Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha expression plasmid enhances DNA vaccine-induced immune responses against HSV-2

In this study, we examined the effectiveness of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha cDNA as a HSV-2 DNA vaccine adjuvant. pcDNA3-gD (pgD) and pcDNA3-MIP-1alpha (pMIP-1alpha) were co-injected to examine the modulatory effects of MIP-1alpha on immune phenotype and protection against lethal challenge with HSV-2. We found that Th-cell proliferative responses were dramatically enhanced by co-injection of pgD and pMIP-1alpha compared with injection of pgD alone. The secretion of IL-2 and IFN-gamma was also significantly increased by pgD and pMIP-1alpha co-injection; however, the production of cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 was not affected by co-injection. pgD and pMIP-1alpha co-injection resulted in a moderate enhancement of systemic gD-specific antibody level, but mucosal secretory IgA was markedly enhanced. When BALB/c mice were challenged intravaginally with 100 LD50 of HSV-2 strain Sav, pMIP-1alpha co-injection with pgD improved their survival rate and significantly reduced both the number of mice with lesions and the lesion severity. Therefore, MIP-1alpha cDNA as a HSV-2 DNA vaccine adjuvant drives antigen-specific Th1-type responses, reducing HSV-2-derived morbidity and mortality.     

A lentiviral vector-based, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B vaccine affords cross-protection against HSV-1 and HSV-2 genital infections

Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, and its incidence is constantly increasing in the human population. Regardless of the clinical manifestation, HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections are highly transmissible to sexual partners and enhance susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infections. An effective vaccine is not yet available. Here, HSV-1 glycoprotein B (gB1) was delivered by a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vector and tested against HSV-1 and HSV-2 vaginal challenges in C57BL/6 mice. The gB1 vaccine elicited cross-neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated responses that protected 100 and 75% animals from HSV-1- and HSV-2-associated severe disease, respectively. Two of the eight fully protected vaccinees underwent subclinical HSV-2 infection, as demonstrated by deep immunosuppression and other analyses. Finally, vaccination prevented death in 83% of the animals challenged with a HSV-2 dose that killed 78 and 100% naive and mock-vaccinated controls, respectively. Since this FIV vector can accommodate two or more HSV immunogens, this vaccine has ample potential for improvement and may become a candidate for the development of a truly effective vaccine against genital herpes.     

Virus-encoded b7-2 costimulation molecules enhance the protective capacity of a replication-defective herpes simplex virus type 2 vaccine in immunocompetent mice

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and, to a lesser extent, HSV-1 cause the majority of sexually transmitted genital ulcerative disease. No effective prophylactic vaccine is currently available. Replication-defective HSV stimulates immune responses in animals but produces no progeny virus, making it potentially useful as a safe form of live vaccine against HSV. Because it does not replicate and spread in the host, however, replication-defective virus may have relatively limited capacity to solicit professional antigen presentation. We previously demonstrated that in mice devoid of B7-1 and B7-2 costimulation molecules, replication-defective HSV-2 encoding B7-1 or B7-2 induces stronger immune responses and protection against HSV-2 challenge than immunization with replication-defective virus alone. Here, we vaccinated wild-type mice fully competent to express endogenous B7 costimulation molecules with replication-defective HSV-2 or replication-defective virus encoding B7-2 and compared their capacities to protect against vaginal HSV-2 infection and disease. Replication-defective virus encoding B7-2 induced more IFN-γ-producing CD4 T cells than did replication-defective virus alone. Immunization with B7-2-expressing virus decreased challenge virus replication in the vaginal mucosa, genital and neurological disease, and mortality more effectively than did immunization with the parental replication-defective virus. Prior immunization with B7-expressing, replication-defective virus also effectively suppressed infection of the nervous system compared to immunization with the parental virus. Thus, B7 costimulation molecules expressed at the site of HSV infection can enhance vaccine efficacy even in a fully immunocompetent host.     

