CpG ODN B对鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫增强效应

目的:探究CpG ODN作为疫苗佐剂对鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫效果。方法:将CpG ODN B/P这2种类型的免疫佐剂分别与鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒载体疫苗BV-BXY-F混合后,以鼻腔免疫方式进行鸡体免疫,并进行攻毒保护实验,通过对鸡体的临床症状观察,以及检测免疫保护率、中和抗体水平、淋巴细胞增殖活性、细胞因子含量,分析各CpG ODN对鸡新城疫疫苗免疫效果的影响。结果:BV-BXY-F+CpG ODN B免疫组鸡在免疫后42 d中和抗体效价最高,免疫保护率100%,中和抗体效价,sIgA、IgG、IgA、IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4、CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞含量较BV-BXY-F+CpG ODN P组分别提高了32.08%、8.44%、13.56%、23.71%、50.20%、132.97%、39.76%、38.43%、25.99%,且差异显著(P0.05),与单独免疫组BV-BXY-F相比分别提高了13.71%、89.39%、10.41%、21.26%、159.17%、52.71%、237.84%、80.51%、75.57%。结论:CpG ODN B对增强鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫增强效果最好。     

禽IL-2与传染性法氏囊VP2融合蛋白免疫学特性

为研究禽细胞因子IL-2与IBDV主要保护性抗原VP2基因融合蛋白的免疫学特性,将重组的rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫鸡,通过IBDV-VP2 ELISA抗体效价、抗体亚型(IgG1和IgG2a)、淋巴细胞增殖、INF-γ和IL-4细胞因子的分泌水平、中和抗体以及动物攻毒试验检测评价其对鸡体免疫水平的影响。抗体滴度测定和淋巴细胞增殖试验结果显示,rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫鸡体的体液和细胞免疫应答水平均明显高于单独的VP2蛋白免疫组。抗体亚型测定结果显示,rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫组鸡体能产生一个平衡的IgG1和IgG2a抗体反应。细胞因子ELISA试验结果表明rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白能有效平衡Th1(γ-IFN)和Th2(IL-4)类型的细胞免疫反应。动物攻毒试验rVp2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫组鸡体获得了85%的保护率,表明构建的rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白对IBDV的攻击具有较好的免疫保护作用。本研究为进一步研制IBD高效的基因工程疫苗奠定了基础。     

GM-CSF作为Ⅱ型登革病毒E蛋白免疫佐剂的免疫效果观察

目的观察粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor,GM-CSF)作为II型登革病毒E蛋白免疫佐剂的保护效果,评估GM-CSF作为蛋白疫苗免疫佐剂的可行性。方法提取GM-CSF质粒(pCAG-GM)、将表达II型登革病毒E蛋白的重组质粒(E/pGEX-6P-1)进行诱导,表达产物用亲和层析纯化。将BALB/c小鼠随机分为E蛋白组、佐剂组(E蛋白+GM-CSF)和对照组进行免疫,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测血清抗体终点效价;采用蚀斑减少中和试验(PRNT)检测II型登革病毒中和抗体水平;酶联免疫斑点试验(ELISPOT)检测小鼠免疫后细胞因子的水平;用攻毒试验观察各组小鼠保护率。结果 E蛋白组和佐剂组小鼠血清中抗体终点效价、中和抗体水平均在免疫后有一定的升高,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);佐剂组细胞因子(IFN-γ和IL-10)水平较E蛋白组均有明显上升,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);但攻毒试验显示,佐剂组小鼠全部死亡,生存率为0,而E蛋白组的小鼠保护率为33%。结论 GM-CSF免疫佐剂可抑制II型登革病毒E蛋白的免疫保护作用,其作为蛋白疫苗免疫佐剂仍需慎重。     

