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Pandey KK, Sahoo BR, Pattnaik AK. Protein Nanoparticles as Vaccine Platforms for Human and Zoonotic Viruses. Viruses 2024; 16:936. [PMID: 38932228 PMCID: PMC11209504 DOI: 10.3390/v16060936] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are one of the most effective medical interventions, playing a pivotal role in treating infectious diseases. Although traditional vaccines comprise killed, inactivated, or live-attenuated pathogens that have resulted in protective immune responses, the negative consequences of their administration have been well appreciated. Modern vaccines have evolved to contain purified antigenic subunits, epitopes, or antigen-encoding mRNAs, rendering them relatively safe. However, reduced humoral and cellular responses pose major challenges to these subunit vaccines. Protein nanoparticle (PNP)-based vaccines have garnered substantial interest in recent years for their ability to present a repetitive array of antigens for improving immunogenicity and enhancing protective responses. Discovery and characterisation of naturally occurring PNPs from various living organisms such as bacteria, archaea, viruses, insects, and eukaryotes, as well as computationally designed structures and approaches to link antigens to the PNPs, have paved the way for unprecedented advances in the field of vaccine technology. In this review, we focus on some of the widely used naturally occurring and optimally designed PNPs for their suitability as promising vaccine platforms for displaying native-like antigens from human viral pathogens for protective immune responses. Such platforms hold great promise in combating emerging and re-emerging infectious viral diseases and enhancing vaccine efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kush K. Pandey
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (K.K.P.); (B.R.S.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Bikash R. Sahoo
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (K.K.P.); (B.R.S.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Asit K. Pattnaik
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (K.K.P.); (B.R.S.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
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2
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Aguiar Santiago JA, Marrero Miragaya MA, Figueroa Oliva DA, Aguilar Juanes A, Idavoy Corona A, Martínez Fernández S, Morán Bertot I, Rodríguez Hernández M, Canales López E, Hernández Esteves I, Silva Girado JA, Estrada Vázquez RC, Gell Cuesta O, Mendoza-Marí Y, Valdés Prado I, Rodríguez Ibarra C, Palenzuela Gardon DO, Pentón Arias E, Guillén Nieto G, Aguilar Rubido JC. Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Increased Expression of Interferon-Stimulated Genes After Local Administration of Nasalferon or HeberNasvac. DNA Cell Biol 2024; 43:95-102. [PMID: 38118108 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2023.0283] [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: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
HeberNasvac, a therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B, is able to safely stimulate multiple Toll-like receptors, increasing antigen presentation in vitro and in a phase II clinical trial (Profira) in elderly volunteers who were household contacts of respiratory infection patients. Thus, a new indication as a postexposure prophylaxis or early therapy for respiratory infections has been proposed. In this study, we evaluated the expression of several interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) after mucosal administration of HeberNasvac and compared this effect with the nasal delivery of interferon alpha 2b (Nasalferon). Molecular studies of blood samples of 50 subjects from the Profira clinical trial who were locally treated with HeberNasvac or Nasalferon and concurrent untreated individuals were compared based on their relative mRNA expression of OAS1, ISG15, ISG20, STAT1, STAT3, and DRB1-HLA II genes. In most cases, the gene expression induced by HeberNasvac was similar in profile and intensity to the expression induced by Nasalferon and significantly superior to that observed in untreated controls. The immune stimulatory effect of HeberNasvac on ISGs paved the way for its future use as an innate immunity stimulator in elderly persons and immunocompromised subjects or as part of Mambisa, a nasal vaccine to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ivis Morán Bertot
- Plant Molecular Biology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Eduardo Canales López
- Plant Genomic Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | | | - José Angel Silva Girado
- Olinonucleotide Synthesis Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Omar Gell Cuesta
- Olinonucleotide Synthesis Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Yssel Mendoza-Marí
- Vaccine Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Iris Valdés Prado
- Vaccine Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Eduardo Pentón Arias
- Vaccine Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Gerardo Guillén Nieto
- Vaccine Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
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3
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Liu X, Lu Y, Li X, Luo L, You J. Nanoplatform-enhanced photodynamic therapy for the induction of immunogenic cell death. J Control Release 2024; 365:1058-1073. [PMID: 38056695 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.11.058] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
As an efficient, non-invasive, low-side-effect, and highly selective cancer therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used to treat various malignant tumors. However, the inefficiency of dealing with deep tumors and metastatic lesions highly limits the use of PDT. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a particular form of tumor cell death that could elicit a tumor-special immune response, leading to a systemic anti-tumor effect and providing therapeutic benefits for metastatic lesions. In this regard, it is crucial to enhance the ability of PDT to induce ICD. Luckily, advanced nanotechnology created many promising ways to improve the immunogenicity of PDT and achieve photoimmunotherapy. This review summarizes the emerging strategies for triggering immunogenic cell death via nanoplatform-enhanced PDT, with particular emphasis on their advantages in photoimmunotherapy. We highlight the nanoplatforms classified according to the basic principles of photodynamic therapy and immunogenic cell death, which provides a valuable reference for the design of nanoplatform for photoimmunotherapy. In addition, we also discuss the current situation and prospect of nano-based photoimmunotherapy in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China
| | - Yichao Lu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China
| | - Xiang Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China
| | - Lihua Luo
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China; Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, 498 Yiwu Street, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321299, P. R. China.
| | - Jian You
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P. R. China; The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 QingChun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P. R. China; Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, 498 Yiwu Street, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321299, P. R. China.
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4
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Freyre FM, Aguiar JA, Cinza Z, Figueroa N, Diaz PA, Muzio VL, Lemos G, Freyre G, Coizeau E, Rodríguez C, Pentón E, Campos M, Santos IL, Mahtab MA, Akbar SMF, Guillen GE, Aguilar JC. Impact of the Route and Schedule of Immunization on the Serological and Virological Response of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with HeberNasvac. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2023; 13:73-78. [PMID: 38222949 PMCID: PMC10785140 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
HeberNasvac is a recently developed therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) administered by intranasal (IN) and subcutaneous (SC) routes in a 14 days/10 doses schedule. To compare different schedules and routes of immunizations, a group of patients received four different vaccination regimens in a placebo-controlled factorial study. Subsequently, patients were followed for a minimum time of 48 weeks. Samples collected at the end of the follow-up were compared with initial samples. Groups I and II received the product by IN/SC routes, every 14 and 7 days, respectively. Groups III and IV were treated by SC route alone following a 14 and 7 days schedule. A group of 21 CHB patients received the vaccine in four different schedules and eight patients received placebo for a total of 29 patients enrolled. The 61.9% of vaccinees reduced their VL ≥2Log compared with baseline levels and 25% in placebo group. The 47.6% of vaccines reduced HBV levels to undetectable, 25% in placebo. HBeAg loss and seroconversion to anti-HBeAg was only achieved in vaccinees, 4 out of 9 (44.4%), and 40% (8 out of 20) developed anti-HBs response, none in placebo group. Reduction of HBsAg level in ≥1Log was achieved in the 35.0% of vaccinees and in none of the placebo-treated patients. Considering the individual and factorial analysis, significant HBV DNA reduction was detected in groups I and II, immunized by IN/SC routes. A significantly higher proportion of patients reducing VL to ≥2Log was also detected grouping the patients treated by IN/SC routes (G I + II) and grouping those inoculated every 14 days (G I + III), with 72.7% and 63.6%, respectively, compared with the placebo group (25.0%). The patients immunized every 14 days (G I + G III) also reduced the HBsAg levels compared with baseline. In conclusion, after more than 48 weeks of treatment-free follow-up, HeberNasvac-treated patients demonstrated superior responses compared with the placebo group in terms of antiviral and serological responses. The factorial analysis evidenced that the schedule combining the IN route of immunization and the frequency of 14 days resulted in the stronger antiviral and serological responses. Present results support the study of IN-only immunization schedules in future and was consistent with previous results. Long-lasting follow-ups were done to explore histological variables and the progression of serological variables in order to detect late responders. How to cite this article Freyre FM, Aguiar JA, Cinza Z, et al. Impact of the Route and Schedule of Immunization on the Serological and Virological Response of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with HeberNasvac. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2023;13(2):73-78.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya Milagros Freyre
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Jorge A Aguiar
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Zurina Cinza
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Nelvis Figueroa
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Pablo Arsenio Diaz
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Verena Lucila Muzio
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gilda Lemos
- Department of Regulatory Affairs, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Giselle Freyre
- Department of Regulatory Affairs, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Edelgis Coizeau
- Department of Regulatory Affairs, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Chabeli Rodríguez
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Eduardo Pentón
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Magalys Campos
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Iván Luis Santos
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Mamun Al Mahtab
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan; Research Center for Global and Local Infectious Diseases, Oita University, Oita, Japan; Miyakawa Memorial Research Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gerardo E Guillen
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Julio Cesar Aguilar
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
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Shi Y, Wang Z, Ge S, Xia N, Yuan Q. Hepatitis B Core Antibody Level: A Surrogate Marker for Host Antiviral Immunity in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infections. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051111. [PMID: 37243197 DOI: 10.3390/v15051111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus core protein (HBcAg) is a highly immunogenic particulate antigen. Nearly all patients with persistent or resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection show seropositivity for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), which appears in the early stage of infection and is mostly present for life. Traditionally, the anti-HBc is regarded as an evidential serological marker of HBV infections. In the last ten years, several studies revealed the predictive value of quantitative anti-HBc (qAnti-HBc) level in the treatment response and clinical outcome of chronic HBV infections, implying new insights into this classic marker. Overall, qAnti-HBc should be regarded as an indicator of the host's immune response specific to HBV, which correlates with HBV-related hepatitis activity and liver pathology. This review summarized the latest understanding of the clinical values of qAnti-HBc for differentiating the CHB phase, predicting treatment response, and providing disease prognosis. Moreover, we also discussed the possible mechanism of qAnti-HBc regulation during different courses of HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Vaccine Development, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, National Institute of Diagnostics Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zihan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Vaccine Development, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, National Institute of Diagnostics Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Shengxiang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Vaccine Development, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, National Institute of Diagnostics Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Vaccine Development, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, National Institute of Diagnostics Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Quan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Vaccine Development, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, National Institute of Diagnostics Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen 361102, China
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Li Y, Xiu Z, Li S, Zhu Y, Li Y, Zhao R, Li Y, Yang X, Ge C, Li N, Jin N, Shang C, Li X, Han J. Human adenovirus type 7 virus-like particle vaccine induces Dendritic cell maturation through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and is highly immunogenic. Antiviral Res 2023; 212:105559. [PMID: 36813181 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105559] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Human adenovirus type 7 (HAdv-7) infection is the main cause of upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis and pneumonia in children. At present, there are no anti-adenovirus drugs or preventive vaccines in the market. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a safe and effective anti-adenovirus type 7 vaccine. In this study, we designed a virus-like particle vaccine expressing the epitopes of hexon and penton of adenovirus type 7 with hepatitis B core protein (HBc) as the vector to induce high-level humoral and cellular immune responses. To evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine, we first detected the expression of molecular markers on the surface of antigen presenting cells and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro. We then measured the levels of neutralizing antibodies and T cell activation in vivo. The results showed that the HAdv-7 virus-like particles (VLPs) recombinant subunit vaccine could activate the innate immune response, including the TLR4/NF-κB pathway which upregulated the expression of MHC II, CD80, CD86, CD40 and cytokines. The vaccine also triggered a strong neutralizing antibody and cellular immune response and activated T lymphocytes. Therefore, the HAdv-7 VLPs promoted humoral and cellular immune responses, thereby potentially enhancing protection against HAdv-7 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiquan Li
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China; Medical College, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, PR China
| | - Zhiru Xiu
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China
| | - Shanzhi Li
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China
| | - Yilong Zhu
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China
| | - Yaru Li
- Medical College, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, PR China
| | - Renshuang Zhao
- Medical College, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, PR China
| | - Yue Li
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China
| | - Xia Yang
- Medical College, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, PR China
| | - Chenchen Ge
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, PR China
| | - Nan Li
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, PR China
| | - Ningyi Jin
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China; Medical College, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, PR China; Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, PR China
| | - Chao Shang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, PR China.
| | - Xiao Li
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China; Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, PR China.
| | - Jicheng Han
- Academician Workstation of Jilin Province, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, PR China; Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, PR China.
