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Espinar-Buitrago M, Muñoz-Fernández MA. New Approaches to Dendritic Cell-Based Therapeutic Vaccines Against HIV-1 Infection. Front Immunol 2022; 12:719664. [PMID: 35058917 PMCID: PMC8763680 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.719664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the success of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in recent years, the pathological outcome of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection has improved substantially, achieving undetectable viral loads in most cases. Nevertheless, the presence of a viral reservoir formed by latently infected cells results in patients having to maintain treatment for life. In the absence of effective eradication strategies against HIV-1, research efforts are focused on obtaining a cure. One of these approaches is the creation of therapeutic vaccines. In this sense, the most promising one up to now is based on the establishing of the immunological synapse between dendritic cells (DCs) and T lymphocytes (TL). DCs are one of the first cells of the immune system to encounter HIV-1 by acting as antigen presenting cells, bringing about the interaction between innate and adaptive immune responses mediated by TL. Furthermore, TL are the end effector, and their response capacity is essential in the adaptive elimination of cells infected by pathogens. In this review, we summarize the knowledge of the interaction between DCs with TL, as well as the characterization of the specific T-cell response against HIV-1 infection. The use of nanotechnology in the design and improvement of vaccines based on DCs has been researched and presented here with a special emphasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisierra Espinar-Buitrago
- Section Head Immunology, Laboratorio InmunoBiología Molecular, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (HGUGM), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ma Angeles Muñoz-Fernández
- Section Head Immunology, Laboratorio InmunoBiología Molecular, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (HGUGM), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.,Spanish Human Immunodeficiency Virus- Hospital Gregorio Marañón (HIV-HGM) BioBank, Madrid, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
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Ko EJ, Robert-Guroff M. Dendritic Cells in HIV/SIV Prophylactic and Therapeutic Vaccination. Viruses 2019; 12:v12010024. [PMID: 31878130 PMCID: PMC7019216 DOI: 10.3390/v12010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are involved in human and simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV and SIV) pathogenesis but also play a critical role in orchestrating innate and adaptive vaccine-specific immune responses. Effective HIV/SIV vaccines require strong antigen-specific CD4 T cell responses, cytotoxic activity of CD8 T cells, and neutralizing/non-neutralizing antibody production at mucosal and systemic sites. To develop a protective HIV/SIV vaccine, vaccine regimens including DCs themselves, protein, DNA, mRNA, virus vectors, and various combinations have been evaluated in different animal and human models. Recent studies have shown that DCs enhanced prophylactic HIV/SIV vaccine efficacy by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines, improving T cell responses, and recruiting effector cells to target tissues. DCs are also targets for therapeutic HIV/SIV vaccines due to their ability to reverse latency, present antigen, and augment T and B cell immunity. Here, we review the complex interactions of DCs over the course of HIV/SIV prophylactic and therapeutic immunizations, providing new insights into development of advanced DC-targeted HIV/SIV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Ju Ko
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Advanced Convergence Technology & Science, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
- Correspondence: (E.-J.K.); (M.R.-G.)
| | - Marjorie Robert-Guroff
- Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Correspondence: (E.-J.K.); (M.R.-G.)
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Isik G, Sliepen K, van Montfort T, Sanders RW. Enhanced immunogenicity of HIV-1 envelope gp140 proteins fused to APRIL. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107683. [PMID: 25247707 PMCID: PMC4172553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Current HIV-1 vaccines based on the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein spike (Env), the only relevant target for broadly neutralizing antibodies, are unable to induce protective immunity. Env immunogenicity can be enhanced by fusion to costimulatory molecules involved in B cell activation, such as APRIL and CD40L. Here, we found that Env-APRIL signaled through the two receptors, BCMA and TACI. In rabbits, Env-APRIL induced significantly higher antibody responses against Env compared to unconjugated Env, while the antibody responses against the APRIL component were negligible. To extend this finding, we tested Env-APRIL in mice and found minimal antibody responses against APRIL. Furthermore, Env-CD40L did not induce significant anti-CD40L responses. Thus, in contrast to the 4-helix cytokines IL-21 and GM-CSF, the TNF-superfamily members CD40L and APRIL induced negligible autoantibodies. This study confirms and extends previous work and shows that fusion of Env-based immunogens to APRIL can improve Env immunogenicity and might help in designing HIV vaccines that induce protective humoral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gözde Isik
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kwinten Sliepen
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thijs van Montfort
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rogier W. Sanders