不同佐剂肾综合征出血热纯化疫苗体液免疫效果的研究

在肾综合征出血热(HFRS)纯化疫苗原液中分别加入Al(OH)3、IL-2、GM-CSF、CFA等佐剂的一种或两种,以不加佐剂的纯化疫苗原液作为对照,分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,定期进行眼眶采血,用ELISA法检测血清中抗HFRS病毒的抗体水平。用不同佐剂的HFRS纯化疫苗免疫BALB/c小鼠后,其抗体产生的时间和滴度均不同。佐剂组与对照组相比抗体产生早且(或)滴度高,IL-2佐剂组在免后第3天就可以检测到抗体;联合使用两种佐剂组与单独使用一种佐剂组相比,抗体产生早、滴度高。结果表明,上述各种佐剂对HFRS纯化疫苗诱导BALB/c小鼠产生的免疫应答均有一定的增强作用;IL-2对早期免疫应答、早期抗体的产生有显著意义;联合应用两种佐剂疫苗的免疫效果优于只加其中一种佐剂的疫苗。     

共表达H5N1、H7N1亚型AIV HA与鸡IL-18多价重组鸡痘病毒免疫保护性研究

用本实验室构建的重组鸡痘病毒rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA,经翼蹼免疫1日龄SPF鸡和7日龄商品Leghorn蛋鸡,同时以H5亚型AIV全病毒灭活疫苗作为对照.免疫后测定HI抗体效价、淋巴细胞转化指标、重组疫苗对增重的影响、免疫后的攻毒保护效力、免疫后的抑制排毒情况.免疫后不同时间分别测定特异性抗体和淋巴细胞刺激指数.试验结果表明,3株重组鸡痘病毒株均能诱导鸡体产生血凝抑制抗体(HI);共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV H5HA-H7HA-IL18诱导商品蛋鸡的细胞免疫水平明显高于非共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA.重组鸡痘疫苗免疫SPF和商品蛋鸡后第21d进行攻毒实验,rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫攻毒保护率达10/10,rFPV-H5HA免疫攻毒保护率达9/10,与常规疫苗相当.免疫的商品蛋鸡于攻毒后7d采集泄殖腔棉试子样品,检测排毒情况.结果表明,rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组在攻毒后第7d无排毒,其抑制免疫鸡排毒效果优于常规疫苗和单独表达HA的rFPV-H5HA重组鸡痘病毒.rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组鸡,在14日龄时的体重明显高于rFPV-H5HA免疫组和常规疫苗对照免疫组,表明共表达的鸡IL-18能降低鸡痘病毒载体对雏鸡增重的影响.     

GM-CSF和IL-4增强Aβ表位DNA疫苗的免疫原性研究

目的:探究和评价粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)及白细胞介素4(IL-4)作为β淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)表位DNA疫苗的分子佐剂,增强DNA疫苗体液和细胞免疫反应的水平。方法:阿尔茨海默病DNA表位疫苗p VAX1-6Aβ15-T分别与重组DNA分子佐剂p VAX1-S-IL-4和p VAX1-S-GM-CSF联合免疫BALB/c小鼠,并检测其免疫原性。结果:分子佐剂IL-4组相比单独的DNA表位疫苗p VAX1-6Aβ15-T组抗体水平具有一定程度的提高;GM-CSF能明显提高DNA疫苗Aβ特异的抗体水平和泛DR辅助T细胞表位(PADRE)特异的细胞免疫反应,4次免疫后其抗体滴度提高了4倍。结论:GM-CSF佐剂能够有效地用于今后阿尔茨海默病DNA表位疫苗的研究中。     

