DNA疫苗的分子佐剂应用研究进展

DNA疫苗因在动物尤其是大型动物与人类中诱发较低的免疫反应而严重影响其推广应用。介绍提高与调节DNA疫苗诱导反应的策略：（1）以细胞因子表达质控为佐剂;（2）以质粒编码的趋化因子与共刺激分子为佐剂;（3）以CPG ODN为佐剂。     

DNA疫苗的质粒型细胞因子佐剂

细胞因子是机体产生的一系列免疫效应和免疫调节蛋白。在近几年,质粒型细胞因子作为能增强DNA疫苗免疫应答的佐剂已引起了研究者广泛的关注。本文就细胞因子的生物学机制、T细胞分化和利用质粒型细胞因子佐剂优化DNA疫苗等方面的进展进行了讨论。     

免疫共刺激分子OX40L对乙型肝炎核酸疫苗的免疫佐剂作用

[目的]为了进一步增强HBV DNA疫苗的免疫反应,本研究将共刺激分子OX40L 作为HBV DNA疫苗的分子佐剂免疫小鼠,旨在探讨共刺激分子OX40L对HBV DNA疫苗诱导体液和细胞免疫应答的影响.[方法]我们将HBV DNA疫苗(pcDS2)单独或联合共刺激分子质粒pOX40L免疫C57BL/6小鼠;分别在第0,2,4周进行免疫,在第6周检测抗-HBs IgG、IgG1和IgG2a,T淋巴细胞增殖指数,细胞因子表达水平和体内细胞毒性T淋巴细胞杀伤作用(CTL)等免疫学指标.[结果]pceDS2联合pOX40L免疫组小鼠的抗-HBs水平显著提高,抗-HBs IgG亚类以IgG2a占优;免疫小鼠的T淋巴细胞体外经乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)刺激后,联合免疫组刺激指数(SI)明显高于pcDS2组;联合免疫组CD4 + T淋巴细胞的IL-4和IFN-γ表达水平及CD8 + T淋巴细胞的IFN-γ表达水平显著升高;DNA疫苗免疫的各组小鼠,HBsAg特异性体内CTL高于对照组,其中联合免疫组小鼠的体内CTL杀伤作用最强.[结论]共刺激分子OX40L不仅能增强HBV DNA疫苗诱导特异性体液免疫应答,还能增强特异性细胞免疫反应,尤其增强体内CTL的杀伤活性,为HBV DNA疫苗的研究奠定了基础.     

GM-CSF在登革热病毒和丙型肝炎病毒DNA疫苗诱导的免疫应答中的作用

研究GM-CSF在DV、HCV等几种黄病毒DNA疫苗诱导的免疫应答中的作用,并分析其作为黄病毒DNA疫苗佐剂的可能性。构建各种真核表达质粒,抽提质粒DNA,分组免疫小鼠,通过ELISA及间接免疫荧光染色检测小鼠血清抗体的动态水平。DV1及DV2prM/E核酸疫苗与GM-CSF质粒共接种的佐剂组小鼠血清抗体水平低于无佐剂的疫苗组,即GM-CSF显示了一定的免疫抑制作用,其中以DV1prM/E核酸疫苗更为显著;而在HCVC及E1蛋白核酸疫苗中,GM-CSF则具有一定免疫增强作用。GM-CSF作为疫苗佐剂,其作用具有复杂的多样性,因抗原的不同可能会呈现免疫提升或免疫抑制,因此选择其作为核酸疫苗佐剂时需慎重。     

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。     

超抗原SEA增强小鼠对HBV DNA 疫苗的免疫反应

观察超抗原SEA(D227A)的真核表达载体（pmSEA）, 对HBV DNA 疫苗诱导Balb/c 小鼠(H2d）免疫应答的调节作用。 肌内注射空载体pcDNA3、HBV DNA 疫苗加pmSEA佐剂（pHBVS2S+pmSEA）或不加佐剂（pHBVS2S）; ELISA 法测定血清抗HBs; ELISPOT检测分泌IFN-γ的脾淋巴细胞;4 h51Cr 释放法检测小鼠脾细胞CTL 活性。HBV DNA佐剂组免疫小鼠抗HBsAg抗体滴度明显高于不加佐剂组,其IgG1/IgG2a的比例不同于多肽免疫组,二者分别为0.282与10。HBV DNA佐剂组均能增强IgG1和IgG2a的产生,是不加佐剂组的1.36、1.73倍。佐剂组小鼠脾淋巴细胞IFN-γ的分泌量是不加佐剂组2～3倍。CTL 细胞杀伤活性（E:T=100）佐剂组与不加佐剂组分别为：69.77%±7.5%、 42.81%±7.7%,差异显著(P<0.05)。HBV DNA 疫苗具有较强的免疫原性, 能够诱导机体产生特异性的抗体及CTL反应;pmSEA佐剂能够提高小鼠对DNA 疫苗的免疫应答,有望成为DNA 疫苗的免疫佐剂。     