Requirement of B7 costimulation for Th1-mediated inflammatory bone resorption in experimental periodontal disease

The CD28 costimulation at TCR signaling plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the T cell response. To elucidate the role of T cells in periodontal disease, a system of cell transfer with TCR/CD28-dependent Th1 or Th2 clones was developed in rats. Gingival injection of specific Ag, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans 29-kDa outer membrane protein, and LPS could induce local bone resorption 10 days after the transfer of Ag-specific Th1 clone cells, but not after transfer of Th2 clone cells. Interestingly, the presence of LPS was required not only for the induction of bone resorption but also for Ag-specific IgG2a production. LPS injection elicited the induction of expression of both B7-1 and B7-2 expression on gingival macrophages, which otherwise expressed only MHC class II when animals were injected with Ag alone. The expression of B7 molecules was observed for up to 3 days, which corresponded to the duration of retention of T clone cells in gingival tissues. Either local or systemic administration of CTLA4Ig, a functional antagonist of CD28 binding to B7, could abrogate the bone resorption induced by Th1 clone cells combined with gingival challenge with both Ag and LPS. These results suggest that local Ag-specific activation of Th1-type T cells by B7 costimulation appeared to trigger inflammatory bone resorption, whereas inhibition of B7 expression by CTLA4Ig might be a therapeutic approach for intervention with inflammatory bone resorption.     

Autoantibody responses and pathology regulated by B7-1 and B7-2 costimulation in MRL/lpr lupus

The activation of T lymphocytes requires both Ag-mediated signaling through the TCR as well as costimulatory signals transmitted through B7-1 and/or B7-2 with CD28. The interference of B7-mediated costimulatory signals has been proposed as one immunotherapeutic intervention for the prevention autoimmune disease. This study has examined autoantibody responses and autoimmune pathology in a murine model of human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse, genetically deficient in B7-1 or B7-2, or in mice treated with B7-1/B7-2 blocking Abs. In contrast to other studies of murine models of SLE, MRL-lpr/lpr mice treated with B7 blocking Abs exhibit strong anti-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) and anti-DNA autoantibody responses with some changes in isotype switching as compared with untreated animals. All MRL-lpr/lpr mice deficient in B7-1 or B7-2 produce anti-snRNP and anti-DNA titers with isotypes virtually identical with wild-type animals. However, the absence of B7-2 costimulation did interfere with the spontaneous activation and the accumulation of memory CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes characteristic of wild-type MRL-lpr/lpr mice. IgG and C3 complement deposition was less pronounced in the kidneys of B7-2 deficient MRL-lpr/lpr mice, reflecting their lessor degree of glomerulonephritis. By comparison, B7-1-deficient MRL-lpr/lpr mice had more severe IgG and C3 deposits in glomeruli.     

B7 costimulation plays an important role in protection from herpes simplex virus type 2-mediated pathology

We have used mice lacking both B7-1 and B7-2 costimulation molecules (B7KO) to investigate the effects of B7 costimulation on herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) pathogenesis. B7KO mice infected intravaginally with virulent HSV-2 showed more severe genital and neurologic disease and higher mortality rates than their wild-type counterparts. These results suggest that B7 costimulation molecules play an important role in the development of primary immune responses protective against HSV-2.     

Break of neonatal Th1 tolerance and exacerbation of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by interference with B7 costimulation

Ig-PLP1 is an Ig chimera expressing proteolipid protein-1 (PLP1) peptide corresponding to aa residues 139-151 of PLP. Newborn mice given Ig-PLP1 in saline on the day of birth and challenged 7 wk later with PLP1 peptide in CFA develop an organ-specific neonatal immunity that confers resistance against experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. The T cell responses in these animals comprise Th2 cells in the lymph node and anergic Th1 lymphocytes in the spleen. Intriguingly, the anergic splenic T cells, although nonproliferative and unable to produce IFN-gamma or IL-4, secrete significant amounts of IL-2. In this work, studies were performed to determine whether costimulation through B7 molecules plays any role in the unusual form of splenic Th1 anergy. The results show that engagement of either B7.1 or B7.2 with anti-B7 Abs during induction of EAE in adult mice that were neonatally tolerized with Ig-PLP1 restores and exacerbates disease severity. At the cellular level, the anergic splenic T cells regain the ability to proliferate and produce IFN-gamma when stimulated with Ag in the presence of either anti-B7.1 or anti-B7.2 Ab. However, such restoration was abolished when both B7.1 and B7.2 molecules were engaged simultaneously, indicating that costimulation is necessary for reactivation. Surprisingly, both anti-B7.1 and anti-B7.2 Abs triggered splenic dendritic cells to produce IL-12, a key cytokine required for restoration of the anergic T cells. Thus, recovery from neonatally induced T cell anergy requires B7 molecules to serve double functions, namely, costimulation and induction of cytokine production by APCs.     

Differential regulatory effects of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on costimulation by the CD28 counter-receptor B7.