共表达H5N1、H7N1亚型AIV HA与鸡IL-18多价重组鸡痘病毒免疫保护性研究

用本实验室构建的重组鸡痘病毒rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA,经翼蹼免疫1日龄SPF鸡和7日龄商品Leghorn蛋鸡,同时以H5亚型AIV全病毒灭活疫苗作为对照.免疫后测定HI抗体效价、淋巴细胞转化指标、重组疫苗对增重的影响、免疫后的攻毒保护效力、免疫后的抑制排毒情况.免疫后不同时间分别测定特异性抗体和淋巴细胞刺激指数.试验结果表明,3株重组鸡痘病毒株均能诱导鸡体产生血凝抑制抗体（HI）;共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV H5HA-H7HA-IL18诱导商品蛋鸡的细胞免疫水平明显高于非共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA.重组鸡痘疫苗免疫SPF和商品蛋鸡后第21d进行攻毒实验,rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫攻毒保护率达10/10,rFPV-H5HA免疫攻毒保护率达9/10,与常规疫苗相当.免疫的商品蛋鸡于攻毒后7d采集泄殖腔棉试子样品,检测排毒情况.结果表明,rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组在攻毒后第7d无排毒,其抑制免疫鸡排毒效果优于常规疫苗和单独表达HA的rFPV-H5HA重组鸡痘病毒.rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组鸡,在14日龄时的体重明显高于rFPV-H5HA免疫组和常规疫苗对照免疫组,表明共表达的鸡IL-18能降低鸡痘病毒载体对雏鸡增重的影响.     

梅毒螺旋体外膜蛋白Gpd基因的克隆、表达及其免疫活性研究

利用PCR技术从Tp Nichols株基因组模板中扩增梅毒螺旋体(Treponema pallidum,Tp)外膜蛋白Gpd基因,定向克隆构建真核表达重组体pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd,免疫印迹和免疫组化技术检测pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd在HeLa细胞中的表达;同时将真核表达重组体pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd免疫新西兰兔,检测其在兔体内的免疫应答效果。免疫印迹和免疫组化鉴定均显示重组体在HeLa细胞中能有效表达一个41kD的Gpd融合蛋白。新西兰兔接种核酸疫苗后,能产生特异性抗体,第3次免疫后2周抗体最高滴度可达1∶1024,免疫后兔脾细胞受Gpd蛋白刺激有明显增殖反应。所诱导的抗体水平和脾淋巴细胞增殖情况均显著高于空质粒对照组和空白对照组(p<0.05)。Tp真核表达重组体pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd的成功构建及能刺激新西兰兔产生较强特异的免疫应答,为Gpd蛋白生物学功能及梅毒DNA疫苗的深入研究奠定了一定的实验基础。     

传染性法氏囊病病毒AH1株vp2基因在昆虫细胞中的表达与应用

将近期引起传染性法氏囊病(IBD)免疫预防失败的传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)vp2基因,定向克隆入杆状病毒表达系统的供体质粒pFastBacHTA中,构建重组供体质粒pFastBacHTA-VP2,转化Escherichia coli DH10Bac感受态,筛选重组杆状病毒表达质粒pBac-VP2。用pBac-VP2转染Sf9昆虫细胞,获得重组杆状病毒vBac-VP2。对重组杆状病毒vBac-VP2感染的Sf9细胞,用间接免疫荧光试验(IFA)检测,具有特异性荧光;用IBDV抗体夹心ELISA检测,呈阳性反应,抗原效价达到1.6×103;用Western blotting分析,在53kDa处出现一条特异蛋白条带;电镜观察,重组Vp2蛋白能够自组装成病毒样颗粒,在感染细胞中发现了"包涵体样"结构。用HisTrap HP亲和层析柱纯化的重组Vp2蛋白作为包被抗原,建立的IBDV抗体间接ELISA检测方法具有良好的特异性。用重组杆状病毒感染的Sf9昆虫细胞裂解物,免疫2周龄SPF鸡,一次免疫14d后,ELISA检测抗体效价为8×102,中和抗体效价为1106,攻毒实验的存活率为30%;二次免疫14d后,ELISA抗体效价为3.2×103,中和抗体效价为2536,存活率为100%。在实验观察7d内,重组Vp2蛋白免疫保护鸡未显任何临床症状和病理变化,法氏囊/体重比高于对照组(P0.05)。本实验制备的病毒样颗粒重组Vp2蛋白在研制新型IBD基因工程疫苗和检测试剂方面显示出了应用前景。     

