Optimization of Mucosal Responses after Intramuscular Immunization with Integrase Defective Lentiviral Vector

Many infectious agents infiltrate the host at the mucosal surfaces and then spread systemically. This implies that an ideal vaccine should induce protective immune responses both at systemic and mucosal sites to counteract invasive mucosal pathogens. We evaluated the in vivo systemic and mucosal antigen-specific immune response induced in mice by intramuscular administration of an integrase defective lentiviral vector (IDLV) carrying the ovalbumin (OVA) transgene as a model antigen (IDLV-OVA), either alone or in combination with sublingual adjuvanted OVA protein. Mice immunized intramuscularly with OVA and adjuvant were compared with IDLV-OVA immunization. Mice sublingually immunized only with OVA and adjuvant were used as a positive control of mucosal responses. A single intramuscular dose of IDLV-OVA induced functional antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses in spleen, draining and distal lymph nodes and, importantly, in the lamina propria of the large intestine. These results were similar to those obtained in a prime-boost regimen including one IDLV immunization and two mucosal boosts with adjuvanted OVA or vice versa. Remarkably, only in groups vaccinated with IDLV-OVA, either alone or in prime-boost regimens, the mucosal CD8+ T cell response persisted up to several months from immunization. Importantly, following IDLV-OVA immunization, the mucosal boost with protein greatly increased the plasma IgG response and induced mucosal antigen-specific IgA in saliva and vaginal washes. Overall, intramuscular administration of IDLV followed by protein boosts using the sublingual route induced strong, persistent and complementary systemic and mucosal immune responses, and represents an appealing prime-boost strategy for immunization including IDLV as a delivery system.     

Mucosal adjuvant activity of oligomannose-coated liposomes for nasal immunization

In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of liposomes coated with a neoglycolipid consisting of mannotriose and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (Man3-DPPE) as an adjuvant for induction of mucosal immunity. Immunization of BALB/c mice with ovalbumin (OVA)-encapsulated Man3-DPPE-coated liposomes (oligomannose-coated liposomes; OMLs) by a nasal route produced high levels of OVA-specific IgG and IgA antibodies in serum of immunized mice 1 week after the last nasal immunization, whereas no significant serum antibody responses were observed in mice that received OVA in uncoated liposomes or OVA alone. Seven weeks after the last nasal immunization, nasal challenge with an excess amount of OVA in mice that had received OVA/OMLs led to an anamnestic response to the antigen that resulted in 5- to 10-fold increases of antigen-specific serum IgG and IgA antibodies. Only mice immunized nasally with OML/OVA secreted antigen-specific secretory IgA in nasal washes and produced interferon-gamma secreting cells in nasopharyngeal-associated lymphoreticular tissue. Taken together, these results show that nasal administration of OMLs induces mucosal and systemic immunity that are specific for the entrapped antigen in the liposomes. Thus, liposomes coated with synthetic neoglycolipids might be useful as adjuvants for induction of mucosal immunity.     

The novel combinations of CTB,CpG, and aluminum hydroxide significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of clumping factor A 221-550 of Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT

Here, we prepared the novel combined adjuvants, CTB as intra-molecular adjuvant, CpG and aluminum hydroxide (Alum) to strengthen the immunogenicity of clumping factor A_221-550 of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The protein-immunoactive results showed CTB-ClfA_221-550 elicited the strong immune responses to serum from mice immunized with CTB and ClfA_221-550, respectively. The mice immunized with CTB-ClfA_221-550 plus CpG and Alum adjuvant exhibited significantly stronger CD4⁺ T cell responses for IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17 and displayed the higher proliferation response of splenic lymphocytes than the control groups, in addition, these mice generated the strongest humoral immune response against ClfA_221-550 among all groups. Our results also showed CTB-ClfA_221-550 plus CpG and Alum adjuvant obviously increased the survival percentage of the mice challenged by S. aureus. These data suggested that the novel combined adjuvants, CTB, CpG, and Alum, significantly enhance the immune responses triggered with ClfA_221-550, and could provide a new approach against infection of S. aureus.     

