the disease burden. However, an estimated 340 million chronic HBV cases are in need of treatment. Current standard therapy for chronic HBV blocks reverse transcription. As this therapy blocks viral maturation and not viral protein expression, any immune inhibition exerted by these proteins will remain throughout therapy. This may help to explain why these drugs rarely induce off-therapy responses. Albeit some restoration of immune function occurs during therapy, this is clearly insufficient to control replication. Central questions when considering therapeutic DNA vaccination as an addition to blocking virus production are as follows: what does one hope to achieve? What do we think is wrong and how can the vaccination correct this? We here discuss different scenarios with respect to the lack of success of tested DNA vaccines, and suggest strategies for improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Chen
- a Division of Clinical Microbiology, F 68, Department of Laboratory Medicine , Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Department of Dental Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Neetu Jagya
- a Division of Clinical Microbiology, F 68, Department of Laboratory Medicine , Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ruchi Bansal
- c Targeted Therapeutics, Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Lars Frelin
- a Division of Clinical Microbiology, F 68, Department of Laboratory Medicine , Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Matti Sällberg
- a Division of Clinical Microbiology, F 68, Department of Laboratory Medicine , Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
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12
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Isorce N, Lucifora J, Zoulim F, Durantel D. Immune-modulators to combat hepatitis B virus infection: From IFN-α to novel investigational immunotherapeutic strategies. Antiviral Res 2015; 122:69-81. [PMID: 26275801 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2015.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major challenge for clinicians, as there are only two types of approved therapies: interferon-alpha (IFN-α) or its pegylated form, Peg-IFN-α and nucleoside analogs (e.g. tenofovir, entecavir...). The first are used as finite-duration treatments of around 48-52 weeks, while the second must be taken life-long to prevent rebound. Other immune-modulators, including other types of recombinant IFNs and cytokines/chemokines, could be developed for treating chronic hepatitis B. Alternatively, strategies aimed either at restoring or favoring the endogenous production of IFNs, cytokines and/or chemokines, or at alleviating HBV-mediated inhibitory processes could also be envisaged. In this article, we review current investigational, preclinical and clinical efforts to implement immune-modulatory components in the therapy of chronic hepatitis B. This review forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "An unfinished story: from the discovery of the Australia antigen to the development of new curative therapies for hepatitis B".
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Isorce
- INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France
| | - Julie Lucifora
- INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France; Labex DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), Croix-Rousse Hospital, Lyon, France
| | - David Durantel
- INSERM, U1052, CNRS UMR_5286, Cancer Research Centre of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard (UCBL), Lyon, France; Labex DEVweCAN, Lyon, France.
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