核酸疫苗初免-蛋白疫苗加强的免疫策略提高日本血吸虫核酸疫苗免疫效果

为研制抗血吸虫疫苗提供实验依据,探讨了抗血吸虫SjGST-32核酸疫苗与蛋白疫苗联合免疫的免疫增强效应及免疫应答特征。将日本血吸虫DNA疫苗VR1012-SjGST-32与重组蛋白疫苗rSjGST-32分别在第0、2和4周免疫小鼠,在第6周攻击感染日本血吸虫尾蚴,攻击感染45 d后剖杀小鼠,计算减虫率、检卵率以及检测肝脏病理变化,观察免疫保护效果;检测小鼠血清中特异性IgG抗体滴度,T细胞增殖反应和抗原特异性CD4+IFN-γ+、CD4+IL-4+和CD4+IL-10+的数量,探讨免疫应答特征。结果显示,DNA初免-蛋白加强的联合免疫组的保护作用优于单独免疫组,显著提高了减虫率(42.3%)和减卵率(59.6%),并且能够显著减轻血吸虫虫卵对肝脏的病理损害;进一步发现,DNA疫苗和蛋白疫苗联合应用增强了机体T淋巴细胞增殖反应、抗体IgG滴度以及抗原特异性CD4+IFN-γ+的产生。这些研究为新型血吸虫疫苗的优化设计和合理应用提供了依据。     

鸡白细胞介素2增强传染性法氏囊病病毒多聚蛋白DNA疫苗免疫原性的研究

鸡白细胞介素 2(IL-2)基因是新近被确定的非哺乳类IL-2基因。将鸡白细胞介素2(IL-2)基因和传染性法氏囊病病毒 (IBDV)多聚蛋白基因 (VP2/VP4/VP3)分别插入真核表达载体pCI的CMV启动子下游 ,制备DNA疫苗 ,免疫 14日龄SPF鸡 ,14d后二免 ,二免后 3d攻击标准强毒株。结果表明共注射鸡IL 2质粒能明显增强DNA疫苗对强毒攻击 ,保护率达 80 % ;能增强DNA疫苗诱导的中和抗体效价 (P<0.05 ) ;能显著促进鸡胸腺、脾脏和外周血液T淋巴细胞及法氏囊B淋巴细胞增殖反应(P<0.05)。这些结果提示鸡IL 2能明显增强IBDV多聚蛋白DNA疫苗的免疫原性 ,是一种优良的禽类DNA疫苗佐剂。     

Cytokine requirements for induction of systemic and mucosal CTL after nasal immunization.

Cholera toxin (CT) is frequently used as an experimental adjuvant intranasally for the induction of systemic and mucosal immunity. However, CT is highly reactogenic and not approved for use in humans. To define the cytokine requirements for the nasal activation of the systemic and mucosal immune system, and to design new adjuvants with efficacy similar to CT, we defined the cytokines that were able to replace CT as a nasal adjuvant for the induction of CTL. BALB/c mice were nasally immunized with an HIV immunogen that contains an MHC class I-restricted CTL epitope +/- cytokines and tested for HIV-specific immune responses. We found that combinations of IL-1alpha plus IL-18, IL-1alpha plus IL-12, and IL-1alpha plus IL-12 plus GM-CSF each induced optimal splenocyte anti-HIV CTL responses in immunized mice (range 60-71% peptide-specific (51)Cr release). Peak H-2D(d)-peptide tetramer-binding T cell responses induced by cytokine combinations were up to 5.5% of CD8(+) PBMC. Nasal immunization with HIV immunogen and IL-1alpha, IL-12, and GM-CSF also induced Ag-specific IFN-gamma-secreting cells in the draining cervical lymph node and the lung. The use of IL-1alpha, IL-12, and GM-CSF as nasal adjuvants was associated with an increased expression of MHC class II and B7.1 on nonlymphocytes within the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue/nasal mucosa. Thus, IL-1alpha, IL-12, IL-18, and GM-CSF are critical cytokines for the induction of systemic and mucosal CTL after nasal immunization. Moreover, these cytokines may serve as effective adjuvants for nasal vaccine delivery.     