Immunological Adjuvant Effect of a Water‐Soluble Polysaccharide,CPP, from the Roots of Codonopsis pilosula on the Immune Responses to Ovalbumin in Mice

In this study, one water‐soluble polysaccharide, CPP, was purified from the root of Codonopsis pilosula. The immunomodulatory effect and the adjuvant potential of CPP on the cellular and humoral immune response of ICR mice against ovalbumin (OVA) were investigated. CPP was shown not to be lethal in vivo for mice in doses ranging from 0.5 to 4 mg. ICR Mice were immunized subcutaneously with 0.1 mg of OVA alone or with 0.1 mg of OVA dissolved in saline‐containing aluminum hydroxide gel (Alum) (0.2 mg), QuilA (0.01 and 0.02 mg) or CPP (0.5, 1 or 2 mg) on days 1 and 15. Two weeks later (day 28), concanavalin A (ConA)‐, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐, and OVA‐stimulated splenocyte proliferation, and OVA‐specific serum antibodies were measured. CPP significantly enhanced the ConA‐, LPS‐, or OVA‐induced splenocyte proliferation in the OVA‐immunized mice especially at a dose of 1 mg (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The OVA‐specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b antibody levels in serum were also significantly enhanced by CPP compared with OVA control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results suggest that CPP could be a safe efficacious adjuvant for use in vaccines against both pathogens and cancer.     

Improvement of adaptive immunity by antigen-carrying biodegradable nanoparticles

One of the most important aspects in vaccine development is to induce potent antigen-specific immune responses. In this study, we examined the immunological activities of antigen-carrying biodegradable poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) nanoparticles (NPs) in mice. The immunization with ovalbumin (OVA)-carrying γ-PGA NPs (OVA-NPs) could induce significant expansion of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Unlike complete Freund’s adjuvant, subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of OVA-NPs to footpad did not generate injection site swelling. Although OVA-NPs could induce both antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, the dominant induction of either cellular or humoral immunity was found to depend on their administration routes. Strong antibody production was observed by s.c. immunization, yet no antibody was identified by intranasal immunization. Thus, γ-PGA NPs are a safe and efficient antigen carrier with unique immunological properties.     

Prior stimulation of antigen-presenting cells with Lactobacillus regulates excessive antigen-specific cytokine responses in vitro when compared with Bacteroides

The development of allergy is related to differences in the intestinal microbiota. Therefore, it is suggested that the immune responses induced by different genera of bacteria might be regulated through adaptive as well as innate immunity. In this study, we examined whether antigen-specific immune responses were affected by stimulation with the different genera of intestinal bacteria in vitro. Mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells isolated from germ-free ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell receptor transgenic (OVA-Tg) mice were stimulated with OVA and intestinal bacteria. Cecal contents from conventional mice but not germ-free mice could induce OVA-specific cytokine production. Among the murine intestinal bacteria, Bacteroides acidofaciens (BA) enhanced OVA-specific IFN-γ and IL-10 production while Lactobacillus johnsonii (LA) increased OVA-specific IL-10 production only. The expression of cell surface molecules and cytokine production by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) from germ-free Balb/c mice were analyzed. BA increased the expression of MHC II and co-stimulatory molecules on APCs compared with LA. BA increased IL-6 and IL-10 production but induced less IL-12p40 than LA. To examine the effects of prior stimulation of APCs by intestinal bacteria on the induction of antigen-specific immune responses, cytokine production was determined following co-culture with OVA, CD4⁺ T cells from OVA-Tg mice, and APCs which were pre-stimulated with the bacteria or not. APCs pre-stimulated with LA did not enhance OVA-specific cytokine production while BA stimulated OVA-specific IL-10 production. These results suggest that the prior stimulation of intestinal immunocytes by Lactobacillus might regulate excessive antigen-specific cytokine responses via APCs when compared with prior stimulation by Bacteroides.     

携带HCV核心蛋白原核表达质粒与真核表达质粒的减毒伤寒沙门菌诱导小鼠免疫应答之比较

丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）核心蛋白是丙肝疫苗的重要候选抗原,然而,该蛋白因具有免疫调控作用而影响免疫应答的诱导。构建了HCV核心蛋白的两种表达质粒,一种是体内激活型原核表达质粒pZW-C,另一种是真核表达质粒pCI-C。将该两种质粒转化减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌SL7207,得到重组菌SL7207/pZW-C和SL7207/pCI-C,分别将重组菌口服接种小鼠,检测小鼠的免疫应答,结果发现：① SL7207/pCI-C免疫鼠的CD3⁺CD4⁺ T细胞持续降低,而SL7207/pZW-C免疫鼠的CD3⁺CD4⁺ T细胞无明显改变;② SL7207/pCI-C免疫只诱导低水平抗HCV核心蛋白抗体,加强免疫对抗体阳转率及抗体水平无明显影响,而SL7207/pZW-C免疫组所有小鼠均产生较高水平的抗核心蛋白抗体。③ SL7207/pCI-C免疫鼠脾细胞的体外增殖活性、细胞毒性T细胞活性以及加强免疫对细胞免疫应答的增强作用均明显不及SL7207/pZW-C免疫鼠。结果提示：携带真核表达质粒pCI-C的沙门菌因在小鼠细胞内表达天然形式（结构以及磷酸化修饰）的HCV核心蛋白,可能通过对T细胞的免疫抑制作用而弱化免疫应答。而以携带原核表达质粒pZW-C的沙门菌免疫可避免这一问题,并具有接种方便,成本低廉等优点,从而可望作为基于HCV核心蛋白为靶抗原的HCV疫苗的候选免疫方式。     

