Enhanced anti-tumor immunity by superantigen-pulsed dendritic cells

Staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) are classical models of superantigens (SAg), which induce potent T-cell-stimulating activity by forming complexes with MHC class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells. This large-scale activation of T-cells is accompanied by increased production of cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Additionally, as we previously reported, IFN-γ-producing CD8(+) T cells act as "helper cells," supporting the ability of dendritic cells to produce interleukin-12 (IL-12)p70. Here, we show that DC pulsed with SAg promote the enhancement of anti-tumor immunity. Murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) were pulsed with OVA(257-264) (SIINFEKL), which is an H-2Kb target epitope of EG7 [ovalbumin (OVA)-expressing EL4] cell lines, in the presence of SEA and SEB and were subcutaneously injected into na?ve C57BL/6 mice. SAg plus OVA(257-264)-pulsed DC vaccine strongly enhanced peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells exhibiting OVA(257-264)-specific cytotoxic activity and IFN-γ production, leading to the induction of protective immunity against EG7 tumors. Furthermore, cyclophosphamide (CY) added to SAg plus tumor-antigens (OVA(257-264), tumor lysate, or TRP-2) pulsed DC immunization markedly enhanced tumor-specific T-cell expansion and had a significant therapeutic effect against various tumors (EG7, 2LL, and B16). Superantigens are potential candidates for enhancing tumor immunity in DC vaccines.     

Rapid clonal expansion and prolonged maintenance of memory CD8+ T cells of the effector (CD44highCD62Llow) and central (CD44highCD62Lhigh) phenotype by an archaeosome adjuvant independent of TLR2

Vaccines capable of eliciting long-term T cell immunity are required for combating many diseases. Live vectors can be unsafe whereas subunit vaccines often lack potency. We previously reported induction of CD8(+) T cells to Ag entrapped in archaeal glycerolipid vesicles (archaeosomes). In this study, we evaluated the priming, phenotype, and functionality of the CD8(+) T cells induced after immunization of mice with OVA-Methanobrevibacter smithii archaeosomes (MS-OVA). A single injection of MS-OVA evoked a profound primary response but the numbers of H-2K(b)OVA(257-264)-specific CD8(+) T cells declined by 14-21 days, and <1% of primarily central phenotype (CD44(high)CD62L(high)) cells persisted. A booster injection of MS-OVA at 3-11 wk promoted massive clonal expansion and a peak effector response of approximately 20% splenic/blood OVA(257-264)-specific CD8(+) T cells. Furthermore, contraction was protracted and the memory pool (IL-7Ralpha(high)) of approximately 5% included effector (CD44(high)CD62L(low)) and central (CD44(high)CD62L(high)) phenotype cells. Recall response was observed even at >300 days. CFSE-labeled naive OT-1 (OVA(257-264) TCR transgenic) cells transferred into MS-OVA-immunized recipients cycled profoundly (>90%) within the first week of immunization indicating potent Ag presentation. Moreover, approximately 25% cycling of Ag-specific cells was seen for >50 days, suggesting an Ag depot. In vivo, CD8(+) T cells evoked by MS-OVA killed >80% of specific targets, even at day 180. MS-OVA induced responses similar in magnitude to Listeria monocytogenes-OVA, a potent live vector. Furthermore, protective CD8(+) T cells were induced in TLR2-deficient mice, suggesting nonengagement of TLR2 by archaeal lipids. Thus, an archaeosome adjuvant vaccine represents an alternative to live vectors for inducing CD8(+) T cell memory.     