靶向鼻腔树突细胞的F1t3配体作佐剂激发抗致死性肺炎球菌性肺炎保护

作者以往的研究证明以肺炎球菌表面蛋白A（PspA）为基础的疫苗含有编码Flt3配体（FL）基因的DNA质粒（pFL）,这种DNA质粒可作为一种鼻腔佐剂,该疫苗能够预防肺炎链球菌在鼻腔的定植。在本项研究中,作者进一步研究了这种鼻腔投递疫苗在小鼠模型中诱导抗肺炎链球菌肺部感染的PspA特异性抗体应答的有效性及安全性,C57BL／6小鼠鼻腔免疫重组PspA／Rxl（rPspA）加pFL,免疫3次,间隔1周。     

免疫刺激复合物(ISCOM)介导的传染性法氏囊病病毒多聚蛋白基因免疫的研究

将传染性法氏囊病病毒（IBDV）ZJ2000株的多聚蛋白（VP2／VP4／VP3）基因插入pCI质粒的CMV启动子下游,构建了真核表达质粒pCI-VP2/VP4/VP3,在Lipofectin介导下转染Vero细胞进行了多聚蛋白的瞬时表达。以免疫刺激复合物（ISCOM）为佐剂制备DNA疫苗,进行不同免疫剂量间、不同免疫途径间、一次免疫和二次免疫间的效果对比试验。结果表明：以肌内和皮内联合免疫法效果最好,而口服和点眼等途径未能诱导足够的免疫反应;大于200μg的剂量DNA疫苗才能产生良好的免疫力;二次免疫的效果明显优于一次免疫。与常规的弱毒疫苗B87和D78相比,DNA疫苗产生中和抗体的潜伏期长、效价相对较低,对强毒攻击的保护率相当。本试验还证实,免疫刺激复合物具有明显提高DNA疫苗免疫效果的作用。DNA疫苗能诱导产生保护性反应,为今后IBD疫苗的研究开创了一条新的途径。     

DNA疫苗佐剂研究进展

DNA疫苗在免疫应答中能诱导机体产生持久的体液免疫和细胞免疫,然而DNA疫苗刺激机体免疫应答能力往往比常规疫苗引起的免疫反应弱。最近研究表明:使用DNA疫苗佐剂如细胞因子、CpGODN、补体C3d等有助于提高DNA疫苗的免疫效价。就DNA疫苗佐剂的研究进展做一综述。     

靶向鼻腔树突细胞的Flt3配体作佐剂激发抗致死性肺炎球菌性肺炎保护

<正>作者以往的研究证明以肺炎球菌表面蛋白A(PspA)为基础的疫苗含有编码Flt3配体(FL)基因的DNA质粒(pFL),这种DNA质粒可作为一种鼻腔佐剂,该疫苗能够预防肺炎链球菌在鼻腔的定植。在本项研究中,作者进一步研究了这种鼻腔投递疫     

Induction of specific human primary immune responses to a Semliki Forest virus–based tumor vaccine in a Trimera mouse model

Recombinant Semliki Forest virus (rSFV) enables high-level, transient expression of heterologous proteins in vivo, and is believed to be a superior vector for genetic vaccination, compared with the conventional DNA plasmid. Nonetheless, the efficacy of rSFV-based vaccine in eliciting human immune responses has not been tested. We used a Trimera mouse model, consisting of lethally irradiated BALB/c host reconstituted with nonobese diabetes/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) bone marrow plus human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), to characterize the in vivo immune responses against rSFV-encoded human melanoma antigen MAGE-3. MAGE-3–specific antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity were detected by ELISA and ⁵¹Cr-release assay, respectively, and the responses were compared with those induced by a plasmid DNA vaccine encoding the same antigen. The results showed that rSFV vaccine could elicit human MAGE-3–specific antibody and CTL response in the Trimera mice, and the antitumor responses were more potent than those by plasmid DNA vaccination. This is the first report to evaluate human immune responses to an rSFV-based tumor vaccine in the Trimera mouse model. Our data suggest that rSFV vector is better than DNA plasmid in inducing protective immunity, and the Trimera model may serve as a general tool to evaluate the efficacy of tumor vaccines in eliciting human primary immune response in vivo.     

