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Lee MH, Choi HS, Kim NY, Sim E, Choi JY, Hong S, Shin YK, Yu CH, Gu SH, Song DH, Hur GH, Shin S. Post-Vaccination Delivery of CpG ODNs Enhances the Th2-Associated Protective Immunity of the Smallpox DNA Vaccine. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00800-4. [PMID: 37428433 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00800-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Potential threat of smallpox bioterrorism and concerns related to the adverse effects of currently licensed live-virus vaccines suggest the need to develop novel vaccines with better efficacy against smallpox. Use of DNA vaccines containing specific antigen-encoding plasmids prevents the risks associated with live-virus vaccines, offering a promising alternative to conventional smallpox vaccines. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands in enhancing the immunogenicity of smallpox DNA vaccines. BALB/c mice were immunized with a DNA vaccine encoding the vaccinia virus L1R protein, along with the cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) motif as a vaccine adjuvant, and their immune response was analyzed. Administration of B-type CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) as TLR9 ligands 24 h after DNA vaccination enhanced the Th2-biased L1R-specific antibody immunity in mice. Moreover, B-type CpG ODNs improved the protective effects of the DNA vaccine against the lethal Orthopoxvirus challenge. Therefore, use of L1R DNA vaccines with CpG ODNs as adjuvants is a promising approach to achieve effective immunogenicity against smallpox infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hoon Lee
- R&D Center, ABION Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Na Young Kim
- R&D Center, ABION Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Euni Sim
- R&D Center, ABION Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Sungyoul Hong
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Kee Shin
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi Ho Yu
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hun Gu
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Song
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyueng Haeng Hur
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungho Shin
- Bio-MAX/N-Bio, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Mestre-Durán C, Martín-Cortázar C, García-Solís B, Pernas A, Pertíñez L, Galán V, Sisinni L, Clares-Villa L, Navarro-Zapata A, Al-Akioui K, Escudero A, Ferreras C, Pérez-Martínez A. Ruxolitinib does not completely abrogate the functional capabilities of TLR4/9 ligand-activated NK cells. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1045316. [PMID: 36685552 PMCID: PMC9851469 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1045316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes from the innate immune system part of the first defense barrier against infected and transformed cells, representing 5%-15% of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The cytotoxic capacity of NK cells is controlled by a balance between inhibitory and activating NK receptors expressed on their surface, which recognize and interact with the ligands on stressed cells. The cytokines involved in NK cell activation, proliferation, survival, and cytotoxicity are signaled mainly through the Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (JAK/STAT) pathway. NK cells are also activated in response to pathogens through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed on their surface. Ruxolitinib is a specific JAK1/2 inhibitor approved for treating myelofibrosis and for steroid-refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (SR-GvHD). Methods Purified NK cells from healthy donors were stimulated with two TOLL-like receptor ligands, LPS and CpG, in the presence of different concentrations of Ruxolitinib. Results This study showed the effects of ruxolitinib on TLR4 and TLR9 ligand-activated NK cells from healthy donors. Ruxolitinib did not completely inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation and had a moderate effect on NK cell cytokine activation via the TLR pathway. Only the highest doses of ruxolitinib led to a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α, interferon-γ, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. The cytotoxic capacity of stimulated NK cells versus K562, SEM, and MV-4-11 cell lines was reduced by increasing doses of ruxolitinib, but it was not completely abolished and we observed no major changes in degranulation capacity. Phenotypic changes were observed in activated NK cells in the presence of ruxolitinib. In a small cohort of pediatric patients treated with ruxolitinib for SR-GvHD, we observed no decrease in NK cell counts; however, further prospective studies with larger cohorts are necessary to confirm this finding. Discussion In summary, our results showed that the functional capabilities and phenotype of NK cells activated through TLR4/9 agonists were not completely abolished by the inhibition of the JAK-STAT pathway by ruxolitinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Mestre-Durán
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carla Martín-Cortázar
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Blanca García-Solís
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics of Human Diseases, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alicia Pernas
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics (INGEMM), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Pertíñez
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Galán
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luisa Sisinni
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Clares-Villa
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Navarro-Zapata
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Karima Al-Akioui
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adela Escudero
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics (INGEMM), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Ferreras
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Pérez-Martínez
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Hirobe S, Kawakita T, Yamasaki T, Ito S, Tachibana M, Okada N. Adjuvant Activity of CpG-Oligonucleotide Administered Transcutaneously in Combination with Vaccination Using a Self-Dissolving Microneedle Patch in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1480. [PMID: 34960226 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9121480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the mechanism of transcutaneous adjuvant activity of the CpG-oligonucleotide (K3) in mice. Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) with an ovalbumin-loaded self-dissolving microneedle patch (OVA-sdMN) and K3-loaded hydrophilic gel patch (HG) increased OVA-specific Th2- and Th1-type IgG subclass antibody titers more rapidly and strongly than those after only OVA-sdMN administration. However, the antigen-specific proliferation of OVA-specific CD4+ T cells was similar between the OVA-only and the OVA+K3 groups. Population analysis of various immune cells in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) in the primary immune response revealed that the OVA+K3 combination doubled the number of dLN cells, with the most significant increase in B cells. Phenotypic analysis by flow cytometry revealed that B-cell activation and maturation were promoted in the OVA+K3 group, suggesting that direct B-cell activation by K3 largely contributed to the rapid increase in antigen-specific antibody titer in TCI. In the secondary immune response, a significant increase in effector T cells and effector memory T cells, and an increase in memory B cells were observed in the OVA+K3 group compared with that in the OVA-only group. Thus, K3, as a transcutaneous adjuvant, can promote the memory differentiation of T and B cells.
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Ito S, Hirobe S, Kawakita T, Saito M, Quan YS, Kamiyama F, Ishii KJ, Nagao M, Fujisawa T, Tachibana M, Okada N. Characteristic of K3 (CpG-ODN) as a Transcutaneous Vaccine Formulation Adjuvant. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E267. [PMID: 32183437 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12030267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is easy to use, minimally invasive, and has excellent efficacy in vaccines against infections. We focused on toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands as applicable adjuvants for transcutaneous formulations and characterized immune responses. TCI was performed using poke-and-patch methods, in which puncture holes are formed with a polyglycolic acid microneedle on the back skin of mice. Various TLR ligands were applied to the puncture holes and covered with an ovalbumin-loaded hydrophilic gel patch. During the screening process, K3 (CpG-oligonucleotide) successfully produced more antigen-specific antibodies than other TLR ligands and induced T helper (Th) 1-type polarization. Transcutaneously administered K3 was detected in draining lymph nodes and was found to promote B cell activation and differentiation, suggesting a direct transcutaneous adjuvant activity on B cells. Furthermore, a human safety test of K3-loaded self-dissolving microneedles (sdMN) was performed. Although a local skin reaction was observed at the sdMN application site, there was no systemic side reaction. In summary, we report a K3-induced Th1-type immune response that is a promising adjuvant for transcutaneous vaccine formulations using MN and show that K3-loaded sdMN can be safely applied to human skin.
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