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Gordy JT, Hui Y, Schill C, Wang T, Chen F, Fessler K, Meza J, Li Y, Taylor AD, Bates RE, Karakousis PC, Pekosz A, Sachithanandham J, Li M, Karanika S, Markham RB. A SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine fused to the chemokine MIP-3α elicits sustained murine antibody responses over 12 months and enhanced lung T-cell responses. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1292059. [PMID: 38370404 PMCID: PMC10870766 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1292059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have demonstrated enhanced efficacy of vaccine formulations that incorporate the chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 3α (MIP-3α) to direct vaccine antigens to immature dendritic cells. To address the reduction in vaccine efficacy associated with a mutation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutants, we have examined the ability of receptor-binding domain vaccines incorporating MIP-3α to sustain higher concentrations of antibody when administered intramuscularly (IM) and to more effectively elicit lung T-cell responses when administered intranasally (IN). Methods BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were immunized intramuscularly or intranasally with DNA vaccine constructs consisting of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain alone or fused to the chemokine MIP-3α. In a small-scale (n = 3/group) experiment, mice immunized IM with electroporation were followed up for serum antibody concentrations over a period of 1 year and for bronchoalveolar antibody levels at the termination of the study. Following IN immunization with unencapsulated plasmid DNA (n = 6/group), mice were evaluated at 11 weeks for serum antibody concentrations, quantities of T cells in the lungs, and IFN-γ- and TNF-α-expressing antigen-specific T cells in the lungs and spleen. Results At 12 months postprimary vaccination, recipients of the IM vaccine incorporating MIP-3α had significantly, approximately threefold, higher serum antibody concentrations than recipients of the vaccine not incorporating MIP-3α. The area-under-the-curve analyses of the 12-month observation interval demonstrated significantly greater antibody concentrations over time in recipients of the MIP-3α vaccine formulation. At 12 months postprimary immunization, only recipients of the fusion vaccine had concentrations of serum-neutralizing activity deemed to be effective. After intranasal immunization, only recipients of the MIP-3α vaccine formulations developed T-cell responses in the lungs significantly above those of PBS controls. Low levels of serum antibody responses were obtained following IN immunization. Conclusion Although requiring separate IM and IN immunizations for optimal immunization, incorporating MIP-3α in a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine construct demonstrated the potential of a stable and easily produced vaccine formulation to provide the extended antibody and T-cell responses that may be required for protection in the setting of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Without electroporation, simple, uncoated plasmid DNA incorporating MIP-3α administered intranasally elicited lung T-cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Tristan Gordy
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yinan Hui
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Courtney Schill
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tianyin Wang
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Fengyixin Chen
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Fessler
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jacob Meza
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yangchen Li
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alannah D. Taylor
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rowan E. Bates
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Petros C. Karakousis
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andrew Pekosz
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jaiprasath Sachithanandham
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maggie Li
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Styliani Karanika
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard B. Markham
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Fessler K, Gordy JT, Sandhu AK, Hui Y, Kapoor AR, Ayeh SK, Karanika S, Karakousis PC, Markham RB. Combination of a MIP3α-antigen fusion therapeutic DNA vaccine with treatments of IFNα and 5-Aza-2'Deoxycytidine enhances activated effector CD8+ T cells expressing CD11c in the B16F10 melanoma model. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3243336. [PMID: 37645859 PMCID: PMC10462250 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3243336/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies in the B16F10 mouse melanoma model have demonstrated that combining a DNA vaccine comprised of regions of gp100 and tyrosinase-related protein 2 fused to Macrophage-inflammatory protein 3-alpha (MIP3α) with recombinant Interferon alpha (IFN) and 5-Aza-2'-Deoxycytidine (5Aza) treatments resulted in significantly greater anti-tumor activity and immunogenicity in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This brief report details that the combination of vaccine with treatments IFN and 5Aza results in both the upregulation of genes expressing CD11c-interacting proteins and an increase in the TME of a distinct CD11c+ CD8+ T cell population. This cell population correlates with tumor size, is primarily comprised of effector or effector memory T cells, and has a more robust response to ex vivo stimulation as compared to CD11c- CD8+ T cells as measured by surface activation markers 4-1BB (CD137) and KLRG1 (Killer cell lectin-like receptor G1) and intracellular IFNγ production. In conclusion, this combination therapy results in greater presence of highly active effector CD8+ T-cells expressing CD11c in the TME that correlate with and are likely primary contributors to treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yinan Hui