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Ghasemian K, Broer I, Schön J, Killisch R, Kolp N, Springer A, Huckauf J. Oral and Subcutaneous Immunization with a Plant-Produced Mouse-Specific Zona Pellucida 3 Peptide Presented on Hepatitis B Core Antigen Virus-like Particles. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020462. [PMID: 36851339 PMCID: PMC9963689 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A short mouse-specific peptide from zona pellucida 3 (mZP3, amino acids 328-342) has been shown to be associated with antibody-mediated contraception. In this study, we investigated the production of mZP3 in the plant, as an orally applicable host, and examined the immunogenicity of this small peptide in the BALB/c mouse model. The mZP3 peptide was inserted into the major immunodominant region of the hepatitis B core antigen and was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression. Soluble HBcAg-mZP3 accumulated at levels up to 2.63 mg/g leaf dry weight (LDW) containing ~172 µg/mg LDW mZP3 peptide. Sucrose gradient analysis and electron microscopy indicated the assembly of the HBcAg-mZP3 virus-like particles (VLPs) in the soluble protein fraction. Subcutaneously administered mZP3 peptide displayed on HBcAg VLPs was immunogenic in BALB/c mice at a relatively low dosage (5.5 µg mZP3 per dose) and led to the generation of mZP3-specific antibodies that bound to the native zona pellucida of wild mice. Oral delivery of dried leaves expressing HBcAg-mZP3 also elicited mZP3-specific serum IgG and mucosal IgA that cross-reacted with the zona pellucida of wild mice. According to these results, it is worthwhile to investigate the efficiency of plants producing HBcAg-mZP3 VLPs as immunogenic edible baits in reducing the fertility of wild mice through inducing antibodies that cross-react to the zona pellucida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Ghasemian
- Department of Agrobiotechnology and Risk Assessment for Bio and Gene Technology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Inge Broer
- Department of Agrobiotechnology and Risk Assessment for Bio and Gene Technology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schön
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Killisch
- BIOSERV, Analytik und Medizinprodukte GmbH, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Nadine Kolp
- BIOSERV, Analytik und Medizinprodukte GmbH, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Armin Springer
- Medical Biology and Electron Microscopy Center, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Jana Huckauf
- Department of Agrobiotechnology and Risk Assessment for Bio and Gene Technology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Hao Y, Gu Z, Yu Z, Schomann T, Sayedipour S, Aguilar JC, ten Dijke P, Cruz LJ. Photodynamic Therapy in Combination with the Hepatitis B Core Virus-like Particles (HBc VLPs) to Prime Anticancer Immunity for Colorectal Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2724. [PMID: 35681703 PMCID: PMC9179923 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which combines light and oxygen with a photosensitizer to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated killing of primary tumor cells, benefits from non-invasive properties and its negligible toxicity to surrounding healthy tissues. In this study, we have shown that the second-generation photosensitizer FOSCAN can be internalized by tumor cells and effectively induce tumor cell death when exposed to laser irradiation in vitro. In addition, these dying tumor cells can be phagocytosed by dendritic cells and lead to their activation and maturation as assessed by in vitro co-culture models. While PDT induces immunogenic tumor cell apoptosis, its application for the treatment of tumors located in deep tissues and advanced malignancies has been limited. In this study, we demonstrate that hepatitis B core virus-like particles (HBc VLPs) can serve as a vaccine to enhance PDT-induced anti-cancer immunity by priming humoral immune responses and inducing CD8+ T cell responses. The combination of PDT and HBc VLPs increased the survival rate of MC-38 tumor-bearing mice to 55%, compared to 33% in PDT alone and no tumor-free mice in vaccine alone. Moreover, the combination effectively prevented tumor recurrence in vivo through enhanced immune memory T cells after therapy. Therefore, as both are clinically approved techniques, this combination provides a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hao
- Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) Group, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (Y.H.); (Z.G.); (Z.Y.); (T.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Zili Gu
- Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) Group, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (Y.H.); (Z.G.); (Z.Y.); (T.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Zhenfeng Yu
- Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) Group, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (Y.H.); (Z.G.); (Z.Y.); (T.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Timo Schomann
- Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) Group, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (Y.H.); (Z.G.); (Z.Y.); (T.S.); (S.S.)
- Percuros B.V., Zernikedreef 8, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sana Sayedipour
- Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) Group, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (Y.H.); (Z.G.); (Z.Y.); (T.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Julio C. Aguilar
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, CIGB, Havana 10600, Cuba;
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Luis J. Cruz
- Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) Group, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (Y.H.); (Z.G.); (Z.Y.); (T.S.); (S.S.)
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Fleites YA, Aguiar J, Cinza Z, Bequet M, Marrero E, Vizcaíno M, Esquivel I, Diaz M, Sin-Mayor A, Garcia M, Martinez SM, Beato A, Galarraga AG, Mendoza-Mari Y, Valdés I, García G, Lemos G, González I, Canaán-Haden C, Figueroa N, Oquendo R, Akbar SM, Mahtab MA, Uddin MH, Guillén GE, Muzio VL, Pentón E, Aguilar JC. HeberNasvac, a Therapeutic Vaccine for Chronic Hepatitis B, Stimulates Local and Systemic Markers of Innate Immunity: Potential Use in SARS-CoV-2 Postexposure Prophylaxis. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2021; 11:59-70. [PMID: 34786358 PMCID: PMC8566153 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction More than 180 million people have been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and more than 4 million coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients have died in 1.5 years of the pandemic. A novel therapeutic vaccine (NASVAC) has shown to be safe and to have immunomodulating and antiviral properties against chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Materials and methods A phase I/II, open-label controlled and randomized clinical trial of NASVAC as a postexposure prophylaxis treatment was designed with the primary aim of assessing the local and systemic immunomodulatory effect of NASVAC in a cohort of suspected and SARS-CoV-2 risk-contact patients. A total of 46 patients, of both sexes, 60 years or older, presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. Patients received NASVAC (100 μg per Ag per dose) via intranasal at days 1, 7, and 14 and sublingual, daily for 14 days. Results and discussion The present study detected an increased expression of toll-like receptors (TLR)-related genes in nasopharyngeal tonsils, a relevant property considering these are surrogate markers of SARS protection in the mice model of lethal infection. The HLA-class II increased their expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell's (PBMC's) monocytes and lymphocytes, which is an attractive property taking into account the functional impairment of innate immune cells from the periphery of COVID-19-infected subjects. NASVAC was safe and well tolerated by the patients with acute respiratory infections and evidenced a preliminary reduction in the number of days with symptoms that needs to be confirmed in larger studies. Conclusions Our data justify the use of NASVAC as preemptive therapy or pre-/postexposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 and acute respiratory infections in general. The use of NASVAC or their active principles has potential as immunomodulatory prophylactic therapies in other antiviral settings like dengue as well as in malignancies like hepatocellular carcinoma where these markers have shown relation to disease progression. How to cite this article Fleites YA, Aguiar J, Cinza Z, et al. HeberNasvac, a Therapeutic Vaccine for Chronic Hepatitis B, Stimulates Local and Systemic Markers of Innate Immunity: Potential Use in SARS-CoV-2 Postexposure Prophylaxis. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2021;11(2):59–70.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoel A Fleites
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Jorge Aguiar
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Zurina Cinza
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Monica Bequet
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Elieser Marrero
- Department of Quality Control Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Idelsis Esquivel
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Marisol Diaz
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Adriana Sin-Mayor
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Maura Garcia
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Sara M Martinez
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Abrahan Beato
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Ana G Galarraga
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yssel Mendoza-Mari
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Iris Valdés
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gerardo García
- Department of Quality Control Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gilda Lemos
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Isabel González
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Camila Canaán-Haden
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Nelvis Figueroa
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Rachel Oquendo
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Sheikh Mf Akbar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
| | - Mamun A Mahtab
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad H Uddin
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Gerardo E Guillén
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Verena L Muzio
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Eduardo Pentón
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Julio C Aguilar
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
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Lu F, Li Z, Sheng Y, Ma Y, Yang Y, Ren Y, Su Z, Yu R, Zhang S. Thermal-triggered packing of lipophilic NIR dye IR780 in hepatitis B core at critical ionic strength and cargo-host ratio for improved stability and enhanced cancer phototherapy. Biomaterials 2021; 276:121035. [PMID: 34303153 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) holding internal cavity with diameter from tens up to one hundred nanometers are attractive platform for drug delivery. Nevertheless, the packing of drugs in the nanocage mainly relies on complicated disassembly-reassembly process. In this study, hepatitis B core protein (HBc) VLPs which can withstand temperature up to 90 °C was employed as carrier to load a lipophilic near infrared dye IR780. It was found that an attaching-dis-atching-diffusing process was involved for the entering of IR780 in the cavity of HBc. The first two steps were associated with the electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged HBc and IR780, which was critically manipulated by ionic strength and HBc/IR780 mass ratio at which they were mixed; while the diffusion of IR780 across the shell of HBc showed a temperature-dependent manner that can be triggered by thermal induced pore-opening of the HBc capsid. At optimized condition, about 1055 IR780 molecules were encapsulated in each HBc by simply mixing them for 10 min at 60 °C. Compared with free IR780, the HBc-IR780 particles showed significantly improved aqueous and photostability, as well as enhanced photothermal and photodynamic performance for cancer therapy. This study provides a novel drug loading strategy and nanomemedicine for cancer phototherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengying Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yanan Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yanyan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yanli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Ying Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex System, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Zhiguo Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Rong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Songping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
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11
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Dezanet LNC, Maylin S, Gabassi A, Rougier H, Miailhes P, Lascoux-Combe C, Chas J, Girard PM, Delaugerre C, Lacombe K, Boyd A. Kinetics of Hepatitis B Core-Related Antigen and Anti-Hepatitis B Core Antibody and Their Association With Serological Response in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Hepatitis B Coinfection. J Infect Dis 2021; 221:1826-1837. [PMID: 31960918 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of the current study was to describe the kinetics of quantified hepatitis B core-related antigen (qHBcrAg) and quantified anti-hepatitis B core antibody (qAnti-HBc) during tenofovir (TDF) treatment and assess their ability to predict hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroclearance in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus. METHODS Serum qHBcrAg, qAnti-HBc, and hepatitis B virus DNA were obtained at TDF initiation and every 6-12 months. The on-treatment kinetics of qHBcrAg (ΔqHBcrAg) and qAnti-HBc (ΔqAnti-HBc) were estimated using mixed-effect linear regression. Hazard ratios (HRs) assessing the association between markers and HBeAg seroclearance were calculated using proportional hazards regression, and the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of marker levels in predicting HBeAg seroclearance were assessed using time-dependent receiving operating characteristic curves. RESULTS During a median of 4.6 years, the cumulative incidences of hepatitis B surface antigen and HBeAg seroclearance were 3.2% (n = 5 of 158) and 27.4% (n = 26 of 95), respectively. ΔqHBcrAg was biphasic in HBeAg-positive patients (-0.051 and -0.011 log10 U/mL/mo during ≤18 and >18 months, respectively) and monophasic in HBeAg-negative patients. ΔqAnti-HBc was monophasic regardless of HBeAg status. In HBeAg-positive patients, baseline qHBcrAg and qAnti-HBc levels were associated with HBeAg seroclearance (adjusted HR, 0.48/log10 U/mL [95% confidence interval, .33-.70] and unadjusted HR, 1.49/log10 Paul Ehrlich Institute units/mL [1.08-2.07], respectively). Cutoffs with the highest accuracy in predicting HBeAg seroclearance at 36 months were qHBcrAg <6.5 log10 U/mL at month 24 (Se, 1; Sp, 0.58) and baseline qAnti-HBc ≥4.1 log10 Paul Ehrlich Institute units/mL (Se, 0.42; Sp, 0.81). CONCLUSIONS In coinfected patients undergoing TDF, qHBcrAg/qAnti-HBc could be of use in monitoring HBeAg seroclearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza N C Dezanet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Maylin
- APHP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Laboratoire de Virologie, Paris, France, Université de Paris, INSERM U944, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Gabassi