CD8+ CTL priming by exact peptide epitopes in incomplete Freund's adjuvant induces a vanishing CTL response, whereas long peptides induce sustained CTL reactivity

Therapeutic vaccination trials, in which patients with cancer were vaccinated with minimal CTL peptide in oil-in-water formulations, have met with limited success. Many of these studies were based on the promising data of mice studies, showing that vaccination with a short synthetic peptide in IFA results in protective CD8(+) T cell immunity. By use of the highly immunogenic OVA CTL peptide in IFA as a model peptide-based vaccine, we investigated why minimal CTL peptide vaccines in IFA performed so inadequately to allow full optimization of peptide vaccination. Injection of the minimal MHC class I-binding OVA(257-264) peptide in IFA transiently activated CD8(+) effector T cells, which eventually failed to undergo secondary expansion or to kill target cells, as a result of a sustained and systemic presentation of the CTL peptides gradually leaking out of the IFA depot without systemic danger signals. Complementation of this vaccine with the MHC class II-binding Th peptide (OVA(323-339)) restored both secondary expansion and in vivo effector functions of CD8(+) T cells. Simply extending the CTL peptide to a length of 30 aa also preserved these CD8(+) T cell functions, independent of T cell help, because the longer CTL peptide was predominantly presented in the locally inflamed draining lymph node. Importantly, these functional differences were reproduced in two additional model Ag systems. Our data clearly show why priming of CTL with minimal peptide epitopes in IFA is suboptimal, and demonstrate that the use of longer versions of these CTL peptide epitopes ensures the induction of sustained effector CD8(+) T cell reactivity in vivo.     

Prolonged antigen presentation, APC-, and CD8+ T cell turnover during mycobacterial infection: comparison with Listeria monocytogenes

We expressed the CTL epitope of OVA (OVA(257-264)) in an acute (Listeria monocytogenes (LM)-OVA) and a chronic intracellular pathogen (Mycobacterium bovis (BCG)-OVA), to evaluate the kinetics of Ag presentation. LM-OVA proliferated rapidly in vivo, resulting in profound LM-OVA expansion within the first 24 h of infection, culminating in the generation of a potent CD8+ T cell response, which peaked on day 7 but underwent a rapid attrition subsequently. In contrast, BCG-OVA exhibited reduced growth in vivo, resulting in a delayed CD8+ T cell response that increased progressively with time. Relative to LM-OVA, BCG-OVA induced persistently increased numbers of apoptotic (annexin V+) CD8+ T cells. Ag presentation in vivo was evaluated by transferring Thy1.2+ carboxyfluorescein-labeled OT1 transgenic CD8+ T cells into infected Thy1.1+ congeneic recipient mice. LM-OVA induced rapid Ag presentation that was profound in magnitude, with most of the transferred cells getting activated within 4 days and resulting in a massive accumulation of activated donor CD8+ T cells. In contrast, Ag presentation induced by BCG-OVA was delayed, weaker in magnitude, which peaked around the second week of infection and declined to a low level subsequently. Increasing the dose of BCG-OVA while enhancing the magnitude of Ag presentation did not change the kinetics. Furthermore, a higher dose of BCG-OVA also accelerated the attrition of OVA(257-264)-specific CD8+ T cells. Relative to LM-OVA, the dendritic cells in BCG-OVA-infected mice were apoptotic for prolonged periods, suggesting that the rapid death of APCs may limit the magnitude of Ag presentation during chronic stages of mycobacterial infection.     

Introduction of protein or DNA delivered via recombinant Salmonella typhimurium into the major histocompatibility complex class I presentation pathway of macrophages

Recombinant (r) Salmonella typhimurium aroA strains which display the hen egg ovalbumin OVA(257-264) peptide SIINFEKL in secreted form were constructed. In addition, attenuated rS. typhimurium pcDNA-OVA constructs harbouring a eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding complete OVA were used to introduce the immunodominant OVA(257-264) epitope into the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I presentation pathway. Both modes of antigen delivery (DNA and protein) by Salmonella vaccine carriers stimulated OVA(257-264)-specific CD8 T-cell hybridomas. An in vitro infection system was established that allowed both rSalmonella carrier devices to facilitate MHC class I delivery of OVA(257-264) by coexpression of listeriolysin (Hly) or by coinfection with rS. typhimurium Hlys (Hess J., Gentschev I., Miko D., Welzel M., Ladel C., Goebel W., Kaufmann S.H.E., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93 (1996) 1458-1463). Coexpression of Hly and coinfection with rS. typhimurium Hlys slightly improved MHC class I processing of OVA. Our data provide further evidence for the feasibility of attenuated, Hly-expressing rS. typhimurium carriers secreting heterologous antigens or harbouring heterologous DNA as effective vaccines for stimulating CD8 T cells in addition to CD4 T cells.     