Combinations of the cytokines IL-12, IL-2 and IFN-alpha significantly augment whereas the cytokine IL-4 suppresses the cytokine-induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of monoclonal antibodies 17-1A and BR55-2

Since some cytokines effectively enhance the cytotoxicity of monoclonal antibodies, we investigated whether a combination of cytokines can augment the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of monoclonal antibodies 17-1A and BR55-2 against the colorectal carcinoma cell line HT29. Since monocytes/macrophages are important effector cells for ADCC, we used a new flow cytometric cytotoxicity assay, which allows the analysis of long-term-ADCC exerted by these cells. In our previous studies with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal donors, we found that IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-alpha increase ADCC. Therefore, we examined whether combination of these three cytokines with IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, M-CSF and TNF-alpha may yield higher ADCC than obtained by the application of single cytokines. Indeed, we found that the combinations IL-2/IFN-alpha, IL-2/IL-12 and IL-12/IFN-alpha potentiated ADCC. Interestingly, the ineffective single cytokines TNF-alpha and GM-CSF in the combinations IL-2/TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha/TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha/GM-CSF also proved to enhance ADCC. In contrast, IL-4 significantly suppressed the IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-alpha-induced ADCC. In addition, the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 in higher concentrations significantly suppressed the IL-12-induced-ADCC. Our results may be useful to find combinations of cytokines and mAb for the treatment of cancer.     

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is a major macrophage fusion factor present in conditioned medium of concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cell cultures

In 1983, we reported that the conditioned medium (CM) of spleen cell cultures treated with Con A greatly induced fusion of mouse alveolar macrophages within 2 to 3 days at a very high rate of more than 80% (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:5583, 1983). In the course of examining macrophage fusion factors (MFF) present in Con A-CM, we found that IL-4 induced fusion of alveolar macrophages with a time course similar to that induced by Con A-CM. However, the maximal fusion rate induced by IL-4 (4 ng/ml) was about 35%. Furthermore, the fusion induced by Con A-CM was blocked only partially by adding IL-4 antibody, indicating that there are unknown MFF other than in Con A-CM. Of several other cytokines produced by Con A-stimulated spleen cells, IL-6 (20 ng/ml), IFN-gamma (45 ng/ml) and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF (10 ng/ml) greatly potentiated the fusion induced by 4 ng/ml of IL-4. The assay of these cytokines in Con A-CM proved that it contained 0.44 +/- 0.04 ng/ml of IL-4, 1.0 +/- 0.24 ng/ml of IL-6, 9.1 +/- 0.07 ng/ml of IFN-gamma, and 11.6 +/- 1.66 ng/ml of GM-CSF. When the potentiating effects of IL-6, IFN-gamma and GM-CSF on macrophage fusion were examined in the presence of 0.4 ng/ml of IL-4, only GM-CSF increased the fusion rate to the maximal level induced by Con A-CM at its physiologic concentration (10 ng/ml). The macrophage fusion induced by Con A-CM was greatly suppressed by adding antibody against GM-CSF. GM-CSF had a biphasic effect on growth and fusion, depending on its dose levels used: 0.01 to 0.1 ng/ml increased proliferation without inducing fusion and 10 ng/ml preferentially induced fusion. There was a negative relationship between macrophage growth and fusion. IL-4 was a potent inhibitor of proliferation of macrophages induced by GM-CSF. These results clearly indicate that GM-CSF is a major MFF present in Con A-CM.     

Co-administration of avian influenza virus H5 plasmid DNA with chicken IL-15 and IL-18 enhanced chickens immune responses