- APHP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Laboratoire de Virologie, Paris, France, Université de Paris, INSERM U944, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Hayette Rougier
- Institut de Médecine et d'Epidémiologie Appliquée, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Miailhes
- Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Lyon, France
| | | | - Julie Chas
- APHP, Hôpital Tenon, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Paris, France
| | - Pierre-Marie Girard
- APHP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Paris, France
| | - Constance Delaugerre
- APHP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Laboratoire de Virologie, Paris, France, Université de Paris, INSERM U944, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Karine Lacombe
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France.,APHP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Paris, France
| | - Anders Boyd
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France.,APHP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Paris, France
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12
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13
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Hepatitis B core-based virus-like particles: A platform for vaccine development in plants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 29:e00605. [PMID: 33732633 PMCID: PMC7937989 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2021.e00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a class of structures formed by the self-assembly of viral capsid protein subunits and contain no infective viral genetic material. The Hepatitis B core (HBc) antigen is capable of assembling into VLPs that can elicit strong immune responses and has been licensed as a commercial vaccine against Hepatitis B. The HBc VLPs have also been employed as a platform for the presentation of foreign epitopes to the immune system and have been used to develop vaccines against, for example, influenza A and Foot-and-mouth disease. Plant expression systems are rapid, scalable and safe, and are capable of providing correct post-translational modifications and reducing upstream production costs. The production of HBc-based virus-like particles in plants would thus greatly increase the efficiency of vaccine production. This review investigates the application of plant-based HBc VLP as a platform for vaccine production.
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Zahmanova G, Mazalovska M, Takova K, Toneva V, Minkov I, Peyret H, Lomonossoff G. Efficient Production of Chimeric Hepatitis B Virus-Like Particles Bearing an Epitope of Hepatitis E Virus Capsid by Transient Expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11010064. [PMID: 33477348 PMCID: PMC7830250 DOI: 10.3390/life11010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The core antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBcAg) is capable of self-assembly into virus-like particles (VLPs) when expressed in a number of heterologous systems. Such VLPs are potential carriers of foreign antigenic sequences for vaccine design. In this study, we evaluated the production of chimeric HBcAg VLPs presenting a foreign epitope on their surface, the 551–607 amino acids (aa) immunological epitope of the ORF2 capsid protein of hepatitis E virus. A chimeric construct was made by the insertion of 56 aa into the immunodominant loop of the HBcAg. The sequences encoding the chimera were inserted into the pEAQ-HT vector and infiltrated into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The plant-expressed chimeric HBcHEV ORF2 551–607 protein was recognized by an anti-HBcAg mAb and anti-HEV IgG positive swine serum. Electron microscopy showed that plant-produced chimeric protein spontaneously assembled into “knobbly” ~34 nm diameter VLPs. This study shows that HBcAg is a promising carrier platform for the neutralizing epitopes of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and the chimeric HBcAg/HEV VLPs could be a candidate for a bivalent vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergana Zahmanova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (M.M.); (K.T.); (V.T.)
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (G.L.); Tel.: +359-32-261529 (G.Z.); +44-1603-450351 (G.L.)
| | - Milena Mazalovska
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (M.M.); (K.T.); (V.T.)
| | - Katerina Takova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (M.M.); (K.T.); (V.T.)
| | - Valentina Toneva
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (M.M.); (K.T.); (V.T.)
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, 4108 Markovo, Bulgaria
| | - Ivan Minkov
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, 4108 Markovo, Bulgaria
| | - Hadrien Peyret
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney NR4 7UH, UK;
| | - George Lomonossoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney NR4 7UH, UK;
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (G.L.); Tel.: +359-32-261529 (G.Z.); +44-1603-450351 (G.L.)
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Li Q, Wang J, Lu M, Qiu Y, Lu H. Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure From Chronic-Hepatitis-B, Who Is the Behind Scenes. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:583423. [PMID: 33365018 PMCID: PMC7750191 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.583423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is an acute syndrome accompanied with decompensation of cirrhosis, organ failure with high 28-day mortality rate. Systemic inflammation is the main feature of ACLF, and poor outcome is closely related with exacerbated systemic inflammatory responses. It is well known that severe systemic inflammation is an important event in chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-ACLF, which eventually leads to liver injury. However, the initial CHB-ACLF events are unclear; moreover, the effect of these events on host immunity as well as that of immune imbalance on CHB-ACLF progression are unknown. Here, we investigate the initial events of ACLF progression, discuss possible mechanisms underlying ACLF progression, and provide a new model for ACLF prediction and treatment. We review the characteristics of ACLF, and consider its plausible immune predictors and alternative treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth People's Hospital of Wuxi, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yuanwang Qiu
- Department of Hepatology, The Fifth People's Hospital of Wuxi, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Hongzhou Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
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Horng JH, Lin WH, Wu CR, Lin YY, Wu LL, Chen DS, Chen PJ. HBV X protein-based therapeutic vaccine accelerates viral antigen clearance by mobilizing monocyte infiltration into the liver in HBV carrier mice. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:70. [PMID: 32466788 PMCID: PMC7257178 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00662-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistently infected about 250 million people worldwide, and a curative treatment remains an unmet medical need. Among many approaches to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB), therapeutic vaccines have been developed for two decades, but none have yielded promising results in clinical trials. Therefore, dissection of HBV clearance mechanisms during therapeutic vaccination in appropriate models, which could give rise to new curative therapies, is urgently needed. Growing evidence indicates that prolonged and intensive exposure of antigen-specific T cells to viral antigens is a major cause of T cell exhaustion, and decreases anti-HBV immunity efficacy of therapeutic vaccination. HBV X protein (HBx) is expressed at low levels, and the understanding of its immunogenicity and potential in therapeutic CHB vaccines is limited. Methods HBV genome sequences from CHB patients were cloned into a pAAV plasmid backbone and transfected into immunocompetent mouse hepatocytes through hydrodynamic injection. Mice carrying > 500 IU/mL serum HBV surface antigen (HBs) for more than 4 weeks were considered HBV carriers mimicking human CHB and received 3 doses of weekly HBx vaccine by subcutaneous immunization. Serum HBV clearance was evaluated by monitoring serum HBs and HBV-DNA titers. Residual HBV in the liver was evaluated by western blotting for HBV core antigen. The splenic antigen-specific T cell response was quantified by a 15-mer overlapping peptide-stimulated interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Blood and hepatic immune cells were quantified by flow cytometric analysis. Results Our HBx-based vaccine induced systemic HBx-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in HBV carrier mice and demonstrated significant HBs and HBV-DNA elimination. The protective effect persisted for at least 30 days without additional booster immunization. Different infiltrating myeloid cell subsets, each with distinctive roles during immune-mediated HBV clearance, were found in the liver of vaccinated mice. During vaccine therapy, inflammatory monocyte depletion resulted in sustained HBV clearance inhibition, whereas phagocytic monocyte-derived macrophage and Kupffer cell elimination resulted in only transient inhibition of vaccine-induced HBV clearance. Conclusions We report the potential role of HBx as a major immunogen in an HBV therapeutic vaccine and the significance of a liver-infiltrating monocyte subset during hepatic viral clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jau-Hau Horng
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 1 Jen Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Wei-Hsiang Lin
- TheVax Genetics Vaccine Company Limited, 5F, No. 25, Jen Ai Road Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Chang-Ru Wu
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 1 Jen Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - You-Yu Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 1, Jen Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Li-Ling Wu
- Department & Institute of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Section 2, Linong Street, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Ding-Shinn Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 1, Jen Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 1, Changde Street, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).,Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 1, Changde Street, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
| | - Pei-Jer Chen
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 1 Jen Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.). .,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 1, Jen Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.). .,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 1, Changde Street, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.). .,Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 1, Changde Street, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
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Stifter K, Dekhtiarenko I, Krieger J, Tissot AC, Seufferlein T, Wagner M, Schirmbeck R. A tumor-specific neoepitope expressed in homologous/self or heterologous/viral antigens induced comparable effector CD8 + T-cell responses by DNA vaccination. Vaccine 2020; 38:3711-3719. [PMID: 32278524 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Somatic mutations in tumors often generate neoproteins that contain MHC-I-binding neoepitopes. Little is known if and how efficient tumor-specific neoantigens activate CD8+ T cells. Here, we asked whether a de novo generated neoepitope, encoded either within an otherwise conserved and ubiquitously expressed self-antigen or in a chimeric HBV core antigen expression platform, providing heterologous helper functions, induces CD8+ T cells in C57Bl/6J mice by DNA immunization. For it, we chose an established Db/Sp244-252/R251H neoepitope generated in the murine Endophilin-B2/SH3GLB2 (EndoB2-Sp) protein by a single amino acid exchange. We showed that a single injection of EndoB2-Sp expression vectors efficiently primed dimer/pentamer+, IFN-γ+ and cytolytic Db/Sp244-252/R251H-specific effector CD8+ T cells in C57Bl/6J mice. Priming of Db/Sp244-252/R251H-specific CD8+ T cells proceeded independent from CD4+ T-cell help in MHC-II-deficient Aα-/- mice. As compared to the homologous EndoB2-Sp vaccine, the selective expression of the Db/Sp244-252/R251H neoepitope in chimeric particle-forming and assembly-deficient HBV core antigens induced comparable frequencies Db/Sp244-252/R251H-specific CD8+ T cells with the same cytolytic effector phenotype. The homologous EndoB2 carrier, but not the nine-residue neoepitope presented on chimeric HBV core particles, induced EndoB2-specific IgG antibody responses. The HBV core expression platform is thus an attractive option to selectively induce neoepitope-specific effector CD8+ T cells by DNA vaccination. These novel findings have practical implications for the design of heterologous/self and heterologous/viral cancer vaccines that prime and/or activate neoepitope-specific CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Stifter
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Iryna Dekhtiarenko
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Jana Krieger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Alain Charles Tissot
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Roche Diagnostics GmbH; Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Seufferlein
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Wagner
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Reinhold Schirmbeck
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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Shu C, Sun P, Xie H, Huang W, Qi J, Ma Y. Virus-Like Particles Presenting the FGF-2 Protein or Identified Antigenic Peptides Promoted Antitumor Immune Responses in Mice. Int J Nanomedicine 2020; 15:1983-1996. [PMID: 32308382 PMCID: PMC7146011 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s237182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 is overexpressed in various tumor tissues. It affects tumor cell proliferation, invasion and survival, promotes tumor angiogenesis and is tightly involved in the development of systemic and local immunosuppressive tumor mechanisms. Purpose This study aimed to develop an effective vaccine against FGF-2 and to investigate the effects of anti-FGF-2 immunization on tumor growth and antitumor immune responses. Methods A set of thirteen synthesized overlapping peptides covering all possible linear B-cell epitopes of murine FGF-2 and a recombinant FGF-2 protein were conjugated to virus-like particles (VLPs) of recombinant hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). The VLPs were immunized through a preventive or therapeutic strategy in a TC-1 or 4T1 grafted tumor model. Results Immunization with FGF-2 peptides or full-length protein-coupled VLPs produced FGF-2-specific antibodies with a high titer. Peptide 12, which is located in the heparin-binding site of FGF-2, or protein-conjugated VLPs presented the most significant effects on the suppression of TC-1 tumor growth. The levels of IFN-γ-expressing splenocytes and serum IFN-γ were significantly elevated; further, the immune effector cells CD8+ IFN-γ+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and CD4+ IFN-γ+ Th1 cells were significantly increased, whereas the immunosuppressive cells CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ Treg cells and Gr-1+ CD11b+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were decreased in the immunized mice. In addition, VLP immunization significantly suppressed tumor vascularization and promoted tumor cell apoptosis. In mice bearing 4T1 breast tumor, preventive immunization with FGF-2-conjugated VLPs suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis, and increased effector cell responses. Conclusion Active immunization against FGF-2 is a new possible strategy for tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congyan Shu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China.,Sichuan Institute for Food and Drug Control, Chengdu 611731, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengyan Sun