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Gordy JT, Sandhu AK, Fessler K, Luo K, Kapoor AR, Ayeh SK, Hui Y, Schill C, Chen F, Wang T, Karanika S, Sunshine JC, Karakousis PC, Markham RB. IFNα and 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine combined with a dendritic-cell targeting DNA vaccine alter tumor immune cell infiltration in the B16F10 melanoma model. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1074644. [PMID: 36741387 PMCID: PMC9892704 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1074644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction DNA vaccines containing a fusion of the gene encoding chemokine MIP-3α (CCL20), the ligand for CCR6 on immature dendritic cells (DCs), to melanoma-associated antigen genes have enhanced anti-tumor immunity and efficacy compared to those lacking the chemokine gene. Previous work has shown that type-I interferon (IFNα or IFN) and 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5Aza) significantly enhance the therapeutic benefit of DNA vaccines as measured by reduced tumor burden and improved mouse survival. Methods Here, we explored mouse intratumoral immune correlates underlying the therapeutic benefit of this combination regimen (vaccine, IFN, and 5Aza) as compared to vaccine alone and IFN and 5Aza without vaccine, focusing on chemokine mRNA expression by qRT-PCR and inflammatory cellular infiltration into the tumor microenvironment (TME) by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results The combination group significantly upregulated intratumoral mRNA expression of key immune infiltration chemokines XCL1 and CXCL10. Flow cytometric analyses of tumor suspensions exhibited greater tumor infiltration of CD8+ DCs, CCR7+ DCs, and NK cells in the combination group, as well as reduced levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in vaccinated groups. The mice receiving combination therapy also had greater proportions of effector/memory T-cells (Tem), in addition to showing an enhanced infiltration of Tem and central memory CD8+ T-cells, (Tcm). Tem and Tcm populations both correlated with smaller tumor size. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumors confirmed that CD8+ cells were more abundant overall and especially in the tumor parenchyma with combination therapy. Discussion Efficient targeting of antigen to immature DCs with a chemokine-fusion vaccine offers a potential alternative approach to classic and dendritic cell-based vaccines. Combining this approach with IFNα and 5Aza treatments significantly improved vaccine efficacy. This treatment creates an environment of increased inflammatory chemokines that facilitates the trafficking of CD8+ DCs, NK cells, and CD8+ T-cells, especially memory cells, while reducing the number of MDSCs. Importantly, in the combination group, CD8+ cells were more able to penetrate the tumor mass in addition to being more numerous. Further analysis of the pathways engaged by our combination therapy is expected to provide additional insights into melanoma pathogenesis and facilitate the development of novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T. Gordy
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Avinaash K. Sandhu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Fessler
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kun Luo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Aakanksha R. Kapoor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Samuel K. Ayeh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yinan Hui
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Courtney Schill
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Fengyixin Chen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tianyin Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Styliani Karanika
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joel C. Sunshine
- The Departments of Dermatology, Pathology, and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Petros C. Karakousis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard B. Markham
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Richard B. Markham,
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Butler JC, Proctor ME, Fessler K, Hopfensperger DJ, Sosin DM, Davis JP. Household-acquisition of measles and illness severity in an urban community in the United States. Epidemiol Infect 1994; 112:569-77. [PMID: 8005223 PMCID: PMC2271522 DOI: 10.1017/s095026880005127x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies from developing countries suggest that persons with household-acquired (HA) measles are at greater risk of severe illness than persons with community-acquired (CA) infection. Reported measles cases occurring among Milwaukee residents from May 1989 to June 1990 were used to assess whether household-acquisition was a risk factor for severe measles in the United States. A case was classified as HA if onset of rash occurred 7-18 days after onset of rash in another case in the same household. Hospitalization rates were similar for 128 patients with HA measles (27%) and for 1004 patients with CA measles (26%). Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between hospitalization and household-acquisition after controlling for socioeconomic status, measles vaccination history, age, race, and date of onset of rash. Patients with HA measles were no more likely to be hospitalized than patients with CA measles (odds ratio 0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.6, 1.5). HA measles cases were not more severe than CA measles cases during this urban outbreak in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Butler
- Division of Field Epidemiology, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia
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