Interleukin-2/liposomes potentiate immune responses to a soluble protein cancer vaccine in mice

A critical element in improving the potency of cancer vaccines, especially pure protein or peptide antigens, is to develop procedures that can strongly but safely increase their ability to induce immune responses. Here, we describe that encapsulation of a pure protein antigen and interleukin-2 (IL-2) together into liposomes significantly improves immune responses and tumor protection. Groups of C57Bl/6 mice were immunized weekly ×4 with –0.1 mg of ovalbumin (OVA) injected subcutaneously in PBS or encapsulated in liposomes with or without human recombinant IL-2. Control groups included mice immunized to irradiated E.G7-OVA cells (that express ovalbumin), or to PBS. Sera were collected and pooled by immunization group at baseline and at weeks 2 and 4 to measure antibody responses to OVA by ELISA. Splenocytes obtained at week 4 were tested for anti-OVA cellular responses by ELISPOT. Mice were then challenged to a lethal dose of E.G7-OVA cells to measure tumor-protective immunity. IL-2 liposomes caused no detectable toxicity. Antibody, CD8⁺ T cell, and tumor-protective immune responses were markedly enhanced in mice immunized to OVA + IL-2 in liposomes compared to mice immunized to OVA, either alone or encapsulated into liposomes without IL-2. These results indicate that IL-2 liposomes enhance antibody, cellular, and tumor-protective immune responses to immunization with a soluble protein. This may provide a simple, safe, and effective way to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines that consist of pure protein antigens. Supported by grant CA096804 (DJ)     

Increased Antigen Specific T Cell Numbers in the Absence of Altered Migration or Division Rates as a Result of Mucosal Cholera Toxin Administration

Cholera toxin (CT) is a mucosal adjuvant capable of inducing strong immune responses to co-administered antigens following oral or intranasal immunization of mice. To date, the direct effect of CT on antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cell migration and proliferation profiles in vivo is not well characterized. In this study, the effect of CT on the migration pattern and proliferative responses of adoptively transferred, CD4⁺ TCR transgenic T cells in orally or intranasally vaccinated mice, was analyzed by flow cytometry. GFP-expressing or CFSE-labeled OT-II lymphocytes were adoptively transferred to naïve C57BL/6 mice, and mice were subsequently vaccinated with OVA with or without CT via the oral or intranasal route. CT did not alter the migration pattern of antigen-specific T cells, regardless of the route of immunization, but increased the number of transgenic CD4⁺ T cells in draining lymphoid tissue. This increase in the number of transgenic CD4⁺ T cells was not due to cells undergoing more rounds of cellular division in vivo, suggesting that CT may exert an indirect adjuvant effect on CD4⁺ T cells. The findings reported here suggest that CT functions as a mucosal adjuvant by increasing the number of antigen specific CD4⁺ T cells independent of their migration pattern or kinetics of cellular division.     

Tumor immunotherapy by epicutaneous immunization requires langerhans cells

A role for Langerhans cells (LC) in the induction of immune responses in the skin has yet to be conclusively demonstrated. We used skin immunization with OVA protein to induce immune responses against OVA-expressing melanoma cells. Mice injected with OVA-specific CD8(+) T cells and immunized with OVA onto barrier-disrupted skin had increased numbers of CD8(+) T cells in the blood that produced IFN-gamma and killed target cells. These mice generated accelerated cytotoxic responses after secondary immunization with OVA. Prophylactic or therapeutic immunization with OVA onto barrier-disrupted skin inhibited the growth of B16.OVA tumors. LC played a critical role in the immunization process because depletion of LC at the time of skin immunization dramatically reduced the tumor-protective effect. The topically applied Ag was presented by skin-derived LC in draining lymph nodes to CD8(+) T cells. Thus, targeting of tumor Ags to LC in vivo is an effective strategy for tumor immunotherapy.     