- Yunnan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming 650022, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanghang Xie
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Huang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialong Qi
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanbing Ma
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
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19
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Le Bert N, Salimzadeh L, Gill US, Dutertre CA, Facchetti F, Tan A, Hung M, Novikov N, Lampertico P, Fletcher SP, Kennedy PTF, Bertoletti A. Comparative characterization of B cells specific for HBV nucleocapsid and envelope proteins in patients with chronic hepatitis B. J Hepatol 2020; 72:34-44. [PMID: 31348999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Knowledge about the regulation of anti-HBV humoral immunity during natural HBV infection is limited. We recently utilized dual fluorochrome-conjugated HBsAg to demonstrate, in patients with chronic HBV (CHB) infection, the functional impairment of their HBsAg-specific B cells. However, the features of their HBcAg-specific B cells are unknown. Here we developed a method to directly visualize, select and characterize HBcAg-specific B cells in parallel with HBsAg-specific B cells. METHODS Fluorochrome-conjugated HBcAg reagents were synthesized and utilized to directly detect ex vivo HBcAg-specific B cells in 36 patients with CHB. The frequency, phenotype, functional maturation and transcriptomic profile of HBcAg-specific B cells was studied by flow cytometry, in vitro maturation assays and NanoString-based detection of expression of immune genes, which we compared with HBsAg-specific B cells and total B cells. RESULTS HBcAg-specific B cells are present at a higher frequency than HBsAg-specific B cells in patients with CHB and, unlike HBsAg-specific B cells, they mature efficiently into antibody-secreting cells in vitro. Their phenotypic and transcriptomic profiles show that HBcAg-specific B cells are preferentially IgG+ memory B cells. However, despite their phenotypic and functional differences, HBcAg- and HBsAg-specific B cells from patients with CHB share an mRNA expression pattern that differs from global memory B cells and is characterized by high expression of genes indicative of cross-presentation and innate immune activity. CONCLUSIONS During chronic HBV infection, a direct relation exists between serological detection of anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibodies, and the quantity and function of their respective specific B cells. However, the transcriptomic analysis performed in HBsAg- and HBcAg-specific B cells suggests additional roles of HBV-specific B cells beyond the production of antibodies. LAY SUMMARY Protection of viral infection necessitates the production of antibodies that are generated by specialized cells of the immune system called B cells. During chronic HBV infection, antibodies against the internal part of the virus (core or HBcAg) are detectable while the antibodies directed against the virus envelope (surface or HBsAg) are not present. Here we developed a method that allows us to directly visualize ex vivo the B cells specific for these 2 viral components, highlighting their differences and similarities, and showing how 2 components of the same virus can have different impacts on the function of antiviral B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Le Bert
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Loghman Salimzadeh
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Upkar Singh Gill
- Barts Liver Centre, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Charles-Antoine Dutertre
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, Singapore Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Floriana Facchetti
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Anthony Tan
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Magdeleine Hung
- Gilead Sciences, Department of Biology, Foster City, CA, USA
| | - Nikolai Novikov
- Gilead Sciences, Department of Biology, Foster City, CA, USA
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, Singapore Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
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20
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Trinks J, Marciano S, Esposito I, Franco A, Mascardi MF, Mendizabal M, Livellara B, Arrigo D, Calzetta P, Vujacich C, Giunta D, Gadano A, Flichman D. The genetic variability of hepatitis B virus subgenotype F1b precore/core gene is related to the outcome of the acute infection. Virus Res 2019; 277:197840. [PMID: 31846615 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2019.197840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AIM To assess the association of viral and host genetic variability with the outcome of acute infection with hepatitis B virus subgenotype F1b (HBV/F1b). METHODS The cohort consisted of 26 patients with acute HBV/F1b infection who exhibit different outcomes: spontaneous resolution (n = 10), progression to chronic hepatitis (n = 10) and acute liver failure (n = 6). HLA SNPs (rs3077, rs9277542, rs2856718 and rs7453920) were determined. The S gene and core promoter/precore/core region were direct sequenced, and this latter region was also ultra-deep sequenced. Mean number of mutations, mutation rate, Shannon entropy, positive selection sites and mutational patterns of quasispecies were compared between groups. RESULTS HLA SNPs were associated with spontaneous resolution or progression to chronic hepatitis, but not with the development of acute liver failure. The mean number of mutations in the S gene was similar among the three groups. Patients with spontaneous resolution had the lowest number of mutations, mutation rates and Shannon entropy values in the precore/core compared to the other two groups. Ten positive selection sites mapped on HLA-restricted epitopes were related to progression to chronic hepatitis and acute liver failure. Mutations T1753C, A1762T, G1764A, C1766T, T1768A G1896A, G2092T and T2107C were associated with acute liver failure and progression to chronic hepatitis. CONCLUSION Highly heterogeneous and complex HBV precore/core carrying specific point mutations, combined with the host HLA background, were associated with a worse clinical outcome of acute HBV/F1b infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Trinks
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica (IMTIB) - CONICET - Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano (IUHI) - Hospital Italiano (HIBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Sebastián Marciano
- Sección de Hepatología, Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isabella Esposito
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica (IMTIB) - CONICET - Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano (IUHI) - Hospital Italiano (HIBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Franco
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica (IMTIB) - CONICET - Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano (IUHI) - Hospital Italiano (HIBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Florencia Mascardi
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica (IMTIB) - CONICET - Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano (IUHI) - Hospital Italiano (HIBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel Mendizabal
- Unidad de Hígado y Trasplante Hepático, Hospital Universitario Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Beatriz Livellara
- Laboratorio Central, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Arrigo
- Laboratorio Central, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Calzetta
- División de Gastroenterología, Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia Vujacich
- Fundación Centro de Estudios Infectológicos (FUNCEI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Giunta
- Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Área de Investigación de Medicina Interna, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adrián Gadano
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica (IMTIB) - CONICET - Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano (IUHI) - Hospital Italiano (HIBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sección de Hepatología, Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Flichman
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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21
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Whitacre DC, Peters CJ, Sureau C, Nio K, Li F, Su L, Jones JE, Isogawa M, Sallberg M, Frelin L, Peterson DL, Milich DR. Designing a therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine to circumvent immune tolerance. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 16:251-268. [PMID: 31809638 PMCID: PMC7062423 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1689745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An effective prophylactic hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine has long been available but is ineffective for chronic infection. The primary cause of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and greatest impediment for a therapeutic vaccine is the direct and indirect effects of immune tolerance to HBV antigens. The resulting defective CD4+/CD8+ T cell response, poor cytokine production, insufficient neutralizing antibody (nAb) and poor response to HBsAg vaccination characterize CHB infection. The objective of this study was to develop virus-like-particles (VLPs) that elicit nAb to prevent viral spread and prime CD4+/CD8+ T cells to eradicate intracellular HBV. Eight neutralizing B cell epitopes from the envelope PreS1 region were consolidated onto a species-variant of the HBV core protein, the woodchuck hepatitis core antigen (WHcAg). PreS1-specific B cell epitopes were chosen because of preferential expression on HBV virions. Because WHcAg and HBcAg are not crossreactive at the B cell level and only partially cross-reactive at the CD4+/CD8+ T cell level, CD4+ T cells specific for WHcAg-unique T cell sites can provide cognate T-B cell help for anti-PreS1 Ab production that is not curtailed by immune tolerance. Immunization of immune tolerant HBV transgenic (Tg) mice with PreS1-WHc VLPs elicited levels of high titer anti-PreS1 nAbs equivalent to wildtype mice. Passive transfer of PreS1 nAbs into human-liver chimeric mice prevented acute infection and cleared serum HBV from mice previously infected with HBV in a model of CHB. At the T cell level, PreS1-WHc VLPs and hybrid WHcAg/HBcAg DNA immunogens elicited HBcAg-specific CD4+ Th and CD8+ CTL responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Whitacre
- Department of Immunology, VLP Biotech, Inc., JLABS San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Immunology, Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - C J Peters
- Department of Immunology, VLP Biotech, Inc., JLABS San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Immunology, Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - C Sureau
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France
| | - K Nio
- Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - F Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - L Su
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - J E Jones
- Department of Immunology, VLP Biotech, Inc., JLABS San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - M Isogawa
- Department of Virology and Liver Unit, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - M Sallberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockhold, Sweden
| | - L Frelin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, F68, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockhold, Sweden
| | - D L Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - D R Milich
- Department of Immunology, VLP Biotech, Inc., JLABS San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Immunology, Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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22
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Charre C, Levrero M, Zoulim F, Scholtès C. Non-invasive biomarkers for chronic hepatitis B virus infection management. Antiviral Res 2019; 169:104553. [PMID: 31288041 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health burden with over 250 million cases worldwide. This complex infection can lead to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Complete recovery is seldom achieved due to the persistence in infected hepatocytes of covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA, which is not targeted by current antiviral therapies. Routine circulating biomarkers used for clinical monitoring of patients do not accurately reflect the cccDNA pool and transcriptional activity. New biomarkers, such as serum HB core-related Ag and circulating HBV RNAs, are under development. In this review, we discuss surrogate non-invasive biomarkers for evaluating intrahepatic cccDNA abundance and transcriptional activity. We also present their relevance for improving the classification of patients with regards to their natural history and for evaluating novel compounds to assess target engagement and to define new virological endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Charre
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Virology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Massimo Levrero
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Hepatology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Hepatology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Scholtès
- INSERM U1052-Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 69008, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Lyon, France; Department of Virology, Croix Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
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23
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Endogenously Expressed Antigens Bind Mammalian RNA via Cationic Domains that Enhance Priming of Effector CD8 T Cells by DNA Vaccination. Mol Ther 2019; 27:661-672. [PMID: 30713086 PMCID: PMC6403493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core (HBV-C) antigens with homologous or heterologous HIV-tat48-57-like (HBV-C149tat) cationic domains non-specifically bind cellular RNA in vector-transfected cells. Here, we investigated whether RNA-binding to cationic domains influences the immunogenicity of endogenously expressed antigens delivered by DNA vaccination. We initially evaluated induction of HBV-C (Kb/C93)-specific CD8+ T cell responses in C57BL/6J (B6) and 1.4HBV-Smut transgenic (tg) mice that harbor a replicating HBV genome in hepatocytes by DNA immunization. RNA-binding HBV-C and HBV-C149tat antigens moderately enhanced Kb/C93-specific CD8+ T cells in B6 mice as compared with RNA-free HBV-C149 antigen (lacking cationic domains). However, only the RNA-binding antigens elicited Kb/C93-specific CD8+ T cells that inhibited HBV replication in 1.4HBV-Smut tg mice. Moreover, RNA-binding to designer antigens, which express a Kb/p15E epitope from an endogenous murine leukemia virus-derived tumor-specific gp70 protein, was crucial to prime tumor-rejecting effector CD8+ T cells in B6 mice. Antigen-bound endogenous RNAs function as a Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR-7) ligand and stimulated priming of Kb/p15E-specific CD8+ T cells in B6, but not TLR-7−/−, mice. Antigen-bound cellular RNAs thus function as an endogenous natural adjuvant in in vivo vector-transfected cells, and thus are an attractive tool to induce and/or enhance effector CD8+ T cell responses directed against chronic viral infections or tumor self-antigens by DNA vaccination.