Affinity thresholds for naive CD8+ CTL activation by peptides and engineered influenza A viruses

High-avidity interactions between TCRs and peptide + class I MHC (pMHCI) epitopes drive CTL activation and expansion. Intriguing questions remain concerning the constraints determining optimal TCR/pMHCI binding. The present analysis uses the TCR transgenic OT-I model to assess how varying profiles of TCR/pMHCI avidity influence naive CTL proliferation and the acquisition of effector function following exposure to the cognate H-2K(b)/OVA(257-264) (SIINFEKL) epitope and to mutants provided as peptide or in engineered influenza A viruses. Stimulating naive OT-I CD8(+) T cells in vitro with SIINFEKL induced full CTL proliferation and differentiation that was largely independent of any need for costimulation. By contrast, in vitro activation with the low-affinity EIINFEKL or SIIGFEKL ligands depended on the provision of IL-2 and other costimulatory signals. Importantly, although they did generate potent endogenous responses, infection of mice with influenza A viruses expressing these same OVA(257) variants failed to induce the activation of adoptively transferred naive OT-I CTLps, an effect that was only partially overcome by priming with a lipopeptide vaccine. Subsequent structural and biophysical analysis of H2-K(b)OVA(257), H2-K(b)E1, and H2-K(b)G4 established that these variations introduce small changes at the pMHCI interface and decrease epitope stability in ways that would likely impact cell surface presentation and recognition. Overall, it seems that there is an activation threshold for naive CTLps, that minimal alterations in peptide sequence can have profound effects, and that the antigenic requirements for the in vitro and in vivo induction of CTL proliferation and effector function differ substantially.     

Age‐associated alterations in CD8α+ dendritic cells impair CD8 T‐cell expansion in response to an intracellular bacterium

Age‐associated decline in immunity to infection has been documented across multiple pathogens, yet the relative contributions of the aged priming environment and of lymphocyte‐intrinsic defects remain unclear. To address the impact of the aging environment on T‐cell priming, adult naïve OT‐I TCR transgenic CD8 T cells, specific for the H‐2K^b‐restricted immunodominant OVA_257‐264 epitope, were transferred into adult or old recipient mice infected with the recombinant intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes carrying the chicken ovalbumin protein (Lm‐OVA). We consistently found that adult OT‐I CD8 expansion was reduced in aged recipient mice, and this correlated with numeric, phenotypic, and functional defects selectively affecting CD8α+ dendritic cells (DC). Following Lm‐OVA infection, aged mice failed to accumulate CD8α+ DC in the spleen, and these cells expressed much lower levels of critical costimulatory molecules in the first three days following infection. Further, aged CD8α+ DC showed impaired uptake of the bacteria at very early time points following infection. Treatment of aged mice with Flt3 ligand (Flt3L) improved the number of DC present in the spleen prior to Lm‐OVA infection, and improved, but did not reconstitute, OT‐I expansion to Lm‐OVA infection. These results suggest that age‐associated changes in antigen uptake, pathogen sensing, and/or antigen presentation contribute to impaired adaptive immune responses to microbial pathogens with aging.     

The relative efficiency of acquisition of MHC:peptide complexes and cross-presentation depends on dendritic cell type

Intercellular exchange of MHC molecules has been reported between many cells, including professional and nonprofessional APCs. This phenomenon may contribute to T cell immunity to pathogens. In this study, we addressed whether the transfer of MHC class I:peptide complexes between cells plays a role in T cell responses and compare this to conventional cross-presentation. We observed that dsRNA-matured bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) acquired peptide:MHC complexes from other BMDCs either pulsed with OVA(257-264) peptide, soluble OVA, or infected with a recombinant adenovirus expressing OVA. In addition, BMDCs were capable of acquiring MHC:peptide complexes from epithelial cells. Spleen-derived CD8alpha(+) and CD8alpha(-) dendritic cells (DCs) also acquired MHC:peptide complexes from BMDCs pulsed with OVA(257-264) peptide. However, the efficiency of acquisition by these ex vivo derived DCs is much lower than acquisition by BMDC. In all cases, the acquired MHC:peptide complexes were functional in that they induced Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell proliferation. The efficiency of MHC transfer was compared with cross-presentation for splenic CD8alpha(+) and CD8alpha(-) as well as BMDCs. CD8alpha(+) DCs were more efficient at inducing T cell proliferation when they acquired Ag via cross-presentation, the opposite was observed for BMDCs and splenic CD8alpha(-) DCs. We conclude from these observations that the relative efficiency of MHC transfer vs cross-presentation differs markedly between different DC subsets.     