Although ligation of the CD3/TCR complex initiates an activation signal in T cells, additional costimulatory signals generated during cell-to-cell interactions with APC transduced via ligation of CD11a/CD18 and CD28 by their specific counter-receptor intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and B7, respectively, are required for optimal T cell proliferation and cytokine synthesis. Using soluble IgC gamma 1 fusion proteins of these costimulatory counter-receptors, we have recently shown that unactivated resting CD4+ T cells and Ag-primed CD4+ T cells differ in their response to the costimulation by ICAM-1 and B7. Preferential proliferative responses of resting T and Ag-primed T cells to ICAM-1 and B7, respectively, prompted us to speculate that ICAM-1-induced signals may regulate coupling of the CD28 signaling pathway. Furthermore, both B7 and ICAM-1 are co-expressed on APC and thus, may co-regulate activation-driven maturation of T cells. In this study, we have examined regulatory effects of IgC gamma 1 fusion proteins of B7, ICAM-1, and ICAM-2 (a homologue of ICAM-1) on each other's costimulation. We first demonstrate that TCR-directed costimulation of resting CD4+ T cells with ICAM-1 (ICAM-1 priming) but not ICAM-2 induces increased responsiveness to B7. Priming of CD4+ T cells with ICAM-1 induced higher expression of both CD18 and CD28 than that with either B7 or ICAM-2. Cross-linking of CD28 induced faster and significantly higher cytoplasmic free calcium mobilization response in ICAM-1-primed CD4+ T cells than in resting, B7-primed, or ICAM-2-primed CD4+ T cells. B7 synergized with ICAM-1 but not ICAM-2 to augment proliferative responses of not only resting CD4+ T cells but also those that had been primed with either ICAM. Unlike resting or ICAM-2-primed CD4+ T cells, ICAM-1-primed CD4+ T cells efficiently proliferated in response to the synergistic costimulation of B7 and ICAM-2. In contrast, both ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 inhibit B7-driven proliferation of Ag-primed CD4+ T cells. Thus, B7 and ICAM-1 exert contrasting regulatory effects on the proliferation of CD4+ T cells depending on their state of activation-induced maturation.     

Adjuvant can improve protection induced by OMV vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups B/C in neonatal mice

Meningococcal outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines are weak antigens in infants. This study aimed at investigating alternative adjuvants for induction of functional antibodies in newborn mice. Serogroup B/C anti-meningococcal vaccines, consisting of capsular polysaccharide from serogroup C (PSC) conjugated to OMV from one serogroup B serosubtype prevalent in Brazil, combined with OMV from another prevalent serosubtype, were tested in newborn and adult mice with the following adjuvants: aluminum hydroxide, MPL (monophosphoryl lipid A), Titermax and MF59. Total IgG, IgG avidity index determination and bactericidal assay were performed with sera from immunized mice. Antibodies induced against PSC in newborn mice showed avidity and bactericidal titers, similar to those obtained in adult mice, independently of the adjuvant. Evidence is presented that the inclusion of MF59 enhanced the immune response against OMV in newborn mice.     

Viral interference with B7-1 costimulation: a new role for murine cytomegalovirus fc receptor-1

Murine CMV (MCMV), a beta-herpesvirus, infects dendritic cells (DC) and impairs their function. The underlying events are poorly described. In this study, we identify MCMV m138 as the viral gene responsible for promoting the rapid disappearance of the costimulatory molecule B7-1 (CD80) from the cell surface of DC. This was unexpected, as m138 was previously identified as fcr-1, a putative virus-encoded FcR. m138 impaired the ability of DC to activate CD8+ T cells. Biochemical analysis and immunocytochemistry showed that m138 targets B7-1 in the secretory pathway and reroutes it to lysosomal associated membrane glycoprotein-1+ compartments. These results show a novel function for m138 in MCMV infection and identify the first viral protein to target B7-1.     

The roles of MHC class II, CD40, and B7 costimulation in CTL induction by plasmid DNA

DNA-based vaccines generate potent CTL responses. The mechanism of T cell stimulation has been attributed to plasmid-transfected dendritic cells. These cells have also been shown to express plasmid-encoded proteins and to become activated by surface marker up-regulation. However, the increased surface expression of CD40 and B7 on these dendritic cells is insufficient to overcome the need for MHC class II-restricted CD4(+) T cell help in the priming of a CTL response. In this study, MHC class II(-/-) mice were unable to generate a CTL response following DNA immunization. This deficit in CTL stimulation by MHC class II-deficient mice was only modestly restored with CD40-activating Ab, suggesting that there were other elements provided by MHC class II-restricted T cell help for CTL induction. CTL activity was also augmented by coinjection with a vector encoding the costimulatory ligand B7.1, but not B7.2. These data indicate that dendritic cells in plasmid DNA-injected mice require conditioning signals from MHC class II-restricted T cells that are both CD40 dependent and independent and that there are different roles for costimulatory molecules that may be involved in inducing optimal CTL activity.     