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24
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Lei Y, Zhao F, Shao J, Li Y, Li S, Chang H, Zhang Y. Application of built-in adjuvants for epitope-based vaccines. PeerJ 2019; 6:e6185. [PMID: 30656066 PMCID: PMC6336016 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have shown that epitope vaccines exhibit substantial advantages over conventional vaccines. However, epitope vaccines are associated with limited immunity, which can be overcome by conjugating antigenic epitopes with built-in adjuvants (e.g., some carrier proteins or new biomaterials) with special properties, including immunologic specificity, good biosecurity and biocompatibility, and the ability to vastly improve the immune response of epitope vaccines. When designing epitope vaccines, the following types of built-in adjuvants are typically considered: (1) pattern recognition receptor ligands (i.e., toll-like receptors); (2) virus-like particle carrier platforms; (3) bacterial toxin proteins; and (4) novel potential delivery systems (e.g., self-assembled peptide nanoparticles, lipid core peptides, and polymeric or inorganic nanoparticles). This review primarily discusses the current and prospective applications of these built-in adjuvants (i.e., biological carriers) to provide some references for the future design of epitope-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Furong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Junjun Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yangfan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shifang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Huiyun Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yongguang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, OIE/National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
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25
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Li Z, Wei J, Yang Y, Liu L, Ma G, Zhang S, Su Z. A two-step heat treatment of cell disruption supernatant enables efficient removal of host cell proteins before chromatographic purification of HBc particles. J Chromatogr A 2018; 1581-1582:71-79. [PMID: 30391034 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2018.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The thermal stability of HBc particles was systematically investigated for efficient removal of host cell proteins (HCP) by heat treatment before chromatographic step. The HBc particles were found stable up to 80°C for 30 min without any noticeable change in circular dichroism spectra, fluorescence spectra and transmission electron microscope observation. When heating was applied to precipitate the HCP in the cell disruption supernatant of HBc fermentation, the HCP removal effect was more obvious as the temperature went higher. However, a phenomenon was found beyond 70°C where the recovered HBc particles had larger than normal size and molecular weight as observed by dynamic light scattering and multi-angle laser light scattering. Analysis found that the HBc particles possess nanopores which expand with temperature. When the temperature was above 70℃, the pores were large enough for some HCP to penetrate in, but not being able to get out after cooling down. To fully utilize the thermal stability and avoid the interference of HCP entering, a two-step heat treatment strategy was designed. The supernatant was firstly heated up to 60°C for 30 min to precipitate most HCP, then another 30 min at 70°C was used to remove the rest impurities. The two-step heat treatment effectively avoided the HCP entering problem, achieving 85.8% particle recovery and 74.7% purity. With further one-step hydrophobic interaction chromatography, the purity was increased to 99.0% with overall process recovery of 77.7%, considerably higher than those reported in the literature. The same process design was applied to purify three HBc-related products, including OVA-HBc, M2e-HBc and NP-HBc. All recoveries were higher than 50% with purity greater than 97%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Jiangxue Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Yanli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Lili Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Guanghui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Songping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.
| | - Zhiguo Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.
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26
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Krieger J, Stifter K, Riedl P, Schirmbeck R. Cationic domains in particle-forming and assembly-deficient HBV core antigens capture mammalian RNA that stimulates Th1-biased antibody responses by DNA vaccination. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14660. [PMID: 30279478 PMCID: PMC6168482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32971-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The HBV core protein self-assembles into particles and encapsidates immune-stimulatory bacterial RNA through a cationic COOH-terminal (C150-183) domain. To investigate if different cationic domains have an impact on the endogenous RNA-binding of HBV-C antigens in mammalian cells, we developed a strep-tag (st) based expression/purification system for HBV-C/RNA antigens in vector-transfected HEK-293 cells. We showed that HBV-stC but not HBV-stC149 particles (lacking the cationic domain) capture low amounts of mammalian RNA. Prevention of specific phosphorylation in cationic domains, either by exchanging the serine residues S155, S162 and S170 with alanines (HBV-stCAAA) or by exchanging the entire cationic domain with a HIV-tat48-57-like sequence (HBV-stC149tat) enhanced the encapsidation of RNA into mutant core particles. Particle-bound mammalian RNA functioned as TLR-7 ligand and induced a Th1-biased humoral immunity in B6 but not in TLR-7-/- mice by exogenous (protein) and endogenous (DNA) vaccines. Compared to core particles, binding of mammalian RNA to freely exposed cationic domains in assembly-deficient antigens was enhanced. However, RNA bound to non-particulate antigens unleash its Th1-stimulating adjuvant activity by DNA- but not protein-based vaccination. Mammalian RNAs targeted by an endogenously expressed antigen thus function as a natural adjuvant in the host that facilitates priming of Th1-biased immune responses by DNA-based immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Krieger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Katja Stifter
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Petra Riedl
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
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Toll like receptor7 polymorphisms in relation to disease susceptibility and progression in Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12417. [PMID: 28963470 PMCID: PMC5622102 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12698-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in innate and adaptive immunity, protecting the host from viral pathogens. We studied the effect of TLR7 polymorphisms on disease susceptibility and progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in Chinese adults. Blood samples were taken from 612 patients with confirmed CHB, hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 293 controls. TLR7 polymorphisms (rs179010-C > T, rs2074109-T > C, and rs179009-A > G) were analyzed by PCR-based sequencing. A significantly higher frequency of TLR7 rs179010 C allele was found in male CHB patients than in controls (74.8% vs 59.5%, P = 0.002). The frequency of rs179009 G allele was markedly increased with disease progression when male patients with CHB, LC and HCC were compared (P = 0.012). The haplotype CTA was significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to CHB among male patients (P = 0.000). Frequency of the haplotype CTG was higher in male patients with HCC than CHB (P = 0.005). No such differences in these allele frequencies were found between female patients and controls. Our results indicated that TLR7 polymorphisms play an important role in disease susceptibility and the progression of CHB infections in Chinese adults, and may partly explain the high incidence of HBV related diseases in Chinese men.
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Hosseini SY, Baesi K, Azarpira N, Pakneiat A, Hosseini SA. The evaluation of fibrotic effects of the hepatitis B virus pre-core in hepatic stellate cells. Biomed Rep 2017; 6:671-674. [PMID: 28584639 DOI: 10.3892/br.2017.894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) endogenous pre-core protein in liver fibrosis is controversial. Whether the expression of the pre-core induces the activation of human stellate cells (HSCs) has not yet been reported. Plasmids expressing HBx, or pre-core protein were transfected into LX-2 cells. Subsequently, total RNA extracted and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the fold change of collagen type I, α1 chain, α-smooth muscle actin and TIMP metalloproteinase inhibitor-1. Moreover, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the supernatant of HSCs was evaluated by ELISA assay. In addition, a MTT assay was performed to test the cytotoxicity of the endogenous expression in LX-2 cells. None of the plasmids exhibited cytotoxic nor significant proliferative effects on LX-2 cells by MTT assessment. The gene expression analysis of fibrotic genes in LX-2 cells demonstrated that the pre-core protein presented no significant (P>0.05) fibrotic impact when compared to the empty control plasmid and HBx. The data from the TGF-β ELISA was consistent with the mRNA expression as detected with the control plasmid (P>0.05). The endogenous expression of the HBV pre-core exhibited no fibrotic impression in HSCs when compared to HBx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Younes Hosseini
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-45794, Iran.,Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-45794, Iran
| | - Kazem Baesi
- Hepatitis and AIDS Department, Pasteur institute of Iran, Tehran 13169-43551, Iran
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 14336-71348, Iran
| | - Ameneh Pakneiat
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-45794, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Akram Hosseini
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-45794, Iran
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29
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Pumpens P, Grens E. The true story and advantages of the famous Hepatitis B virus core particles: Outlook 2016. Mol Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893316040099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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The Hepatitis B Virus Core Variants that Expose Foreign C-Terminal Insertions on the Outer Surface of Virus-Like Particles. Mol Biotechnol 2016; 57:1038-49. [PMID: 26446016 PMCID: PMC4619458 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-015-9895-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The major immunodominant region (MIR) and N-terminus of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core (HBc) protein were used to expose foreign insertions on the outer surface of HBc virus-like particles (VLPs). The additions to the HBc positively charged arginine-rich C-terminal (CT) domain are usually not exposed on the VLP surface. Here, we constructed a set of recombinant HBcG vectors in which CT arginine stretches were substituted by glycine residues. In contrast to natural HBc VLPs and recombinant HBc VLP variants carrying native CT domain, the HBcG VLPs demonstrated a lowered capability to pack bacterial RNA during expression in Escherichia coli cells. The C-terminal addition of a model foreign epitope from the HBV preS1 sequence to the HBcG vectors resulted in the exposure of the inserted epitope on the VLP surface, whereas the same preS1 sequences added to the native CT of the natural HBc protein remained buried within the HBc VLPs. Based on the immunisation of mice, the preS1 epitope added to the HBcG vectors as a part of preS1(20-47) and preS1phil sequences demonstrated remarkable immunogenicity. The same epitope added to the original C-terminus of the HBc protein did not induce a notable level of anti-preS1 antibodies. HBcG vectors may contribute to the further development of versatile HBc VLP-based vaccine and gene therapy applications.