Specific mutation of a gammaherpesvirus-expressed antigen in response to CD8 T cell selection in vivo

Herpesviruses are thought to be highly genetically stable, and their use as vaccine vectors has been proposed. However, studies of the human gammaherpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus, have found viral isolates containing mutations in HLA class I-restricted epitopes. Using murine gammaherpesvirus 68 expressing ovalbumin (OVA), we examined the stability of a gammaherpesvirus antigenic locus under strong CD8 T cell selection in vivo. OVA-specific CD8 T cells selected viral isolates containing mutations in the OVA locus but minimal alterations in other genomic regions. Thus, a CD8 T cell response to a gammaherpesvirus-expressed antigen that is not essential for replication or pathogenesis can result in selective mutation of that antigen in vivo. This finding may have relevance for the use of herpesvirus vectors for chronic antigen expression in vivo.     

CD4-8- dendritic cells prime CD4+ T regulatory 1 cells to suppress antitumor immunity

It is clear that dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for priming of T cell responses against tumors. However, the distinct roles DC subsets play in regulation of T cell responses in vivo are largely undefined. In this study, we investigated the capacity of OVA-presenting CD4-8-, CD4+8-, or CD4-8+ DCs (OVA-pulsed DC (DC(OVA))) in stimulation of OVA-specific T cell responses. Our data show that each DC subset stimulated proliferation of allogeneic and autologous OVA-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro, but that the CD4-8- DCs did so only weakly. Both CD4+8- and CD4-8+ DC(OVA) induced strong tumor-specific CD4+ Th1 responses and fully protective CD8+ CTL-mediated antitumor immunity, whereas CD4-8- DC(OVA), which were less mature and secreted substantial TGF-beta upon coculture with TCR-transgenic OT II CD4+ T cells, induced the development of IL-10-secreting CD4+ T regulatory 1 (Tr1) cells. Transfer of these Tr1 cells, but not T cells from cocultures of CD4-8- DC(OVA) and IL-10-/- OT II CD4+ T cells, into CD4-8+ DC(OVA)-immunized animals abrogated otherwise inevitable development of antitumor immunity. Taken together, CD4-8- DCs stimulate development of IL-10-secreting CD4+ Tr1 cells that mediated immune suppression, whereas both CD4+8- and CD4-8+ DCs effectively primed animals for protective CD8+ CTL-mediated antitumor immunity.     

B subunit of Shiga toxin-based vaccines synergize with alpha-galactosylceramide to break tolerance against self antigen and elicit antiviral immunity

The nontoxic B subunit of Shiga toxin (STxB) targets in vivo Ag to dendritic cells that preferentially express the glycolipid Gb(3) receptor. After administration of STxB chemically coupled to OVA (STxB-OVA) or E7, a polypeptide derived from HPV, in mice, we showed that the addition of alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) resulted in a dramatic improvement of the STxB Ag delivery system, as reflected by the more powerful and longer lasting CD8(+) T cell response observed even at very low dose of immunogen (50 ng). This synergy was not found with other adjuvants (CpG, poly(I:C), IFN-alpha) also known to promote dendritic cell maturation. With respect to the possible mechanism explaining this synergy, mice immunized with alpha-GalCer presented in vivo the OVA(257-264)/K(b) complex more significantly and for longer period than mice vaccinated with STxB alone or mixed with other adjuvants. To test whether this vaccine could break tolerance against self Ag, OVA transgenic mice were immunized with STxB-OVA alone or mixed with alpha-GalCer. Although no CTL induction was observed after immunization of OVA transgenic mice with STxB-OVA, tetramer assay clearly detected specific anti-OVA CD8(+) T cells in 8 of 11 mice immunized with STxB-OVA combined with alpha-GalCer. In addition, vaccination with STxB-OVA and alpha-GalCer conferred strong protection against a challenge with vaccinia virus encoding OVA with virus titers in the ovaries reduced by 5 log compared with nonimmunized mice. STxB combined with alpha-GalCer therefore appears as a promising vaccine strategy to more successfully establish protective CD8(+) T cell memory against intracellular pathogens and tumors.     