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Isik G, van Montfort T, Chung NPY, Moore JP, Sanders RW. Autoantibodies induced by chimeric cytokine-HIV envelope glycoprotein immunogens. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:4628-35. [PMID: 24729614 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1303401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are often used as adjuvants to increase the immunogenicity of vaccines because they can improve the immune response and/or direct it into a desired direction. As an alternative to codelivering Ags and cytokines separately, they can be fused into a composite protein, with the advantage that both moieties act on the same immune cells. The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike, located on the outside of virus particles and the only relevant protein for the induction of neutralizing Abs, is poorly immunogenic. The induction of anti-Env Abs can be improved by coupling Env proteins to costimulatory molecules such as a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL). In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of chimeric molecules containing uncleaved Env gp140 fused to the species-matched cytokines IL-21 or GM-CSF in rabbits and mice. Each cytokine was either fused to the C terminus of Env or embedded within Env at the position of the variable loops 1 and 2. The cytokine components of the chimeric Env-GM-CSF and Env-IL-21 molecules were functional in vitro, but none of the Env-cytokine fusion proteins resulted in improved Ab responses in vivo. Both the Env-GM-CSF and the Env-IL-21 molecules induced strong anticytokine Ab responses in both test species. These autoimmune responses were independent of the location of the cytokine in the chimeric Env molecules in that they were induced by cytokines inserted within the variable loops 1 and 2 of Env or fused to its C terminus. The induction of undesired autoimmune responses should be considered when using cytokines as costimulatory molecules in fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gözde Isik
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Wang Y, Zhao H, Ma Z, Wang Y, Feng WH. CTLA4 mediated targeting enhances immunogenicity against PRRSV in a DNA prime/killed virus boost strategy. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2013; 154:121-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2013.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 04/27/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Targeting HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers to B cells by using APRIL improves antibody responses. J Virol 2011; 86:2488-500. [PMID: 22205734 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.06259-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An HIV-1 vaccine remains elusive, in part because various factors limit the quantity and quality of the antibodies raised against the viral envelope glycoprotein complex (Env). We hypothesized that targeting Env vaccines directly to B cells, by fusing them to molecules that bind and activate these cells, would improve Env-specific antibody responses. Therefore, we fused trimeric Env gp140 to A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL), B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF), and CD40 Ligand (CD40L). The Env-APRIL, Env-BAFF, and Env-CD40L gp140 trimers all enhanced the expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), the enzyme responsible for inducing somatic hypermutation, antibody affinity maturation, and antibody class switching. They also triggered IgM, IgG, and IgA secretion from human B cells in vitro. The Env-APRIL trimers induced higher anti-Env antibody responses in rabbits, including neutralizing antibodies against tier 1 viruses. The enhanced Env-specific responses were not associated with a general increase in total plasma antibody concentrations, indicating that the effect of APRIL was specific for Env. All the rabbit sera raised against gp140 trimers, irrespective of the presence of CD40L, BAFF, or APRIL, recognized trimeric Env efficiently, whereas sera raised against gp120 monomers did not. The levels of trimer-binding and virus-neutralizing antibodies were strongly correlated, suggesting that gp140 trimers are superior to gp120 monomers as immunogens. Targeting and activating B cells with a trimeric HIV-1 Env-APRIL fusion protein may therefore improve the induction of humoral immunity against HIV-1.
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Liu F, Liang M, Cao S, Liu Q, Zhang Q, Li C, Zhang S, Wang S, Li D. Fusion with extracellular domain of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated-antigen 4 leads to enhancement of immunogenicity of Hantaan virus DNA vaccines in C57BL/6 mice. Virol J 2011; 8:448. [PMID: 21943202 PMCID: PMC3204296 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-8-448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hantaan virus (HTNV) is the causative agent of the most severe form of a rodent-borne disease known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). A safe and effective HTNV vaccine is needed. Vaccination with DNA constructs expressing fused antigen with bioactive factors, has shown promising improvement of immunogenicity for viral agents in animal models, but the effect of fusion strategy on HTNV DNA vaccine has not been investigated. RESULTS DNA plasmids encoding the HTNV nucleocapsid protein (N) and glycoprotein (Gn and Gc) in fusion to the extracellular domain of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated-antigen 4 (eCTLA-4) targeting to antigen presenting cells (APCs) were constructed. Intramuscular immunization of mice with plasmids expressing eCTLA-4-HTNV-N/GP fusion proteins leads to a significant enhancement of the specific antibody response as well as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, this effect could be further augmented when co-administered with CpG motifs. CONCLUSIONS Modification of viral antigen in fusion to bioactive factor will be promising to confer efficient antigen presentation and improve the potency of DNA vaccine in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu
- Laboratory for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC 100 Ying Xin Jie, Xuan Wu Qu, Beijing 100052, China
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The effect of antigen size on the immunogenicity of antigen presenting cell targeted DNA vaccine. Int Immunopharmacol 2011; 12:21-5. [PMID: 21945335 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2011.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2011] [Revised: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 08/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Directing antigens to antigen presenting cells (APCs) has been demonstrated to be an efficient strategy to enhance immune responses induced by DNA vaccination. Fusion of antigens to cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4), a ligand of B7 molecules on the surfaces of APCs with strong binding affinity, enhanced the immunogenicities of antigens in various degrees. To investigate the relationship between antigen size and the immunogenicity of CTLA4 fusion DNA vaccine, we constructed CTLA4 targeted fusion anti-caries DNA vaccines containing different size of antigens. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that CTLA4 fusion with smaller antigen induced stronger humoral immune responses and had higher affinity to B7-expressed cells than fusion with larger antigen. In conclusion, antigen size is one of the important factors regulating the potency of humoral immune response induced by CTLA4 targeted DNA vaccines.