Inhibition of specific immune responses by feeding protein antigens. IV. Evidence for tolerance and specific active suppression of cell-mediated immune responses to ovalbumin.

We studied the effect of a single intragastric administration of ovalbumin (OVA) on the subsequent development of OVA-specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in BDF1 mice. In animals fed OVA 7 days before subcutaneous sensitization with OVA-CFA, we observed a concomitant dose-dependent decrease in both the humoral and CMI responses specific for OVA. The CMI tolerance was found to be antigen-specific when assayed in vivo by ear swelling or in vitro by an antigen-induced T cell proliferation assay because OVA-fed mice responded normally to sensitization with horse gamma-globulin. It was also shown that either spleen or lymph node cells, but not serum, from OVA-fed donors transferred suppression to normal recipients. The transfer was mediated by antigen-specific suppressor T cells (Ts) that appeared to inhibit the induction phase (afferent limb) of the CMI response, since the Ts were only effective when transferred before or shortly after the onset of sensitization.     

3′,5′-Cyclic diguanylic acid elicits mucosal immunity against bacterial infection

3′,5′-Cyclic diguanylic acid (cdiGMP) is emerging as a universal bacterial second messenger in regulating bacterial growth on surfaces. It has been recently shown that cdiGMP stimulates innate immunity and enhances antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. We herein report that intranasal (i.n.) administration with cdiGMP induces an acute but transient inflammatory response and activation of dendritic cells in the lungs. Moreover, i.n. immunization of mice with pneumococcal surface adhesion A (PsaA) in conjunction with cdiGMP elicited strong antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secretory IgA antibody responses at multiple mucosal surfaces. More importantly, the immunized mice showed significantly reduced nasopharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization. These results, for the first time, provide direct evidence for the induction of protection against mucosal bacterial infections by cdiGMP as an adjuvant.     

In Vivo Induction of Functionally Suppressive Induced Regulatory T Cells from CD4+CD25- T Cells Using an Hsp70 Peptide

Therapeutic peptides that target antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) can suppress experimental autoimmune diseases. The heat shock protein (Hsp) 70, with its expression elevated in inflamed tissue, is a suitable candidate antigen because administration of both bacterial and mouse Hsp70 peptides has been shown to induce strong immune responses and to reduce inflammation via the activation or induction of Hsp specific Tregs. Although two subsets of Tregs exist, little is known about which subset of Tregs are activated by Hsp70 epitopes. Therefore, we set out to determine whether natural nTregs (derived from the thymus), or induced iTregs (formed in the periphery from CD4⁺CD25^- naïve T cells) were targeted after Hsp70-peptide immunization. We immunized mice with the previously identified Hsp70 T cell epitope B29 and investigated the formation of functional iTregs by using an in vitro suppression assay and adoptive transfer therapy in mice with experimental arthritis. To study the in vivo induction of Tregs after peptide immunization, we depleted CD25⁺ cells prior to immunization, allowing the in vivo formation of Tregs from CD4⁺CD25^- precursors. This approach allowed us to study in vivo B29-induced Tregs and to compare these cells with Tregs from non-depleted immunized mice. Our results show that using this approach, immunization induced CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in the periphery, and that these cells were suppressive in vitro. Additionally, adoptive transfer of B29-specific iTregs suppressed disease in a mouse model of arthritis. This study shows that immunization of mice with Hsp70 epitope B29 induces functionally suppressive iTregs from CD4⁺CD25^- T cells.     

Antigen presentation by macrophage-enriched cells from the mouse Peyer's patch

Macrophage-enriched cells derived from Peyer's patches were prepared with or without preincubation of whole patches in collagenase-containing medium. The cells thus obtained were pulsed with ovalbumin (OVA), added to OVA-primed whole lymph node (LN) cells or LN T cells and proliferative responses stimulated in the latter cells were assessed after 5 days by thymidine incorporation. Macrophage-enriched cells obtained from Peyer's patches (PP) preincubated with collagenase presented antigen as well or better than macrophage-enriched cells obtained from spleens. In contrast, macrophage-enriched cells obtained from PP which were not preincubated with collagenase were frequently unable to function as antigen-presenting cells. In further studies, macrophage-enriched cells obtained from mice which had been fed OVA were found to be capable of stimulating antigen-primed LN T cells in an antigen-specific manner without further exposure to antigen in vitro. These results indicate PP macrophage-enriched cells are fully capable of supporting the induction of immune responses in vitro and that macrophages from PP of orally primed mice may present antigen without further antigen exposure. Thus macrophages in PP may participate in the induction of immune responses to gastrointestinal antigens in vivo.     