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: DNA vaccines offer several advantages over conventional vaccines in the development of effective vaccines against avian influenza virus (AIV). However, one of the limitations of the DNA vaccine in poultry is that it induces poor immune responses. In this study, chicken interleukin (IL) -15 and IL-18 were used as genetic adjuvants to improve the immune responses induced from the H5 DNA vaccination in chickens. The immunogenicity of the recombinant plasmid DNA was analysed based on the antibody production, T cell responses and cytokine production, following inoculation in 1-day-old (Trial 1) and 14-day-old (Trial 2) specific-pathogen-free chickens. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to explore the role of chicken IL-15 and IL-18 as adjuvants following the vaccination of chickens with the H5 DNA vaccine. RESULTS: The overall HI antibody titer in chickens immunized with pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-15 was higher compared to chickens immunized with pDis/H5 (p < 0.05). The findings revealed that the inoculation of the 14-day-old chickens exhibited a shorter time to achieve the highest HI titer in comparison to the inoculation of the 1-day-old chickens. The cellular immunity was assessed by the flow cytometry analysis to enumerate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood. The chickens inoculated with pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-15 demonstrated the highest increase in CD4+ T cells population relative to the control chickens. However, this study revealed that pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-15 was not significant (P > 0.05) in inducing CD8+ T cells. Meanwhile, with the exception of Trial 1, the flow cytometry results for Trial 2 demonstrated that the pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-18 inoculated group was able to trigger a higher increase in CD4+ T cells than the pDis/H5 group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-18 group was not significant (P > 0.05) in modulating CD8+ T cells population in both trials. The pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-15 inoculated group showed the highest IL-15 gene expression in both trials compared to other inoculated groups (P < 0.05). Similar results were obtained for the IL-18 expression where the pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-18 groups in both trials (Table 8) were significantly higher compared to the control group (P < 0.05). However, the expressions of other cytokines remained low or undetected by GeXP assay. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the diverse immunogenicity of pDis/H5 co-administered with chicken IL-15 and IL-18,with pDis/H5 + pDis/IL-15 being a better vaccine candidate compared to other groups.     

Pre-existing adenovirus immunity modifies a complex mixed Th1 and Th2 cytokine response to an Ad5/HIV-1 vaccine candidate in humans

The results of the recent Step Study highlight a need to clarify the effects of pre-existing natural immunity to a vaccine vector on vaccine-induced T-cell responses. To investigate this interaction, we examined the relationship between pre-existing Ad5 immunity and T-cell cytokine response profiles in healthy, HIV-uninfected recipients of MRKAd5 HIV-1 gag vaccine (HVTN 050, ClinicalTrials.gov #{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00849732","term_id":"NCT00849732"}}NCT00849732). Participants were grouped by baseline Ad5 neutralizing antibody titer as either Ad5-seronegative (titer ≤18; n = 36) or Ad5-seropositive (titer >200; n = 34). Samples from vaccine recipients were analyzed for immune responses to either HIV-1 Gag peptide pools or Ad5 empty vector using an ex vivo assay that measures thirty cytokines in the absence of long-term culture. The overall profiles of cytokine responses to Gag and Ad5 had similar combinations of induced Th1- and Th2-type cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IP-10, IL-13, and IL-10, although the Ad5-specific responses were uniformly higher than the Gag-specific responses (p<0.0001 for 9 out of 11 significantly expressed analytes). At the peak response time point, PBMC from Ad5-seronegative vaccinees secreted significantly more IP-10 in response to Gag (p = 0.008), and significantly more IP-10 (p = 0.0009), IL-2 (p = 0.006) and IL-10 (p = 0.05) in response to Ad5 empty vector than PBMC from Ad5-seropositive vaccinees. Additionally, similar responses to the Ad5 vector prior to vaccination were observed in almost all subjects, regardless of Ad5 neutralizing antibody status, and the levels of secreted IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-1Ra and GM-CSF were blunted following vaccination. The cytokine response profile of Gag-specific T cells mirrored the Ad5-specific response present in all subjects before vaccination, and included a number of Th1- and Th2-associated cytokines not routinely assessed in current vaccine trials, such as IP-10, IL-10, IL-13, and GM-CSF. Together, these results suggest that vector-specific humoral responses may reduce vaccine-induced T-cell responses by previously undetected mechanisms.     