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Yin Y, Wu C, Song J, Wang J, Zhang E, Liu H, Yang D, Chen X, Lu M, Xu Y. DNA immunization with fusion of CTLA-4 to hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein enhanced Th2 type responses and cleared HBV with an accelerated kinetic. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22524. [PMID: 21799884 PMCID: PMC3142188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Typically, DNA immunization via the intramuscular route induces specific, Th1-dominant immune responses. However, plasmids expressing viral proteins fused to cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) primed Th2-biased responses and were able to induced effective protection against viral challenge in the woodchuck model. Thus, we addressed the question in the mouse model how the Th1/Th2 bias of primed immune responses by a DNA vaccine influences hepatitis B virus (HBV) clearance. Principal Findings Plasmids expressing HBV core protein (HBcAg) or HBV e antigen and HBcAg fused to the extracellular domain of CTLA-4 (pCTLA-4-HBc), CD27, and full length CD40L were constructed. Immunizations of these DNA plasmids induced HBcAg-specific antibody and cytotoxic T-cell responses in mice, but with different characteristics regarding the titers and subtypes of specific antibodies and intensity of T-cell responses. The plasmid pHBc expressing HBcAg induced an IgG2a-dominant response while immunizations of pCTLA-4-HBc induced a balanced IgG1/IgG2a response. To assess the protective values of the immune responses of different characteristics, mice were pre-immunized with pCTLA-4-HBc and pHBc, and challenged by hydrodynamic injection (HI) of pAAV/HBV1.2. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and DNA in peripheral blood and HBcAg in liver tissue were cleared with significantly accelerated kinetics in both groups. The clearance of HBsAg was completed within 16 days in immunized mice while more than 50% of the control mice are still positive for HBsAg on day 22. Stronger HBcAg-specific T-cell responses were primed by pHBc correlating with a more rapid decline of HBcAg expression in liver tissue, while anti-HBs antibody response developed rapidly in the mice immunized with pCTLA-4-HBc, indicating that the Th1/Th2 bias of vaccine-primed immune responses influences the mode of viral clearance. Conclusion Viral clearance could be efficiently achieved by Th1/Th2-balanced immune response, with a small but significant shift in T-cell and B-cell immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yin
- Department of Microbiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunchen Wu
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingjiao Song
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Junzhong Wang
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ejuan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyan Liu
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dongliang Yang
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinwen Chen
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengji Lu
- Department of Microbiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Microbiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail:
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Zhou C, Peng G, Jin X, Tang J, Chen Z. Vaccination with a fusion DNA vaccine encoding hepatitis B surface antigen fused to the extracellular domain of CTLA4 enhances HBV-specific immune responses in mice: Implication of its potential use as a therapeutic vaccine. Clin Immunol 2010; 137:190-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2010.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2010] [Revised: 07/06/2010] [Accepted: 07/09/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Ahlers JD, Belyakov IM. Strategies for recruiting and targeting dendritic cells for optimizing HIV vaccines. Trends Mol Med 2009; 15:263-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2009.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2009] [Revised: 04/03/2009] [Accepted: 04/03/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Zheng Y, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Wan J, Shi C, Huang L. Enhancement of immunotherapeutic effects of HPV16E7 on cervical cancer by fusion with CTLA4 extracellular region. J Microbiol 2008; 46:728-36. [DOI: 10.1007/s12275-008-0087-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2008] [Accepted: 09/23/2008] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Chinnasamy D, Tector M, Chinnasamy N, Dennert K, Kozinski KM, Oaks MK. A mechanistic study of immune system activation by fusion of antigens with the ligand-binding domain of CTLA4. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2006; 55:1504-14. [PMID: 16612600 PMCID: PMC11030147 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-006-0153-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2005] [Accepted: 03/02/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fusion proteins consisting of the ligand-binding domain of CTLA4 covalently attached to an antigen (Ag) are potent immunogens. This fusion strategy effectively induces Ag-specific immunity both when introduced as a DNA-based vaccine and as a recombinant protein. CTLA4 is a ligand for B7 molecules expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and this interaction is critical for the fusion protein to stimulate Ag-specific immunity. We show that interaction of the fusion protein with either B7-1 or B7-2 is sufficient to stimulate immune activity, and that T cells are essential for the development of IgG responses. In addition, we demonstrate that human dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with CTLA4-Ag fusion proteins can efficiently present Ag to T cells and induce an Ag-specific immune response in vitro. These studies provide further mechanistic understanding of the process by which CTLA4-Ag fusion proteins stimulate the immune system, and represent an efficient means of generating Ag-specific T cells for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanalakshmi Chinnasamy