A novel role of IL-15 in early activation of memory CD8+ CTL after reinfection

A rapid induction of effector functions in memory T cells provides rapid and intensified protection against reinfection. To determine potential roles of IL-15 in early expansion and activation of memory CD8+ T cells in secondary immune response, we examined the cell division and cytotoxicity of memory CD8+ T cells expressing OVA(257-264)/Kb-specific TCR that were transferred into IL-15-transgenic (Tg) mice, IL-15 knockout (KO) mice, or control C57BL/6 mice followed by challenge with recombinant Listeria monocytogenes expressing OVA (rLM-OVA). In vivo CTL activities and expression of granzyme B of the transferred CD8+ T cells were significantly higher in the IL-15 Tg mice but lower in the IL-15 KO mice than those in control mice at the early stage after challenge with rLM-OVA. In contrast, there was no difference in the cell division in IL-15 Tg mice and IL-15 KO mice compared with those in control mice. In vivo administration of rIL-15 conferred robust protection against reinfection via induction of granzyme B in the memory CD8+ T cells. These results suggest that IL-15 plays an important role in early activation of memory CD8+ T cells.     

Antigen chemically coupled to the surface of liposomes are cross-presented to CD8+ T cells and induce potent antitumor immunity

We have previously demonstrated that liposomes with differential lipid components display differential adjuvant effects when Ags are chemically coupled to their surfaces. In the present study, Ag presentation of liposome-coupled OVA was investigated in vitro, and it was found that OVA coupled to liposomes made using unsaturated fatty acid was presented to both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, whereas OVA coupled to liposomes made using saturated fatty acid was presented only to CD4+ T cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis demonstrated that a portion of the OVA coupled to liposomes made using unsaturated, but not saturated fatty acid, received processing beyond the MHC class II compartment, suggesting that the degradation of OVA might occur in the cytosol, and that the peptides generated in this manner would be presented to CD8+ T cells via MHC class I. The ability to induce cross-presentation of an Ag coupled to liposomes consisting of unsaturated fatty acid was further confirmed by in vivo induction of CTL and by the induction of tumor eradication in mice; E.G7 tumors in mice that received combined inoculation with OVA(257-264)-liposome conjugates, CpG, and anti-IL-10 mAbs were completely eradicated. In those mice, the frequency of CD8+ T cells reactive with OVA(257-264) peptides in the context of H-2K(b) was significantly increased. These results suggested that, by choosing lipid components for liposomes, surface-coupled liposomal Ags might be applicable for the development of tumor vaccines to present tumor Ags to APCs and induce antitumor responses.     

CD8 T cells inhibit IgE via dendritic cell IL-12 induction that promotes Th1 T cell counter-regulation.

Th1 and Th2 cells are counterinhibitory; their balance determines allergic sensitization. We show here that CD8 T cell subsets break these rules as both T cytotoxic (Tc)1 and Tc2 cells promote Th1 over Th2 immunity. Using IL-12(-/-), IFN-gamma(-/-), and OVA(257-264)-specific Valpha2Vbeta5 TCR-transgenic mice, we have identified the key steps involved. OVA-specific IFN-gamma(-/-) CD8 T cells inhibited IgE responses equivalent to wild-type CD8 T cells (up to 98% suppression), indicating that CD8 T cell-derived IFN-gamma was not required. However, OVA-specific CD8 T cells could not inhibit IgE in IFN-gamma(-/-) recipients unless reconstituted with naive, wild-type CD4 T cells, suggesting that CD4 T cell-derived IFN-gamma did play a role. Transfer of either Tc1 or Tc2 Valpha2Vbeta5 TCR-transgenic CD8 T cells inhibited IgE and OVA-specific Th2 cells while promoting OVA-specific Th1 cell responses, suggesting a potential role for a type 1 inducing cytokine such as IL-12. CD8 T cells were shown to induce IL-12 in OVA(257-264)-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. Furthermore, CD8 T cells were unable to inhibit IgE responses in IL-12(-/-) recipients without the addition of naive, wild-type DC, thus demonstrating a pivotal role for IL-12 in this mechanism. These data reveal a mechanism of IgE regulation in which CD8 T cells induce DC IL-12 by an IFN-gamma-independent process that subsequently induces Th1 and inhibits Th2 cells. Th1 cell IFN-gamma is the final step that inhibits B cell IgE class switching. This demonstrates a novel regulatory network through which CD8 T cells inhibit allergic sensitization.     