IL-17 is a critical component of vaccine-induced protection against lung infection by lipopolysaccharide-heterologous strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In a murine model of acute fatal pneumonia, we previously showed that nasal immunization with a live-attenuated aroA deletant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 elicited LPS serogroup-specific protection, indicating that opsonic Ab to the LPS O Ag was the most important immune effector. Because P. aeruginosa strain PA14 possesses additional virulence factors, we hypothesized that a live-attenuated vaccine based on PA14 might elicit a broader array of immune effectors. Thus, an aroA deletant of PA14, denoted PA14DeltaaroA, was constructed. PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice were protected against lethal pneumonia caused not only by the parental strain but also by cytotoxic variants of the O Ag-heterologous P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PAO6a,d. Remarkably, serum from PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice had very low levels of opsonic activity against strain PAO1 and could not passively transfer protection, suggesting that an antibody-independent mechanism was needed for the observed cross-serogroup protection. Compared with control mice, PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice had more rapid recruitment of neutrophils to the airways early after challenge. T cells isolated from P. aeruginosa DeltaaroA-immunized mice proliferated and produced IL-17 in high quantities after coculture with gentamicin-killed P. aeruginosa. Six hours following challenge, PA14DeltaaroA-immunized mice had significantly higher levels of IL-17 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with unimmunized, Escherichia coli-immunized, or PAO1DeltaaroA-immunized mice. Antibody-mediated depletion of IL-17 before challenge or absence of the IL-17 receptor abrogated the PA14DeltaaroA vaccine's protection against lethal pneumonia. These data show that IL-17 plays a critical role in antibody-independent vaccine-induced protection against LPS-heterologous strains of P. aeruginosa in the lung.     

Immune Checkpoints of the B7 Family. Part 1. General Characteristics and First Representatives: B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, B7-H2, and B7-DC

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - T-cell response along with humoral response compose the basis of acquired immunity. Effective activation of T lymphocytes requires at least two signals....     

Lack of B7-1 and B7-2 costimulatory molecules modulates the severity of group B Streptococcus-induced arthritis

Group B streptococci have long been known as a leading cause of life-threatening infection in neonates, young infants and pregnant women, and recently have been recognized as an ever-growing cause of serious invasive infections in nonpregnant adults. B7-1 and B7-2 are two molecules with immunoregulatory functions implicated in the differentiation of T cells. The present study examined the role of B7-1 and B7-2 during group B streptococci-induced sepsis and arthritis. B7-1- or B7-2-deficient mice were infected with 1 × 10⁷ streptococci, and mortality, appearance of arthritis, growth of microorganisms in the organs and cytokine profile were assessed. Lack of B7-1 was associated with amelioration of arthritis, while worsening of articular lesions was found in B7-2 deficient mice, in comparison to controls. Amelioration of arthritis in B7-1 deficient mice was accompanied by a lower local production of IL-1 β and IL-18, and increase in IL-4 and IL-10 secretion. On the contrary, B7-2 deficient mice showed an higher proinflammatory cytokine production and lower IL-10 secretion than controls. Taken together, our results provide evidence that signaling delivered by B7-1 and B7-2 plays a role in determining the outcome of group B streptococcal induced arthritis, likely due to the different local secretory pattern.     

In vitro co-stimulation of anti-tumor activity by soluble B7 molecules

In order to investigate the anti-tumor activity of a soluble B7-1/immunoglobulin G fusion protein and explore an effective method to eliminate immune escape of tumor cells, a recombinant vector encoding this fusion protein was constructed and constitutively expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. After purification with protein G affinity chromatography, the soluble fusion protein was tested for bioactivity. Results showed that the fusion protein could significantly increase the density of B7-1 molecules on WEHI-3 cells, a mouse leukemia cell line. Through allogeneic mixed lymphocyte tumor cultures, it was demonstrated that, with the presence of the first signal, it could also significantly enhance T cell activation and killing activity against WEHI-3 cells and interleukin-2 secretion by activated mouse T lymphocytes. The conclusion can be drawn that the soluble B7-IgG fusion protein has a potent capacity to generate or enhance anti-tumor immune response in vitro, and its clinical value deserves further investigation.     