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Sepehri Z, Kiani Z, Alavian SM, Arababadi MK, Kennedy D. The link between TLR7 signaling and hepatitis B virus infection. Life Sci 2016; 158:63-9. [PMID: 27373425 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2016.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 06/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) play crucial roles in recognition and induction of appropriate immune responses against viral infections, including hepatitis B. TLR7 detects intracellular viral single strand RNA which leads to the activation of several pro-inflammatory transcription factors via the MYD88 dependent pathway. Patients with prolonged infectious forms of hepatitis B, including active and inactive chronic forms, are unable to clear HBV from hepatocytes completely. It is believed that the differences in genetic and immunological parameters of the patients and clearance subjects, who successfully clear HBV infections, are the main factors responsible for allowing the long term infections to persist. It appears that defective expression of TLR7 may result in impaired immune responses against HBV. The aim of this review is to address the recent information regarding the crucial roles played by TLR7 in hepatitis B infection and also the main mechanisms used by HBV to escape from recognition by TLR7 in prolonged HBV infected patients. Considering that chronic hepatitis B infection is not yet curable, it could be possible to activate TLR7-related immunological pathways as a therapy directed towards persistent HBV infection. Hence, another aim of this study is to present recent developments of TLR7 agonists as a therapeutic strategy for chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Sepehri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - Zohre Kiani
- Zabol Medicinal Plant Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran; Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Seyed Moayed Alavian
- Baqiyatollah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Baqiyatollah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Kazemi Arababadi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
| | - Derek Kennedy
- School of Natural Sciences, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
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Chu X, Li Y, Long Q, Xia Y, Yao Y, Sun W, Huang W, Yang X, Liu C, Ma Y. Chimeric HBcAg virus-like particles presenting a HPV 16 E7 epitope significantly suppressed tumor progression through preventive or therapeutic immunization in a TC-1-grafted mouse model. Int J Nanomedicine 2016; 11:2417-29. [PMID: 27313455 PMCID: PMC4892837 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s102467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are currently being developed. However, no therapeutic efficacy has been achieved in clinical trials for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer. One of the important issues in increasing vaccine efficacy is determining the best way to enhance tumor antigen-specific cellular immune responses. This study aimed to explore the virus-like particles (VLPs) of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) as potential therapeutic vaccine carriers and to assess its immunological characteristics. Methods Chimeric VLPs presenting a HPV 16 cytotoxic T lymphocytes epitope E749–57 (amino acid 49–57 of the E7 protein) were prepared using recombinant genes. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with VLPs and grafted with tumor cells TC-1 which is an E7-expressing tumorigenic cell line. The dynamic tumor growth was monitored and anti-tumor immune responses were investigated. Results Using a preventive strategy, immunization with VLPs resulted in nearly complete suppression of tumor growth. In treatment studies, VLP immunization significantly suppressed the tumor progression in mice carrying 2–3 mm tumors and in those bearing even larger tumors with diameters up to 8–9 mm. The VLP structure was shown to be important to induce vigorous antitumor immunity and effects. In immunized mice, enhanced E749–57-specific cellular immune responses were evidenced by increased interferon (IFN)-γ expression and decreased interleukin (IL)-4 expression in splenic lymphocytes, as well as an elevated number of effector cells expressing IFN-γ in response to the in vitro stimulation of the specific peptide E749–57. In addition, effective immune memory after VLP immunization was maintained for at least 16 weeks, preventing significant tumor growth after subsequent TC-1 challenge. Conclusion While VLPs were highly immunogenic in stimulating humoral immunity, our results strongly indicated that VLPs, such as HBcAg particles, might also be potent therapeutic vaccine carriers to elicit robust cellular immune responses, even in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of a tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Chu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Long
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Xia
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufeng Yao
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjia Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Cunbao Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanbing Ma
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease, Kunming, People's Republic of China
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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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34
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Dai S, Zhuo M, Song L, Chen X, Yu Y, Tang Z, Zang G. Dendritic cell-based vaccination with lentiviral vectors encoding ubiquitinated hepatitis B core antigen enhances hepatitis B virus-specific immune responses in vivo. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2015; 47:870-9. [PMID: 26373843 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmv093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) plays a predominant role in the clearance of HBV. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells and play an important role in the initiation of immune responses. We previously verified that lentiviral vector encoding ubiquitinated hepatitis B core antigen (LV-Ub-HBcAg) effectively transduced DCs to induce maturation, and the mature DCs efficiently induced T cell polarization to Th1 and generated HBcAg-specific CTLs ex vivo. In this study, HBV-specific immune responses of LV-Ub-HBcAg in BALB/c mice (H-2Kd) were evaluated. It was shown that direct injection of LV-Ub-HBcAg increased the production of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ, elicited strong antibody responses, and remarkably generated a high percentage of IFN-γ+CD8+ T cells with HBV-specific CTL responses in BALB/c mice. In addition, direct injection of LV-Ub-HBcAg induced potent anti-HBV immune responses, similar to those elicited by in vitro-transduced DCs. In conclusion, the DC-based therapeutic vaccine LV-Ub-HBcAg elicited specific antibody immune responses and induced robust specific CTL activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenglan Dai
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Meng Zhuo
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Linlin Song
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yongsheng Yu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Zhenghao Tang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Guoqing Zang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
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Kolb P, Wallich R, Nassal M. Whole-Chain Tick Saliva Proteins Presented on Hepatitis B Virus Capsid-Like Particles Induce High-Titered Antibodies with Neutralizing Potential. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136180. [PMID: 26352137 PMCID: PMC4564143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are vectors for various, including pathogenic, microbes. Tick saliva contains multiple anti-host defense factors that enable ticks their bloodmeals yet also facilitate microbe transmission. Lyme disease-causing borreliae profit specifically from the broadly conserved tick histamine release factor (tHRF), and from cysteine-rich glycoproteins represented by Salp15 from Ixodes scapularis and Iric-1 from Ixodes ricinus ticks which they recruit to their outer surface protein C (OspC). Hence these tick proteins are attractive targets for anti-tick vaccines that simultaneously impair borrelia transmission. Main obstacles are the tick proteins´ immunosuppressive activities, and for Salp15 orthologs, the lack of efficient recombinant expression systems. Here, we exploited the immune-enhancing properties of hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) derived capsid-like particles (CLPs) to generate, in E. coli, nanoparticulate vaccines presenting tHRF and, as surrogates for the barely soluble wild-type proteins, cysteine-free Salp15 and Iric-1 variants. The latter CLPs were exclusively accessible in the less sterically constrained SplitCore system. Mice immunized with tHRF CLPs mounted a strong anti-tHRF antibody response. CLPs presenting cysteine-free Salp15 and Iric-1 induced antibodies to wild-type, including glycosylated, Salp15 and Iric-1. The broadly distributed epitopes included the OspC interaction sites. In vitro, the anti-Salp15 antibodies interfered with OspC binding and enhanced human complement-mediated killing of Salp15 decorated borreliae. A mixture of all three CLPs induced high titered antibodies against all three targets, suggesting the feasibility of combination vaccines. These data warrant in vivo validation of the new candidate vaccines´ protective potential against tick infestation and Borrelia transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Kolb
- University Hospital Freiburg, Internal Medicine 2 / Molecular Biology, Hugstetter Str. 55, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Freiburg, Biological Faculty, Schänzlestr. 1, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Wallich
- University Hospital Heidelberg, Institute of Immunology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Nassal
- University Hospital Freiburg, Internal Medicine 2 / Molecular Biology, Hugstetter Str. 55, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Whitacre DC, Espinosa DA, Peters CJ, Jones JE, Tucker AE, Peterson DL, Zavala FP, Milich DR. P. falciparum and P. vivax Epitope-Focused VLPs Elicit Sterile Immunity to Blood Stage Infections. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124856. [PMID: 25933001 PMCID: PMC4416889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to design P. falciparum preerythrocytic vaccine candidates, a library of circumsporozoite (CS) T and B cell epitopes displayed on the woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen (WHcAg) VLP platform was produced. To test the protective efficacy of the WHcAg-CS VLPs, hybrid CS P. berghei/P. falciparum (Pb/Pf) sporozoites were used to challenge immunized mice. VLPs carrying 1 or 2 different CS repeat B cell epitopes and 3 VLPs carrying different CS non-repeat B cell epitopes elicited high levels of anti-insert antibodies (Abs). Whereas, VLPs carrying CS repeat B cell epitopes conferred 98% protection of the liver against a 10,000 Pb/Pf sporozoite challenge, VLPs carrying the CS non-repeat B cell eptiopes were minimally-to-non-protective. One-to-three CS-specific CD4/CD8 T cell sites were also fused to VLPs, which primed CS-specific as well as WHcAg-specific T cells. However, a VLP carrying only the 3 T cell domains failed to protect against a sporozoite challenge, indicating a requirement for anti-CS repeat Abs. A VLP carrying 2 CS repeat B cell epitopes and 3 CS T cell sites in alum adjuvant elicited high titer anti-CS Abs (endpoint dilution titer >1x106) and provided 80–100% protection against blood stage malaria. Using a similar strategy, VLPs were constructed carrying P. vivax CS repeat B cell epitopes (WHc-Pv-78), which elicited high levels of anti-CS Abs and conferred 99% protection of the liver against a 10,000 Pb/Pv sporozoite challenge and elicited sterile immunity to blood stage infection. These results indicate that immunization with epitope-focused VLPs carrying selected B and T cell epitopes from the P. falciparum and P. vivax CS proteins can elicit sterile immunity against blood stage malaria. Hybrid WHcAg-CS VLPs could provide the basis for a bivalent P. falciparum/P. vivax malaria vaccine.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck/immunology
- Immunity
- Immunization
- Life Cycle Stages
- Malaria, Falciparum/immunology
- Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology
- Malaria, Falciparum/prevention & control
- Malaria, Vivax/immunology
- Malaria, Vivax/parasitology
- Malaria, Vivax/prevention & control
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Plasmodium falciparum/immunology
- Plasmodium vivax/immunology
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Rabbits
- Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid
- Reproducibility of Results
- Virion/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Whitacre
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Diego A. Espinosa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cory J. Peters
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Joyce E. Jones
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Amy E. Tucker
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Darrell L. Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Fidel P. Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David R. Milich
- Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- VLP Biotech, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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37