Plasmid DNA vaccine encoding prostatic acid phosphatase is effective in eliciting autologous antigen-specific CD8+ T cells

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is a prostate cancer tumor antigen and a prostate-specific protein shared by rats and humans. Previous studies indicated that Copenhagen rats immunized with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing human PAP (hPAP) developed PAP-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) with cross reactivity to rat PAP (rPAP) and evidence of prostate inflammation. Viral delivery of vaccine antigens is an active area of clinical investigation. However, a potential difficulty with viral-based immunizations is that immune responses elicited to the viral vector might limit the possibility of multiple immunizations. In this paper, we investigate the ability of another genetic immunization method, a DNA vaccine encoding PAP, to elicit antigen-specific CD8+ T cell immune responses. Specifically, Lewis rats were immunized with either a plasmid DNA-based (pTVG-HP) or vaccinia-based (VV-HP) vaccine each encoding hPAP. We determined that rats immunized with a DNA vaccine encoding hPAP developed a Th1-biased immune response as indicated by proliferating PAP-specific CD4+ and CD8+ cells and IFNγ production. Rats immunized with vaccinia virus encoding PAP did not develop a PAP-specific response unless boosted with a heterologous vaccination scheme. Most importantly, multiple immunizations with a DNA vaccine encoding the rat PAP homologue (pTVG-RP) could overcome peripheral self-tolerance against rPAP and generate a Th1-biased antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response. Overall, DNA vaccines provide a safe and effective method of generating prostate antigen-specific T cell responses. These findings support the investigation of PAP-specific DNA vaccines in human clinical trials.     

The opposing effects of lipopolysaccharide on the antitumor therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccine

DNA vaccine represents a novel method to elicit immunity against infectious disease. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) copurified with plasmid DNA may affect therapeutic efficacy and immunological response. We aimed to study the effect of LPS on the therapeutic efficacy of HER-2/neu DNA vaccine in a mouse tumor animal model. Plasmid DNA purified from commercial EndoFree plasmid purification kits functioned as a better therapeutic DNA vaccine than that purified from Non-EndoFree purification kit, which contains >or=0.5 microg LPS per 100 mg DNA plasmid. To further investigate the effect of LPS on the therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccine, increasing amount of LPS was added to endotoxin-free plasmid DNA, and inoculated on mice with established tumors. One mug of LPS significantly attenuated the therapeutic effect of neu DNA vaccine and increased Th2 immune responses bias with interleukin-4 cytokine production. In contrast, high amount (100 microg) of LPS enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of neu DNA vaccine with an increase of cytotoxic T lymphocyte response and Th1 immune response. The effect of LPS on DNA vaccine was diminished when the tumor was grown in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mutant C3H/HeJ mice. Our results indicate that variation in the LPS doses exerts opposing effects on the therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccine, and the observed effect is TLR4 dependent.     

Improved cellular immune response elicited by a ubiquitin-fused ESAT-6 DNA vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The present study evaluated the immune response elicited by a ubiquitin-fused ESAT-6 DNA vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BALB/c mice were vaccinated with plasmid DNA encoding ESAT-6 protein, ubiquitin-fused ESAT-6 DNA vaccine (UbGR-ESAT-6), pcDNA3-ubiquitin and blank vector, respectively. ESAT-6 DNA vaccine immunization induced a Thl-polarized immune response. The production of Thl-type cytokine (IFN-γ) and proliferative T-cell responses was enhanced significantly in mice immunized with UbGR-ESAT-6 fusion DNA vaccine, compared to non-fusion DNA vaccine. This fusion DNA vaccine also resulted in an increased relative ratio of IgG_2a to IgG_l and the cytotoxicity of T cells. Thus, the present study demonstrated that the UbGR-ESAT-6 fusion DNA vaccine inoculation improved antigen-specific cellular immune responses, which is helpful for protection against tuberculosis infection.     

Construction of an encapsulated ESAT-6-based anti-TB DNA vaccine and evaluation of its immunogenic properties

Experimental preparations based on a DNA vaccine encoding the ESAT-6 antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been obtained (KpONE6) and studied for immunogenic effects in the murine model. The core of the preparation contains DNA of the recombinant plasmid pONE6 encapsulated within a spermidine-polyglucin conjugate, thereby protecting the DNA vaccine from degradation. KpONE6 induces a proliferative T-cell immune response in mice upon intramuscular immunization.     

DNA immunization with a plasmid carrying the gene of hepatitis C virus protein 5A (NS5A) induces an effective cellular immune response

In spite of extensive research, no effective vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been developed so far. DNA immunization is a potent technique of vaccine design strongly promoting the cellular arm of immune response. The genes encoding nonstructural HCV proteins (NS2-NS5B) are promising candidates for vaccine development. NS5A is a protein involved in viral pathogenesis, in the induction of immune response, and probably in viral resistance to interferon treatment. The objective of this study was to construct a DNA vaccine encoding NS5A protein and evaluate its immunogenicity. A plasmid encoding a full-size NS5A protein was produced using the pcDNA3.1 (+) vector for eukaryotic expression system. The expression of the NS5A gene was confirmed by immunoperoxidase staining of the transfected eukaryotic cells with anti- NS5A monoclonal antibodies. Triple immunization of mice with the plasmid vaccine induced a pronounced cellular immune response against a broad spectrum of NS5A epitopes as assessed by T-cell proliferation and secretion of antiviral cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2. In T-cell stimulation in vitro experiments, NS5A-derived antigens were modeled by synthetic peptides, recombinant proteins of various genotypes, and phages carrying exposed NS5A peptides. A novel immunomodulator Immunomax showed high adjuvant activity in DNA immunization. The data obtained indicate that the suggested DNA construct has a strong potential in the development of the gene vaccines against hepatitis C.     