Insights into the Mechanisms of Protective Immunity against Cryptococcus neoformans Infection Using a Mouse Model of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening pneumonia and meningoencephalitis in immune compromised individuals. Previous studies have shown that immunization of BALB/c mice with an IFN-γ-producing C. neoformans strain, H99γ, results in complete protection against a second pulmonary challenge with an otherwise lethal cryptococcal strain. The current study evaluated local anamnestic cell-mediated immune responses against pulmonary cryptococcosis in mice immunized with C. neoformans strain H99γ compared to mice immunized with heat-killed C. neoformans (HKC.n.). Mice immunized with C. neoformans strain H99γ had significantly reduced pulmonary fungal burden post-secondary challenge compared to mice immunized with HKC.n. Protection against pulmonary cryptococcosis was associated with increased pulmonary granulomatous formation and leukocyte infiltration followed by a rapid resolution of pulmonary inflammation, which protected the lungs from severe allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM)-pathology that developed in the lungs of mice immunized with HKC.n. Pulmonary challenge of interleukin (IL)-4 receptor, IL-12p40, IL-12p35, IFN-γ, T cell and B cell deficient mice with C. neoformans strain H99γ demonstrated a requirement for Th1-type T cell-mediated immunity, but not B cell-mediated immunity, for the induction of H99γ-mediated protective immune responses against pulmonary C. neoformans infection. CD4⁺ T cells, CD11c⁺ cells, and Gr-1⁺ cells were increased in both proportion and absolute number in protected mice. In addition, significantly increased production of Th1-type/pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and conversely, reduced Th2-type cytokine production was observed in the lungs of protected mice. Interestingly, protection was not associated with increased production of cytokines IFN-γ or TNF-α in lungs of protected mice. In conclusion, immunization with C. neoformans strain H99γ results in the development of protective anti-cryptococcal immune responses that may be measured and subsequently used in the development of immune-based therapies to combat pulmonary cryptococcosis.     

Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) Plays a Role in the Generation of Germinal Center and Memory B Cells,but Not in the Production of Antigen-Specific IgG and IgM,in Response to T-dependent Antigens

The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) has been reported to modulate B cell functions including migration, proliferation and isotype class switching. Since these processes are required for the generation of the germinal center (GC) and antigen-specific plasma and memory cells following immunization with a T-dependent antigen, CB2 has the capacity to alter the quality and magnitude of T-dependent immune responses. To address this question, we immunized WT and CB2^−/− mice with the T-dependent antigen 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl (NP)-chicken-gamma-globulin (CGG) and measured GC B cell formation and the generation of antigen-specific B cells and serum immunoglobulin (Ig). While there was a significant reduction in the number of splenic GC B cells in CB2^−/− mice early in the response there was no detectable difference in the number of NP-specific IgM and IgG₁ plasma cells. There was also no difference in NP-specific IgM and class switched IgG₁ in the serum. In addition, we found no defect in the homing of plasma cells to the bone marrow (BM) and affinity maturation, although memory B cell cells in the spleen were reduced in CB2^−/− mice. CB2-deficient mice also generated similar levels of antigen-specific IgM and IgG in the serum as WT following immunization with sheep red blood cells (sRBC). This study demonstrates that although CB2 plays a role in promoting GC and memory B cell formation/maintenance in the spleen, it is dispensable on all immune cell types required for the generation of antigen-specific IgM and IgG in T-dependent immune responses.     