IL-12 and GM-CSF in DNA/MVA immunizations against HIV-1 CRF12_BF Nef induced T-cell responses with an enhanced magnitude, breadth and quality

In Argentina, the HIV epidemic is characterized by the co-circulation of subtype B and BF recombinant viral variants. Nef is an HIV protein highly variable among subtypes, making it a good tool to study the impact of HIV variability in the vaccine design setting. We have previously reported a specific cellular response against NefBF with low cross-reactivity to NefB in mice. The aim of this work was to analyze whether the co-administration of IL-12 and GM-CSF, using DNA and MVA vaccine vectors, could improve the final cellular response induced. Mice received three DNA priming doses of a plasmid that express NefBF plus DNAs expressing IL-12 and/or GM-CSF. Afterwards, all the groups were boosted with a MVAnefBF dose. The highest increase in the magnitude of the NefBF response, compared to that induced in the control was found in the IL-12 group. Importantly, a response with higher breadth was detected in groups which received IL-12 or GM-CSF, evidenced as an increased frequency of recognition of homologous (BF) and heterologous (B) Nef peptides, as well as a higher number of other Nef peptide pools representing different viral subtypes. However, these improvements were lost when both DNA cytokines were simultaneously administered, as the response was focused against the immunodominant peptide with a detrimental response towards subdominant epitopes. The pattern of cytokines secreted and the specific-T-cell proliferative capacity were improved in IL-12 and IL-12+GM-CSF groups. Importantly IL-12 generated a significant higher T-cell avidity against a B heterologous peptide.This study indicates that the incorporation of DNA expressing IL-12 in DNA/MVA schemes produced the best results in terms of improvements of T-cell-response key properties such as breadth, cross-reactivity and quality (avidity and pattern of cytokines secreted). These relevant results contribute to the design of strategies aimed to induce T-cell responses against HIV antigens with higher quality.     

Anti-tumor cytotoxic potential and effect on human bone marrow GM-CFU of human LAK cells generated in response to various cytokines.

The effects of various recombinant cytokines i.e. IL-1 alpha, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF used either alone or in combination with IL-2, were investigated in this study. First, their capacity to induce killer cells from human PBL was examined by evaluating the degree of killing of human NK-sensitive K562 or NK-resistant Daudi cells. Second the effects of these cytokines, LAK cells (at 1/1, 2/1, 4/1 ratio LAK effectors/bone marrow cell targets) and of the supernatants from washed killer cell cultures, were examined on the colony forming ability of human bone marrow for GM-CFU in vitro. Various degrees of NK activity against K562 was observed in PBL stimulated with the cytokines, whereas LAK activity was found only with IL-2 alone. Culture of PBL with IL-2 + IL-1 alpha or IL-2 + IL-6 or IL-2 + GM-CSF resulted in the highest LAK killing. However, addition of TNF-alpha, or IFN-gamma to IL-2 in cultures resulted in a significant suppression of LAK cell activity. Addition of IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-3, and IL-4 to BM cultures had little or no effect on day 14 GM-CFU, whereas addition of IL-6 and GM-CSF resulted in a stimulatory effect. LAK cells induced with IL-2 alone had no significant suppressive effects on GM-CFU.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Astragalus polysaccharide and sulfated epimedium polysaccharide synergistically resist the immunosuppression

The immunoenhancement of compound polysaccharides, APS-sEPS composed with astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and sulfated epimedium polysaccharide (sEPS), was observed in immunosuppressed model chicken induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy). 11-day-old chickens were injected with Cy once a day for three successive days except vaccine control group. At day-14-old, all chickens were vaccinated with ND vaccine, and in experimental groups simultaneously administrated with APS-sEPS at three dosages, APS and sEPS once a day for three successive days. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after the administration, the peripheral T-lymphocyte proliferation, serum antibody titers, IFN-γ, IL-2, IgG and IgM were determined. The results displayed that APS-sEPS could overcome Cy-induced immunosuppression, significantly promote T-lymphocyte proliferation and raised serum antibody titers, IFN-γ, IL-2, IgG and IgM levels, its high and medium doses were superior to single APS or sEPS. This demonstrated that APS and sEPS could synergistically resist the immunosuppression and APS-sEPS was an effective immunopotentiator.