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Peyret H, Gehin A, Thuenemann EC, Blond D, El Turabi A, Beales L, Clarke D, Gilbert RJC, Fry EE, Stuart DI, Holmes K, Stonehouse NJ, Whelan M, Rosenberg W, Lomonossoff GP, Rowlands DJ. Tandem fusion of hepatitis B core antigen allows assembly of virus-like particles in bacteria and plants with enhanced capacity to accommodate foreign proteins. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120751. [PMID: 25830365 PMCID: PMC4382129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The core protein of the hepatitis B virus, HBcAg, assembles into highly immunogenic virus-like particles (HBc VLPs) when expressed in a variety of heterologous systems. Specifically, the major insertion region (MIR) on the HBcAg protein allows the insertion of foreign sequences, which are then exposed on the tips of surface spike structures on the outside of the assembled particle. Here, we present a novel strategy which aids the display of whole proteins on the surface of HBc particles. This strategy, named tandem core, is based on the production of the HBcAg dimer as a single polypeptide chain by tandem fusion of two HBcAg open reading frames. This allows the insertion of large heterologous sequences in only one of the two MIRs in each spike, without compromising VLP formation. We present the use of tandem core technology in both plant and bacterial expression systems. The results show that tandem core particles can be produced with unmodified MIRs, or with one MIR in each tandem dimer modified to contain the entire sequence of GFP or of a camelid nanobody. Both inserted proteins are correctly folded and the nanobody fused to the surface of the tandem core particle (which we name tandibody) retains the ability to bind to its cognate antigen. This technology paves the way for the display of natively folded proteins on the surface of HBc particles either through direct fusion or through non-covalent attachment via a nanobody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadrien Peyret
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Annick Gehin
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Eva C. Thuenemann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Donatienne Blond
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Aadil El Turabi
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- iQur Ltd, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Beales
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- iQur Ltd, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dean Clarke
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | - Elizabeth E. Fry
- UK Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David I. Stuart
- UK Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kris Holmes
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Stonehouse
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - David J. Rowlands
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Schickli JH, Whitacre DC, Tang RS, Kaur J, Lawlor H, Peters CJ, Jones JE, Peterson DL, McCarthy MP, Van Nest G, Milich DR. Palivizumab epitope-displaying virus-like particles protect rodents from RSV challenge. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:1637-47. [PMID: 25751145 PMCID: PMC4409022 DOI: 10.1172/jci78450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of serious viral bronchiolitis in infants, young children, and the elderly. Currently, there is not an FDA-approved vaccine available for RSV, though the mAb palivizumab is licensed to reduce the incidence of RSV disease in premature or at-risk infants. The palivizumab epitope is a well-characterized, approximately 24-aa helix-loop-helix structure on the RSV fusion (F) protein (F254-277). Here, we genetically inserted this epitope and multiple site variants of this epitope within a versatile woodchuck hepadnavirus core-based virus-like particle (WHcAg-VLP) to generate hybrid VLPs that each bears 240 copies of the RSV epitope in a highly immunogenic arrayed format. A challenge of such an epitope-focused approach is that to be effective, the conformational F254-277 epitope must elicit antibodies that recognize the intact virus. A number of hybrid VLPs containing RSV F254-277 were recognized by palivizumab in vitro and elicited high-titer and protective neutralizing antibody in rodents. Together, the results from this proof-of-principle study suggest that the WHcAg-VLP technology may be an applicable approach to eliciting a response to other structural epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Darrell L. Peterson
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Biochemistry,
Richmond, Virginia, USA
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39
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Borhis G, Richard Y. Subversion of the B-cell compartment during parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections. BMC Immunol 2015; 16:15. [PMID: 25884828 PMCID: PMC4374497 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-015-0079-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies on HIV infection have identified new human B-cell subsets with a potentially important impact on anti-viral immunity. Current work highlights the occurrence of similar B-cell alterations in other viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, suggesting that common strategies have been developed by pathogens to counteract protective immunity. For this review, we have selected key examples of human infections for which B-cell alterations have been described, to highlight the similarities and differences in the immune responses to a variety of pathogens. We believe that further comparisons between these models will lead to critical progress in the understanding of B-cell mechanisms and will open new target avenues for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenoline Borhis
- INSERM u1016, Cochin Institute, Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, 27 rue du Faubourg St-Jacques, Roussy Bldg., Paris, 75014, France. .,CNRS, Paris, UMR8104, France. .,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, 75014, France.
| | - Yolande Richard
- INSERM u1016, Cochin Institute, Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, 27 rue du Faubourg St-Jacques, Roussy Bldg., Paris, 75014, France. .,CNRS, Paris, UMR8104, France. .,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, 75014, France.
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40
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Zhang J, Fu LL, Tian M, Liu HQ, Li JJ, Li Y, He J, Huang J, Ouyang L, Gao HY, Wang JH. Design and synthesis of a novel candidate compound NTI-007 targeting sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide [NTCP]-APOA1-HBx-Beclin1-mediated autophagic pathway in HBV therapy. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:976-84. [PMID: 25650312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a multiple transmembrane transporter predominantly expressed in the liver, functioning as a functional receptor for HBV. Through our continuous efforts to identify NTCP as a novel HBV target, we designed and synthesized a series of new compounds based on the structure of our previous compound NT-5. Molecular docking and MD simulation validated that a new compound named NTI-007 can tightly bind to NTCP, whose efficacy was also measured in vitro virological examination and cytotoxicity studies. Furthermore, autophagy was observed in NTI-007 incubated HepG2.2.15 cells, and results of q-PCR and Western blotting revealed that NTI-007 induced autophagy through NTCP-APOA1-HBx-Beclin1-mediated pathway. Taken together, considering crucial role of NTCP in HBV infection, NTCP-mediated autophagic pathway may provide a promising strategy of HBV therapy and given efficacy of NTI-007 triggering autophagy. Our study suggests pre-clinical potential of this compound as a novel anti-HBV drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei-Lei Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Mao Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao-Qiu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun He
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hui-Yuan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, People's Republic of China.
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41
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Ma Z, Zhang E, Yang D, Lu M. Contribution of Toll-like receptors to the control of hepatitis B virus infection by initiating antiviral innate responses and promoting specific adaptive immune responses. Cell Mol Immunol 2014; 12:273-82. [PMID: 25418467 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well accepted that adaptive immunity plays a key role in the control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In contrast, the contribution of innate immunity has only received attention in recent years. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) sense pathogen-associated molecule patterns and activate antiviral mechanisms, including intracellular antiviral pathways and the production of antiviral effector interferons (IFNs) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Experimental results from in vitro and in vivo models have demonstrated that TLRs mediate the activation of cellular signaling pathways and the production of antiviral cytokines, resulting in a suppression of HBV replication. However, HBV infection is associated with downregulation of TLR expression on host cells and blockade of the activation of downstream signaling pathways. In primary HBV infection, TLRs may slow down HBV infection, but contribute only indirectly to viral clearance. Importantly, TLRs may modulate HBV-specific T- and B-cell responses in vivo, which are essential for the termination of HBV infection. Thus, TLR agonists are promising candidates to act as immunomodulators for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. Antiviral treatment may recover TLR expression and function in chronic HBV infection and may increase the efficacy of therapeutic approaches based on TLR activation. A combined therapeutic strategy with antiviral treatment and TLR activation could facilitate the restoration of HBV-specific immune responses and thereby, achieve viral clearance in chronically infected HBV patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Ma
- 1] Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany [2] Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ejuan Zhang
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongliang Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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42
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Cielens I, Jackevica L, Strods A, Kazaks A, Ose V, Bogans J, Pumpens P, Renhofa R. Mosaic RNA phage VLPs carrying domain III of the West Nile virus E protein. Mol Biotechnol 2014; 56:459-69. [PMID: 24570176 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-014-9743-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The virus-neutralising domain III (DIII) of the West Nile virus glycoprotein E was exposed on the surface of RNA phage AP205 virus-like particles (VLPs) in mosaic form. For this purpose, a 111 amino acid sequence of DIII was added via amber or opal termination codons to the C-terminus of the AP205 coat protein, and mosaic AP205-DIII VLPs were generated by cultivation in amber- or opal-suppressing Escherichia coli strains. After extensive purification to 95 % homogeneity, mosaic AP205-DIII VLPs retained up to 11-16 % monomers carrying DIII domains. The DIII domains appeared on the VLP surface because they were fully accessible to anti-DIII antibodies. Immunisation of BALB/c mice with AP205-DIII VLPs resulted in the induction of specific anti-DIII antibodies, of which the level was comparable to that of the anti-AP205 antibodies generated against the VLP carrier. The AP205-DIII-induced anti-DIII response was represented by a significant fraction of IgG2 isotype antibodies, in contrast to parallel immunisation with the DIII oligopeptide, which failed to induce IgG2 isotype antibodies. Formulation of AP-205-DIII VLPs in alum adjuvant stimulated the level of the anti-DIII response, but did not alter the fraction of IgG2 isotype antibodies. Mosaic AP205-DIII VLPs could be regarded as a promising prototype of a putative West Nile vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indulis Cielens
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Street 1, Riga, 1067, Latvia
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43
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The hepatitis B virus e antigen suppresses the respiratory burst and mobility of human monocytes and neutrophils. Immunobiology 2014; 219:880-7. [PMID: 25123430 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Revised: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) e antigen (HBeAg) is a secretory, non-structural protein, and associated with persistent infection of HBV. Previous studies indicate that HBeAg is able to regulate T cell-mediated responses, however, the interaction between HBeAg and the innate immune system is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant HBeAg (rHBe) bound to human peripheral blood monocytes, neutrophils, and B lymphocytes but not to T lymphocytes. We focused on investigating the effects of HBeAg on monocytes and neutrophils and found that rHBe decreased the respiratory burst in both types of cells. Furthermore, we observed that cell migration in monocytes and neutrophils was suppressed by rHBe in a transwell assay. The attenuation of rHBe was not caused by a general cytotoxic effect because rHBe treatment stimulated low levels of cytokine and chemokine production by monocytes and it promoted neutrophil survival. Since the recruitment of monocytes and neutrophils to the infected site is crucial for the initiation of inflammation, HBeAg may modulate innate immune responses by diminishing the respiratory burst and migration of monocytes and neutrophils, which might interfere with the subsequent innate and adaptive immune responses against HBV, leading to the establishment of chronic infection.