Improved cellular immune response elicited by a ubiquitin-fused DNA vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study evaluated the immune response elicited by a ubiquitin (Ub)-fused MPT64 DNA vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BALB/c mice were vaccinated with plasmid DNA encoding MPT64 protein, Ub-fused MPT64 DNA vaccine (UbGR-MPT64), and negative DNA vaccines, respectively. MPT64 DNA vaccine immunization induced a Thl-polarized immune response. The production of Thl-type cytokine (interferon-gamma [IFN-γ]) and proliferative T cell responses were enhanced significantly in mice immunized with UbGR-MPT64 fusion DNA vaccine, compared with nonfusion DNA vaccine. Moreover, this fusion DNA vaccine also resulted in an increased relative ratio of IgG2a to IgGl and the cytotoxicity of T cells. IFN-γ intracellular staining of splenocytes indicated that UbGR-mpt64 fusion DNA vaccine activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, particularly CD8+ T cells. Thus, this study demonstrated that the UbGR-MPT64 fusion DNA vaccine inoculation could improve antigen-specific cellular immune responses, which is helpful for protection against TB.     

Effective immunotherapy of cancer by DNA vaccination.

Direct injection of naked plasmid DNA either intramuscularly or intradermally induces strong, long-lived cell-mediated and humoral immune responses to the antigen encoded by the gene vaccine. In the present study, we used gene vaccination with naked plasmid DNA to induce prophylactic immune responses to tumor associated antigens. MAGE-1 (melanoma antigen 1) is an ideal candidate for cancer vaccines because it belongs to a family of genes that are expressed in a number of human tumors of various histological types but not in normal adult tissues except for the testis, and because both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against MAGE-1 antigen were detected in tumor patients. Intradermal administration of plasmid DNA encoding MAGE-1 (pcMAGE1) induced anti-MAGE-1-specific antibody in BALB/c mice. In contrast, no detectable level of anti-MAGE-1 antibody was induced by intramuscular injection of pcMAGE1. Also, intradermal injection of pcMAGE1 was capable of generating CTLs reactive with MAGE-1-transfected murine tumor cells, M-MSV-MAGE1. Most of the mice (8 out of 10) immunized with pcMAGE1 rejected the challenge of M-MSV-MAGE1 tumor cells, compared with control animals most of which developed tumors. This suggests that intradermal DNA vaccination could provide a novel immunotherapy of cancer.     

人白细胞介素12表达质粒与Mtb8.4基因疫苗 联合免疫增强对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果

本课题旨在研究结核分枝杆菌Mtb8.4基因疫苗与人白细胞介素12（hIL-12）联合免疫小鼠所诱导的细胞免疫应答及对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。40只C57BL/6N小鼠随机分为Mtb8.4基因疫苗＋hIL-12质粒组（联合免疫组）、Mtb8.4基因疫苗组、卡介苗（BCG）组、空载体组和PBS组,基因疫苗、空载体和PBS,经肌内注射法免疫各组小鼠,每隔3周免疫1次,共免疫3次,BCG组经尾部皮下注射1×106 CFU BCG免疫1次。免疫4周后,每组处死3只小鼠,采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测脾细胞培养上清中细胞因子水平;乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）释放法检测细胞毒性T细胞（CTL）杀伤活性。每组其余5只小鼠用结核杆菌H37Rv强毒株经尾静脉攻击,4周后,计数肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数,对小鼠部分肺和脾组织作病理切片,HE染色观察组织病变程度,Z-N染色查抗酸杆菌,观察该疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。结果显示,联合免疫组能诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,免疫小鼠脾细胞培养上清液IFN-γ和IL-2水平（分别为1493.34±8.128pg/mL、747.489±48.676pg/mL）,显著高于Mtb8.4基因疫苗组,与BCG组相当,IL-4分泌减少,特异性CTL杀伤活性增强,对小鼠结核杆菌感染有较好的免疫保护效果,使小鼠肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数显著减少,组织病变明显减轻,其效果与卡介苗（BCG）组相当,优于Mtb8.4基因疫苗组。表明hIL-12表达质粒与Mtb8.4基因疫苗联合免疫后,能够增强Mtb8.4基因疫苗所诱导的细胞免疫应答,使Mtb8.4基因疫苗的免疫效力得到很大提高。