- Immunotherapy Program, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, WI 53215 USA
| | - Matt Tector
- Transplant Research Laboratory, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Aurora Health Care, 2900 West Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53215 USA
| | - Nachimuthu Chinnasamy
- Immunotherapy Program, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, WI 53215 USA
| | - Kate Dennert
- Transplant Research Laboratory, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Aurora Health Care, 2900 West Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53215 USA
| | - Karen M. Kozinski
- Transplant Research Laboratory, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Aurora Health Care, 2900 West Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53215 USA
| | - Martin K. Oaks
- Transplant Research Laboratory, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Aurora Health Care, 2900 West Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53215 USA
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Nayak BP, Sailaja G, Jabbar AM. Augmenting the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines: role of plasmid-encoded Flt-3 ligand, as a molecular adjuvant in genetic vaccination. Virology 2006; 348:277-88. [PMID: 16563456 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2006.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2005] [Revised: 02/10/2006] [Accepted: 02/10/2006] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we have taken advantage of the unique property of a potent dendritic cell (DC) growth factor, Flt-3 ligand (FL), which could act as a vaccine adjuvant. Accordingly, a single injection of plasmid DNA coding for soluble FL (FLex) was shown to induce large numbers of DCs in various tissue compartments and was critical for generating high frequencies of antigen-specific (HIV gp120 and LCMV NP) immune responses in mice. Interestingly, this enhanced level of immune response is strictly dependent on the co-delivery (i.m.) of the DNA vaccines and hFLex DNA to mice harboring large numbers of DCs. The high frequencies of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells were largely associated with the expansion phase of DCs in vivo. However, DC expansion and immune enhancement have not reciprocally maintained a linear correlation, suggesting that other factors, cytokines/chemokines, which have the potential to modulate the microenvironment of DCs, could influence immunological outcome in this vaccination modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishnu P Nayak
- Emory Vaccine Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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Rajcáni J, Mosko T, Rezuchová I. Current developments in viral DNA vaccines: shall they solve the unsolved? Rev Med Virol 2005; 15:303-25. [PMID: 15906276 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
This review describes the mechanisms of immune response following DNA vaccination. The efficacy of DNA vaccines in animal models is highlighted, especially in viral diseases against which no widely accepted vaccination is currently available. Emphasis is given to possible therapeutic vaccination in chronic infections due to persisting virus genomes, such as recurrent herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2), pre-AIDS (HIV-1) and/or chronic hepatitis B (HBV). In these, the problem of introducing foreign viral DNA may not be of crucial importance, since the immunised subject is already a viral DNA (or provirus) carrier. The DNA-based immunisation strategies may overcome several problems of classical viral vaccines. Novel DNA vaccines could induce immunity against multiple viral epitopes including the conservative type common ones, which do not undergo antigenic drifts. Within the immunised host, they mimic the effect of live attenuated viral vaccines when continuously expressing the polypeptide in question. For this reason they directly stimulate the antigen-presenting cells, especially dendritic cells. The antigen encoded by plasmid elicits T helper cell activity (Th1 and Th2 type responses), primes the cytotoxic T cell memory and may induce a satisfactory humoral response. The efficacy of DNA vaccines can be improved by adding plasmids encoding immunomodulatory cytokines and/or their co-receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Rajcáni
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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Lu M, Isogawa M, Xu Y, Hilken G. Immunization with the gene expressing woodchuck hepatitis virus nucleocapsid protein fused to cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 leads to enhanced specific immune responses in mice and woodchucks. J Virol 2005; 79:6368-76. [PMID: 15858020 PMCID: PMC1091665 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.10.6368-6376.