Novel exosome-targeted CD4+ T cell vaccine counteracting CD4+25+ regulatory T cell-mediated immune suppression and stimulating efficient central memory CD8+ CTL responses

T cell-to-T cell Ag presentation is increasingly attracting attention. In this study, we demonstrated that active CD4+ T (aT) cells with uptake of OVA-pulsed dendritic cell-derived exosome (EXO(OVA)) express exosomal peptide/MHC class I and costimulatory molecules. These EXO(OVA)-uptaken (targeted) CD4+ aT cells can stimulate CD8+ T cell proliferation and differentiation into central memory CD8+ CTLs and induce more efficient in vivo antitumor immunity and long-term CD8+ T cell memory responses than OVA-pulsed dendritic cells. They can also counteract CD4+25+ regulatory T cell-mediated suppression of in vitro CD8+ T cell proliferation and in vivo CD8+ CTL responses and antitumor immunity. We further elucidate that the EXO(OVA)-uptaken (targeted)CD4+ aT cell's stimulatory effect is mediated via its IL-2 secretion and acquired exosomal CD80 costimulation and is specifically delivered to CD8+ T cells in vivo via acquired exosomal peptide/MHC class I complexes. Therefore, EXO-targeted active CD4+ T cell vaccine may represent a novel and highly effective vaccine strategy for inducing immune responses against not only tumors, but also other infectious diseases.     

Antigen targeting to CD11b allows efficient presentation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes and in vivo Th1-polarized T cell priming

Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase (CyaA) is an invasive bacterial toxin that delivers its N-terminal catalytic domain into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells bearing the alpha(M)beta(2) integrin (CD11b/CD18), such as myeloid dendritic cells. This allows use of engineered CyaA for targeted delivery of CD8(+) T cell epitopes into the MHC class I pathway of APC and induction of robust and protective cytotoxic responses. In this study, we demonstrate that CyaA can efficiently codeliver both a CD8(+) T cell epitope (OVA(257-264)) and a CD4(+) T cell epitope (MalE(100-114)) into, respectively, the conventional cytosolic or endocytic routes of processing of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Upon CyaA delivery, a strong potentiation of the MalE(100-114) CD4(+) T cell epitope presentation is observed as compared with the MalE protein, which depends on CyaA interaction with its CD11b receptor and its subsequent clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In vivo, CyaA induces strong and specific Th1 CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses against, respectively, the MalE(100-114) and OVA(257-264) epitopes. These results underscore the potency of CyaA for design of new vaccines.     

Peptide-loaded dendritic cells prime and activate MHC-class I-restricted T cells more efficiently than protein-loaded cross-presenting DC

Undifferentiated and differentiated dendritic cells (uDC and dDC, respectively), derived from the bone marrow, were studied in vitro and in vivo. Ovalbumin (OVA) and two OVA-derived peptides binding to H-2K(b) and I-A(b), respectively, were used. Two IL-2 secreting T cell hybridomas specific for the OVA-derived epitopes were used in the in vitro read-out. The ability to cross-present the H-2K(b) binding OVA(257-264)-peptide (SIINFEKL) was restricted to dDC, which express CD11c(+), CD86(+), and MHC-II(+). In vitro, the antigenicity of SIINFEKL-loaded DC declined at a slower rate than that of OVA-pulsed DC. Moreover, SIINFEKL-loaded DC were up to 50 times more efficient than DC-pulsed with OVA-protein for generation of an H-2K(b)-restricted response. Immunization of mice with SIINFEKL-loaded DC resulted in a much stronger H-2K(b)-restricted response than immunization with OVA-pulsed DC. These data might have important implications for the choice of antigen source in the design of DC-based vaccines.     

MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic lymphocyte responses induced by enterotoxin-based mucosal adjuvants

The ability of enterotoxin-based mucosal adjuvants to induce CD8+ MHC class I-restricted CTL responses to a codelivered bystander Ag was examined. Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (LT), or derivatives of LT carrying mutations in the A subunit (LTR72, LTK63), were tested in parallel with cholera toxin (CT) or a fusion protein consisting of the A1 subunit of CT fused to the Ig binding domain of Staphylococcus aureus protein A (called CTA1-DD). Intranasal (i.n.) immunization of C57BL/6 mice with CT, CTA1-DD, LT, LTR72, LTK63, but not rLT-B, elicited MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cell responses to coadministered OVA or the OVA CTL peptide SIINFEKL (OVA257-264). CT, LT, and LTR72 also induced CTL responses to OVA after s.c. or oral coimmunization whereas LTK63 only activated responses after s.c. coimmunization. rLT-B was unable to adjuvant CTL responses to OVA or OVA257-264 administered by any route. Mice treated with an anti-CD4 mAb to deplete CD4+ T cells mounted significant OVA-specific CTL responses after i.n. coadministration of LT with OVA or OVA257-264. Both 51Cr release assays and IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assays indicated that IFN-gamma-/- and IL-12 p40-/- gene knockout mice developed CTL responses equivalent to those detected in normal C57BL/6 mice. The results highlight the versatility of toxin-based adjuvants and suggest that LT potentiates CTL responses independently of IL-12 and IFN-gamma and probably by a mechanism unrelated to cross-priming.     

嵌合型口蹄疫病毒样颗粒构建、表达及鉴定

为提高口蹄疫病毒(Foot-and-mouthdiseasevirus,FMDV)病毒样颗粒(Virus-likeparticles,VLPs)的特异性识别和递呈,为靶向疫苗研究奠定基础,利用反向PCR技术,将卵清蛋白(Ovalbumin,OVA)第257–264位氨基酸(Amino acids,aa)的短肽嵌入FMDV结构蛋白VP3第171–172位aa或第173–174位aa,通过大肠杆菌表达FMDV结构蛋白VP0、VP1和嵌合型VP3,体外组装得到嵌合OVA257-264肽的病毒样颗粒(VLPOVA)。用动态光散射、透射电镜检测VLPOVA大小和形态,免疫印迹、酶联免疫吸附试验和激光共聚焦显微镜检测短肽的嵌入情况。结果显示在VP3的第173–174位aa嵌入OVA,不影响蛋白表达和VLPs的组装且OVA位于VLPOVA的表面,VLPOVA粒径比VLPs稍大。     

CD8+ cytotoxic T-APC stimulate central memory CD8+ T cell responses via acquired peptide-MHC class I complexes and CD80 costimulation, and IL-2 secretion

We previously showed that naive CD4+ Th cells acquire peptide-MHC class I (pMHC I) and costimulatory molecules from OVA-pulsed dendritic cells (DC(OVA)), and act as Th-APCs in stimulation of CD8+ CTL responses. In this study, we further demonstrated that naive CD8+ cytotoxic T (Tc) cells also acquire pMHC I and costimulatory CD54 and CD80 molecules by DC(OVA) stimulation, and act as Tc-APC. These Tc-APC can play both negative and positive modulations in antitumor immune responses by eliminating DC(OVA) and neighboring Tc-APC, and stimulating OVA-specific CD8+ central memory T responses and antitumor immunity. Interestingly, the stimulatory effect of Tc-APC is mediated via its IL-2 secretion and acquired CD80 costimulation, and is specifically targeted to OVA-specific CD8+ T cells in vivo via its acquired pMHC I complexes. These principles could be applied to not only antitumor immunity, but also other immune disorders (e.g., autoimmunity).