Adjuvant Activity of Mycobacterial Fractions

A quantitative assay and characterization of oil-attached cell wall of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG-CWS) which stimulates cell-mediated immunity of spleen cells to alloantigens in mice were carried out by an in vitro cell-mediated cytotoxicity test using ⁵¹Cr-labeled target cells. C57BL/6J mice (H-2^b) were immunized intraperitoneally with mastocytoma cells (H-2^d) with or without oil-attached BCG-CWS. The cytotoxicity, comparable to that of spleen cells from mice immunized with mastocytoma cells (3 × 10⁷), could be induced in spleens of mice immunized with a mixture of mastocytoma cells (10⁴) and oil-attached BCG-CWS. The enhancing effect persisted for 55 days or more after the alloantigenic immunization. Oil-attached BCG-CWS enhanced cell-mediated cytotoxicity of T cells in the spleen and the mesenteric lymph node, but not in the thymus. The cytotoxicity showed specificity toward the alloantigen used for immunization. In addition to BCG-CWS, the cell walls of Nocardia rubra and Corynebacterium diphtheriae PW8 and the peptidoglycolipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Aoyama B were found to be potent stimulants of cell-mediated cytotoxicity in mice. Oil-attached BCG-CWS did not enhance humoral response to mastocytoma cells but enhanced cell-mediated cytotoxicity when viable mastocytoma cells were used as antigen. The above result was supported by the fact that anti-hapten antibody response induced by viable trinitrophenyl (TNP)-mastocytoma cells (10⁴) plus oil-attached BCG-CWS did not increase to the maximum level as was observed in mice immunized with a larger number of mastocytoma cells (3 × 10⁷) alone, while cell-mediated cytotoxicity induced by the same treatment increased to the maximum level obtained by immunization with mastocytoma cells (3 × 10⁷) alone.     

The Ocular Conjunctiva as a Mucosal Immunization Route: A Profile of the Immune Response to the Model Antigen Tetanus Toxoid

Background

In a quest for a needle-free vaccine administration strategy, we evaluated the ocular conjunctiva as an alternative mucosal immunization route by profiling and comparing the local and systemic immune responses to the subcutaneous or conjunctival administration of tetanus toxoid (TTd), a model antigen.

Materials and methods

BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were immunized either subcutaneously with TTd alone or via the conjunctiva with TTd alone, TTd mixed with 2% glycerol or TTd with merthiolate-inactivated whole-cell B. pertussis (wBP) as adjuvants. Mice were immunized on days 0, 7 and 14 via both routes, and an evaluation of the local and systemic immune responses was performed two weeks after the last immunization. Four weeks after the last immunization, the mice were challenged with a lethal dose (2 × LD₅₀) of tetanus toxin.

Results

The conjunctival application of TTd in BALB/c mice induced TTd-specific secretory IgA production and skewed the TTd-specific immune response toward a Th1/Th17 profile, as determined by the stimulation of IFNγ and IL-17A secretion and/or the concurrent pronounced reduction of IL-4 secretion, irrespective of the adjuvant. In conjunctivaly immunized C57BL/6 mice, only TTd administered with wBP promoted the establishment of a mixed Th1/Th17 TTd-specific immune response, whereas TTd alone or TTd in conjunction with glycerol initiated a dominant Th1 response against TTd. Immunization via the conjunctiva with TTd plus wBP adjuvant resulted in a 33% survival rate of challenged mice compared to a 0% survival rate in non-immunized animals (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Conjunctival immunization with TTd alone or with various adjuvants induced TTd-specific local and systemic immune responses, predominantly of the Th1 type. The strongest immune responses developed in mice that received TTd together with wBP, which implies that this alternative route might tailor the immune response to fight intracellular bacteria or viruses more effectively.     

Polymyxins as Novel and Safe Mucosal Adjuvants to Induce Humoral Immune Responses in Mice

There is currently an urgent need to develop safe and effective adjuvants for enhancing vaccine-induced antigen-specific immune responses. We demonstrate here that intranasal immunization with clinically used polypeptide antibiotics, polymyxin B (PMB) and colistin (CL), along with ovalbumin (OVA), increases OVA-specific humoral immune responses in a dose-dependently manner at both mucosal and systemic compartments. Enhanced immunity by boosting was found to persist during 8 months of observation. Moreover, mice intranasally immunized with OVA plus various doses of PMB or CL showed neither inflammatory responses in the nasal cavity and olfactory bulbs nor renal damages, compared to those given OVA alone. These data suggest that polymyxins may serve as novel and safe mucosal adjuvants to induce humoral immune responses. The polymyxin adjuvanticity was found to be independent of endotoxins liberated by its bactericidal activity, as indicated by similar enhancing effects of PMB in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-hyporesponsive and LPS-susceptible mice. However, despite the presence of preexisting anti-PMB antibodies, we observed no reduction in the adjuvant function of polymyxins when they were given intranasally. Furthermore, the titers of OVA-specific Abs in mice intranasally immunized with OVA plus PMB or CL were significantly higher than those in mice administered with polymyxin analogues, such as polymyxin B nonapeptide and colistin methanesulfonate. The levels of released β-hexosaminidase and histamine in mast cell culture supernatants stimulated by PMB or CL were also significantly higher than those stimulated by their analogues. These results suggest that both the hydrophobic carbon chain and hydrophilic cationic cyclic peptide contribute to the mucosal adjuvanticity of PMB and CL.