Dysregulated B7-1 and B7-2 expression on nonobese diabetic mouse B cells is associated with increased T cell costimulation and the development of insulitis

Little is known about the pathogenic role of B cell dysfunction in T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. We previously reported that B cell hyper-responsiveness, resistance to apoptosis, and accumulation in islets occur during the onset of insulitis, but not in type 1 diabetes (T1D), in NOD mice. In this study we extended these studies to further determine how islet-infiltrated B cells contribute to this inflammatory insulitis. We demonstrate the presence of an increased percentage of B7-1(+) and a decreased percentage of B7-2(+) B cells in the spleen of autoimmune disease-prone NOD and nonobese diabetes-resistant mice compared with the spleen of nonautoimmune disease-prone C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. An age-dependent differential expression of B7-1 and B7-2 was associated with the development of insulitis and CD4(+)CD25(+) T cell deficiency in autoimmune disease-prone mice. Whereas BCR and LPS stimulation increased B7-2 expression on B cells from autoimmune disease-prone and nonautoimmune disease-prone mice, LPS-induced B7-1 expression was higher on NOD than C57BL/6 B cells. Interestingly, increased expression of B7-1 and B7-2 was found on islet-infiltrated B cells, and this increase was associated with enhanced T cell costimulation. Islet-infiltrated B cells were shown to be a source of TNF-alpha production in islets. B7 blockade of BCR-stimulated NOD B cells by anti-B7-1 and anti-B7-2 mAbs during coadoptive transfer with diabetogenic T cells into NOD.scid mice protected these recipients from T1D. These results suggest that increased B7-1 and B7-2 expression on islet-infiltrated NOD B cells is associated with increased T cell costimulation and the development of inflammatory insulitis in NOD mice.     

Modulation of NKT cell development by B7-CD28 interaction: an expanding horizon for costimulation

It has been demonstrated that the development of NKT cells requires CD1d. The contribution of costimulatory molecules in this process has not been studied. Here we show that in mice with targeted mutations of B7-1/2 and CD28, the TCRbeta(+)alpha-Galcer/CD1d(+) (iValpha14 NKT) subset is significantly reduced in the thymus, spleen and liver. This is mainly due to decreased cell proliferation; although increased cell death in the thymi of CD28-deficient mice was also observed. Moreover, in the B7-1/2- and CD28-deficient mice, we found a decreased percentage of the CD4(-)NK1.1(+) subset and a correspondingly increased portion of the CD4(+)NK1.1(-) subset. In addition, the mice with a targeted mutation of either B7 or CD28 had a reduced susceptibility to Con A induced hepatitis, which is known to be mediated by NKT cells. Our results demonstrate that the development, maturation and function of NKT cell are modulated by the costimulatory pathway and thus expand the horizon of costimulation into NKT, which is widely viewed as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. As such, costimulation may modulate all major branches of cell-mediated immunity, including T cells, NK cells and NKT cells.     

Induction of antigen-specific tumor immunity by genetic and cellular vaccines against MAGE: enhanced tumor protection by coexpression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and B7-1.

BACKGROUND: A number of tumors express antigens that are recognized by specific cytotoxic T cells. The normal host immune responses, however, are not usually sufficient to cause tumor rejection. Using appropriate immunization strategies, tumor-specific antigens may serve as targets against which tumor-destructive immune responses can be generated. MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 are two clinically relevant antigens expressed in many human melanomas and other tumors, but not in normal tissues, except testis. Here, we have investigated whether DNA and cellular vaccines against MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 can induce antigen-specific anti-tumor immunity and cause rejection of MAGE-expressing tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were immunized against MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 by subcutaneous injection of genetically modified embryonic fibroblasts or intramuscular injection of purified DNA. Mice were injected with lethal doses of B16 melanoma cells expressing the corresponding MAGE antigens or the unrelated protein SIV tat, and tumor development and survival were monitored. RESULTS: Intramuscular expression of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 by plasmid DNA injection and subcutaneous immunization with syngeneic mouse embryonic fibroblasts transduced with recombinant retroviruses to express these antigens induced specific immunity against tumors expressing MAGE-1 and MAGE-3. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were required for anti-tumor immunity. Coexpression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or B7-1 significantly increased anti-tumor immunity in an antigen-specific manner and resulted in a considerable proportion of mice surviving lethal tumor challenge. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that genetic and cellular vaccines against MAGE and other tumor antigens may be useful for the therapy of tumors expressing specific markers, and that GM-CSF and B7-1 are potent stimulators for the induction of antigen-specific tumor immunity.