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44
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Lange M, Fiedler M, Bankwitz D, Osburn W, Viazov S, Brovko O, Zekri AR, Khudyakov Y, Nassal M, Pumpens P, Pietschmann T, Timm J, Roggendorf M, Walker A. Hepatitis C virus hypervariable region 1 variants presented on hepatitis B virus capsid-like particles induce cross-neutralizing antibodies. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102235. [PMID: 25014219 PMCID: PMC4094522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is still a serious global health burden. Despite improved therapeutic options, a preventative vaccine would be desirable especially in undeveloped countries. Traditionally, highly conserved epitopes are targets for antibody-based prophylactic vaccines. In HCV-infected patients, however, neutralizing antibodies are primarily directed against hypervariable region I (HVRI) in the envelope protein E2. HVRI is the most variable region of HCV, and this heterogeneity contributes to viral persistence and has thus far prevented the development of an effective HVRI-based vaccine. The primary goal of an antibody-based HCV vaccine should therefore be the induction of cross-reactive HVRI antibodies. In this study we approached this problem by presenting selected cross-reactive HVRI variants in a highly symmetric repeated array on capsid-like particles (CLPs). SplitCore CLPs, a novel particulate antigen presentation system derived from the HBV core protein, were used to deliberately manipulate the orientation of HVRI and therefore enable the presentation of conserved parts of HVRI. These HVRI-CLPs induced high titers of cross-reactive antibodies, including neutralizing antibodies. The combination of only four HVRI CLPs was sufficient to induce antibodies cross-reactive with 81 of 326 (24.8%) naturally occurring HVRI peptides. Most importantly, HVRI CLPs with AS03 as an adjuvant induced antibodies with a 10-fold increase in neutralizing capability. These antibodies were able to neutralize infectious HCVcc isolates and 4 of 19 (21%) patient-derived HCVpp isolates. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the induction of at least partially cross-neutralizing antibodies is possible. This approach might be useful for the development of a prophylactic HCV vaccine and should also be adaptable to other highly variable viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Lange
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Melanie Fiedler
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - William Osburn
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sergei Viazov
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Olena Brovko
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Yury Khudyakov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michael Nassal
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Paul Pumpens
- Department of Recombinant biotechnology, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Jörg Timm
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Roggendorf
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas Walker
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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45
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Loggi E, Gamal N, Bihl F, Bernardi M, Andreone P. Adaptive response in hepatitis B virus infection. J Viral Hepat 2014; 21:305-13. [PMID: 24674098 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of acute and chronic liver inflammation worldwide. The immune response against the virus represents a key factor in determining infection outcome, in terms of both viral clearance and the perpetuation of liver damage. Significant advances have recently been achieved regarding the functions of antiviral CD8+ T cells, leading to a better understanding of their abnormalities during chronic infection as well as the pathways to be manipulated to reverse the immune impairment of chronic infection. In this review, we aimed to analyse the patterns of adaptive immunity that develop during acute infection and the profiles in chronic infection. In addition to CD8+ T cells, which are the best-described subset to date, we reviewed and commented on the direct and indirect roles of CD4+ T cells and B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Loggi
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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46
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Sominskaya I, Skrastina D, Petrovskis I, Dishlers A, Berza I, Mihailova M, Jansons J, Akopjana I, Stahovska I, Dreilina D, Ose V, Pumpens P. A VLP library of C-terminally truncated Hepatitis B core proteins: correlation of RNA encapsidation with a Th1/Th2 switch in the immune responses of mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75938. [PMID: 24086668 PMCID: PMC3781094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An efficient pBR327- and Ptrp-based E. coli expression system was used to generate a large-scale library of virus like particles (VLP) formed by recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) core (HBc) protein derivatives. To construct the library, the gene of HBc protein of the genotype D/subtype ayw2 virus was gradually truncated from the 3`-end and twenty-two HBc variants (with truncation up to 139 aa) were expressed at high levels. The proteins were purified by salt precipitation and gel filtration. Background RNA binding was observed for VLPs formed by HBc1-149, which lacked all C-terminal Arg blocks, and the addition of three Arg residues (HBc1-152) only slightly increased RNA binding. The presence of two Arg blocks (proteins HBc1-162 and HBc1-163) resulted in approximately half of the typical level of RNA binding, and the presence of three blocks (protein HBc1-171) led to approximately 85% of the typical level of binding. Only a small increase in the level of RNA binding was found for the HBc1-175 VLPs, which contained all four Arg blocks but lacked the last 8 aa of the full-length HBc protein. VLPs containing high levels of RNA had higher antigenicity according to an ELISA with anti-HBc mAbs than the VLPs formed by HBc variants without C-terminal Arg blocks and lacking RNA. The results indicate that the VLPs were stabilised by nucleic acids. The immunogenicity in BALB/c mice was comparable for VLPs formed by different HBc proteins, but a clear switch from a Th1 response to a Th2 response occurred after the loss of encapsidated RNA. We did not observe significant differences in lymphocyte proliferation in vitro for the tested VLP variants; however, the loss of RNA encapsidation correlated with a decreased level of IFN-γ induction, which is a measure of the potential CTL activity of immunogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Sominskaya
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Dace Skrastina
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ivars Petrovskis
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Andris Dishlers
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ieva Berza
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Maria Mihailova
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Juris Jansons
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Inara Akopjana
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Irina Stahovska
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Dzidra Dreilina
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Velta Ose
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Paul Pumpens
- Protein Engineering Department, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
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47
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Roose K, De Baets S, Schepens B, Saelens X. Hepatitis B core-based virus-like particles to present heterologous epitopes. Expert Rev Vaccines 2013; 12:183-98. [PMID: 23414409 DOI: 10.1586/erv.12.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Since the first effort to recombinantly express the hepatitis B core protein (HBc) in bacteria, the remarkable virion-like structure has fuelled interest in unraveling the structural and antigenic properties of this protein. Initial studies proved HBc virus-like particles to possess strong immunogenic properties, which can be conveyed to linked antigens. More than 35 years later, numerous studies have been performed using HBc as a carrier protein for antigens derived from over a dozen different pathogens and diseases. In this review, the authors highlight the intriguing features of HBc as carrier and antigen, illustrated by some examples and experimental results that underscore the value of HBc as an antigen-presenting platform. Two of these HBc fusions, targeting influenza A and malaria, have even progressed into clinical testing. In the future, the HBc-based virus-like particles platform will probably continue to be used for the display of poorly immunogenic antigens, mainly because virus-like particle formation by HBc capsomers is compatible with nearly any available recombinant gene expression system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenny Roose
- Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
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48
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Hepatitis B virus induces IL-23 production in antigen presenting cells and causes liver damage via the IL-23/IL-17 axis. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003410. [PMID: 23825942 PMCID: PMC3694858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-23 regulates myriad processes in the innate and adaptive immune systems, and is a critical mediator of the proinflammatory effects exerted by Th17 cells in many diseases. In this study, we investigated whether and how hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver damage directly through the IL-23 signaling pathway. In biopsied liver tissues from HBV-infected patients, expression of both IL-23 and IL-23R was remarkably elevated. In vivo observations also indicated that the main sources of IL-23 were myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and macrophages. Analysis of in vitro differentiated immature DCs and macrophages isolated from healthy donors revealed that the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) efficiently induces IL-23 secretion in a mannose receptor (MR)-dependent manner. Culture with an endosomal acidification inhibitor and the dynamin inhibitor showed that, upon binding to the MR, the HBsAg is taken up by mDCs and macrophages through an endocytosis mechanism. In contrast, although the HBV core antigen (HBcAg) can also stimulate IL-23 secretion from mDCs, the process was MR- and endocytosis-independent. In addition, IL-23 was shown to be indispensible for HBsAg-stimulated differentiation of naïve CD4(+) T cells into Th17 cells, which were determined to be the primary source of IL-17 in HBV-infected livers. The cognate receptor, IL-17R, was found to exist on the hepatic stellate cells and mDCs, both of which might represent the potential target cells of IL-17 in hepatitis B disease. These data provide novel insights into a yet unrecognized mechanism of HBV-induced hepatitis, by which increases in IL-23 expression, through an MR/endocytosis-dependent or -independent manner, produce liver damage through the IL-23/IL-17 axis.
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García-Díaz D, Rodríguez I, Santisteban Y, Márquez G, Terrero Y, Brown E, Iglesias E. Th2-Th1 shift with the multiantigenic formulation TERAVAC-HIV-1 in Balb/c mice. Immunol Lett 2012. [PMID: 23183092 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2012.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In chronic HIV infection a progressive Th1 to Th2/Th0 cytokine-profile shift is related to disease progression. One of the possible benefits of a therapeutic vaccination might be to counterbalance this phenomenon to allow viral replication control under a Th1-type immune response. TERAVAC-HIV-1 is a multiantigenic formulation vaccine candidate against HIV-1 which comprises the recombinant protein CR3 that contains T cell epitopes and the surface and nucleocapsid antigens of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Previous studies showed that such virus like particles of the HBV provide a Th1 adjuvant effect. The present studies examined the capacity of TERAVAC to elicit a Th1 response in the presence of an ongoing HIV-specific Th2-type response in Balb/c mice. To examine this issue, we injected subcutaneously the animals with CR3 or viral lysate in alum which resulted in a Th2-type response. The CR3-specific Th2-type response was verified by induction of IL-4 and IL-10 secretion in ex vivo stimulated splenocytes without secretion of IFN-γ and IgG2a antibodies in serum. Further subcutaneous and simultaneous subcutaneous-nasal immunizations of the same mice with TERAVAC promoted IFN-γ secretion and production of IgG2a antibodies in accordance with a Th1-type response. This result suggests a therapeutic benefit of this vaccine candidate in the restoration of the Th1-type HIV-specific cellular response in seropositive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darien García-Díaz
- Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología (CIGB), P.O. Box 6162, Havana 10600, Cuba
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Das A, Ellis G, Pallant C, Lopes AR, Khanna P, Peppa D, Chen A, Blair P, Dusheiko G, Gill U, Kennedy PT, Brunetto M, Lampertico P, Mauri C, Maini MK. IL-10-producing regulatory B cells in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2012; 189:3925-35. [PMID: 22972930 PMCID: PMC3480715 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A regulatory subset of B cells has been found to modulate immune responses in autoimmunity, infection, and cancer, but it has not been investigated in the setting of human persistent viral infection. IL-10 is elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB), but its cellular sources and impact on antiviral T cells have not been addressed. We investigated the role of IL-10 and regulatory B cells in the pathogenesis of CHB. Serum IL-10 levels were studied longitudinally in patients with CHB undergoing spontaneous disease flares. There was a close temporal correlation between IL-10 levels and fluctuations in viral load or liver inflammation. Blockade of IL-10 in vitro rescued polyfunctional virus-specific CD8 T cell responses. To investigate the potential contribution of regulatory B cells, their frequency was measured directly ex vivo and after exposure to stimuli relevant to hepatitis B virus (HBV) (CpG or HBV Ags). IL-10-producing B cells were enriched in patients, and their frequency correlated temporally with hepatic flares, both after stimulation and directly ex vivo. Phenotypically, these cells were predominantly immature (CD19(+)CD24(hi)CD38(hi)) ex vivo; sorted CD19(+)CD24(hi)CD38(hi) cells suppressed HBV-specific CD8 T cell responses in an IL-10-dependent manner. In summary, these data reveal a novel IL-10-producing subset of B cells able to regulate T cell immunity in CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Das
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, United Kingdom
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