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of options are available to modify and improve DNA vaccines. An interesting approach to improve DNA vaccines is to fuse bioactive domains, like cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), to an antigen. Such fusion antigens are expressed in vivo and directed to immune cells by the specific bioactive domain and therefore possess great potential to induce and modulate antigen-specific immune responses. In the present study, we tested this new approach for immunomodulation against hepadnavirus infection in the woodchuck model. Plasmids expressing the nucleocapsid protein (WHcAg) and e antigen (WHeAg) of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) alone or in fusion to the extracellular domain of woodchuck CTLA-4 and CD28 were constructed. Immunizations of mice with plasmids expressing WHcAg or WHeAg led to a specific immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a)-dominant antibody response. In contrast, fusions of WHcAg to CTLA-4 and CD28 induced a specific antibody response with comparable levels of IgG1 and IgG2a. Furthermore, the specific IgG1 response to WHcAg/WHeAg developed immediately after a single immunization with the CTLA-4-WHcAg fusion. Woodchucks were immunized with plasmids expressing WHeAg or the CTLA-4-WHcAg fusion and subsequently challenged with WHV. CTLA-4-WHcAg showed an improved efficacy in induction of protective immune responses to WHV. In particular, the anti-WHsAg antibody response developed earlier after challenge in woodchucks that received immunizations with CTLA-4-WHcAg, consistent with the hypothesis that anti-WHs response is dependent on a Th cell response to WHcAg. In conclusion, the use of fusion genes represents a generally applicable strategy to improve DNA vaccination.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibody Specificity
- Antigens, CD
- Antigens, Differentiation/immunology
- CD28 Antigens/immunology
- CTLA-4 Antigen
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Hepatitis B/blood
- Hepatitis B/immunology
- Hepatitis B/prevention & control
- Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood
- Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Hepatitis B Vaccines/immunology
- Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck/immunology
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/blood
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/immunology
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/prevention & control
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Marmota
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Nucleocapsid/immunology
- Nucleocapsid Proteins
- Plasmids/metabolism
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengji Lu
- Institut für Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen D-45122, Germany.
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Dean HJ, Haynes J, Schmaljohn C. The role of particle-mediated DNA vaccines in biodefense preparedness. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2005; 57:1315-42. [PMID: 15935876 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2005.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2004] [Accepted: 01/25/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Particle-mediated epidermal delivery (PMED) of DNA vaccines is based on the acceleration of DNA-coated gold directly into the cytoplasm and nuclei of living cells of the epidermis, facilitating DNA delivery and gene expression. Professional antigen-presenting cells and keratinocytes in the skin are both targeted, resulting in antigen presentation via direct transfection and cross-priming mechanisms. Only a small number of cells need to be transfected to elicit humoral, cellular and memory responses, requiring only a low DNA dose. In recent years, data have accumulated on the utility of PMED for delivery of DNA vaccines against a number of viral pathogens, including filoviruses, flaviviruses, poxviruses, togaviruses and bunyaviruses. PMED DNA immunization of rodents and nonhuman primates results in the generation of neutralizing antibody, cellular immunity, and protective efficacy against a broad range of viruses of public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansi J Dean
- PowderJect Vaccines, Inc. 8551 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA.
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Abstract
DNA vaccines have been used to generate protective immunity against tumors in a variety of experimental models. The favorite target antigens have been those that are frequently expressed by human tumors, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ErbB2/neu, and melanoma-associated antigens. DNA vaccines have the advantage of being simple to construct, produce and deliver. They can activate all arms of the immune system, and allow substantial flexibility in modifying the type of immune response generated through codelivery of cytokine genes. DNA vaccines can be applied by intramuscular, dermal/epidermal, oral, respiratory and other routes, and pose relatively few safety concerns. Compared to other nucleic acid vectors, they are usually devoid of viral or bacterial antigens and can be designed to deliver only the target tumor antigen(s). This is likely to be important when priming a response against weak tumor antigens. DNA vaccines have been more effective in rodents than in larger mammals or humans. However, a large number of methods that might be applied clinically have been shown to ameliorate these vaccines. This includes in vivo electroporation, and/or inclusion of various immunostimulatory molecules, xenoantigens (or their epitopes), antigen-cytokine fusion genes, agents that improve antigen uptake or presentation, and molecules that activate innate immunity mechanisms. In addition, CpG motifs carried by plasmids can overcome the negative effects of regulatory T cells. There have been few studies in humans, but recent clinical trials suggest that plasmid/virus, or plasmid/antigen-adjuvant, prime-boost strategies generate strong immune responses, and confirm the usefulness of plasmid-based vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gérald J Prud'homme
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, Canada.
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