DNA fusion vaccines induce targeted epitope-specific CTLs against minor histocompatibility antigens from a normal or tolerized repertoire

Authors: Rice, J., Buchan, S., Dewchand, H., Simpson, E. and Stevenson, F.K.

Journal: Journal of Immunology

Volume: 173

Issue: 7

Pages: 4492-4499

ISSN: 0022-1767

DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.7.4492

Abstract:

We have designed DNA fusion vaccines able to induce high levels of epitope-specific CD8+ T cells, using linked CD4+ T cell help. Such vaccines can activate effective immunity against tumor Ags. To model performance against minor histocompatibility (H) Ags important in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, responses against the H2B b-restricted Uty and Smcy male HY epitopes have been investigated. Vaccination of females induced high levels of tetramer-specific, IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells against each epitope. Vaccines incorporating a single epitope primed effector CTL able to kill male splenocytes in vitro and in vivo, and HYDbUty-specific vaccination accelerated rejection of syngeneic male skin grafts. Priming against either epitope established long-term memory, expandable by injection of male cells. Expanded CD8+ T cells remained specific for the priming HY epitope, with responses to the second suppressed. To investigate vaccine performance in a tolerized repertoire, male mice were vaccinated with the fusion constructs. Strikingly, this also generated epitope-specific IFN-γ-producing CD8 + T cells with cytotoxic function. However, numbers and avidity were lower than in vaccinated females, and vaccinated males failed to reject CFSE-labaled male splenocytes in vivo. Nevertheless, these findings indicate that DNA fusion vaccines can mobilize CD8+ T cells against endogenous minor H Ags, even from a profoundly tolerized repertoire. In the transplantation setting, vaccination of donors could prime and expand specific T cells for in vivo transfer. For patients, vaccination could activate a potentially less tolerized repertoire against similar Ags that may be overespressed by tumor cells, for focused immune attack.

Source: Scopus

DNA fusion vaccines induce targeted epitope-specific CTLs against minor histocompatibility antigens from a normal or tolerized repertoire.

Authors: Rice, J., Buchan, S., Dewchand, H., Simpson, E. and Stevenson, F.K.

Journal: J Immunol

Volume: 173

Issue: 7

Pages: 4492-4499

ISSN: 0022-1767

DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.7.4492

Abstract:

We have designed DNA fusion vaccines able to induce high levels of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells, using linked CD4(+) T cell help. Such vaccines can activate effective immunity against tumor Ags. To model performance against minor histocompatibility (H) Ags important in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, responses against the H2D(b)-restricted Uty and Smcy male HY epitopes have been investigated. Vaccination of females induced high levels of tetramer-specific, IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells against each epitope. Vaccines incorporating a single epitope primed effector CTL able to kill male splenocytes in vitro and in vivo, and HY(Db)Uty-specific vaccination accelerated rejection of syngeneic male skin grafts. Priming against either epitope established long-term memory, expandable by injection of male cells. Expanded CD8(+) T cells remained specific for the priming HY epitope, with responses to the second suppressed. To investigate vaccine performance in a tolerized repertoire, male mice were vaccinated with the fusion constructs. Strikingly, this also generated epitope-specific IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells with cytotoxic function. However, numbers and avidity were lower than in vaccinated females, and vaccinated males failed to reject CFSE-labeled male splenocytes in vivo. Nevertheless, these findings indicate that DNA fusion vaccines can mobilize CD8(+) T cells against endogenous minor H Ags, even from a profoundly tolerized repertoire. In the transplantation setting, vaccination of donors could prime and expand specific T cells for in vivo transfer. For patients, vaccination could activate a potentially less tolerized repertoire against similar Ags that may be overexpressed by tumor cells, for focused immune attack.

Source: PubMed

DNA fusion vaccines induce targeted epitope-specific CTLs against minor histocompatibility antigens from a normal or tolerized repertoire

Authors: Rice, J., Buchan, S., Dewchand, H., Simpson, E. and Stevenson, F.K.

Journal: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY

Volume: 173

Issue: 7

Pages: 4492-4499

eISSN: 1550-6606

ISSN: 0022-1767

DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.7.4492

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

DNA fusion vaccines induce targeted epitope-specific CTLs against minor histocompatibility antigens from a normal or tolerized repertoire.

Authors: Rice, J., Buchan, S., Dewchand, H., Simpson, E. and Stevenson, F.K.

Journal: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)

Volume: 173

Issue: 7

Pages: 4492-4499

eISSN: 1550-6606

ISSN: 0022-1767

DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.7.4492

Abstract:

We have designed DNA fusion vaccines able to induce high levels of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells, using linked CD4(+) T cell help. Such vaccines can activate effective immunity against tumor Ags. To model performance against minor histocompatibility (H) Ags important in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, responses against the H2D(b)-restricted Uty and Smcy male HY epitopes have been investigated. Vaccination of females induced high levels of tetramer-specific, IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells against each epitope. Vaccines incorporating a single epitope primed effector CTL able to kill male splenocytes in vitro and in vivo, and HY(Db)Uty-specific vaccination accelerated rejection of syngeneic male skin grafts. Priming against either epitope established long-term memory, expandable by injection of male cells. Expanded CD8(+) T cells remained specific for the priming HY epitope, with responses to the second suppressed. To investigate vaccine performance in a tolerized repertoire, male mice were vaccinated with the fusion constructs. Strikingly, this also generated epitope-specific IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells with cytotoxic function. However, numbers and avidity were lower than in vaccinated females, and vaccinated males failed to reject CFSE-labeled male splenocytes in vivo. Nevertheless, these findings indicate that DNA fusion vaccines can mobilize CD8(+) T cells against endogenous minor H Ags, even from a profoundly tolerized repertoire. In the transplantation setting, vaccination of donors could prime and expand specific T cells for in vivo transfer. For patients, vaccination could activate a potentially less tolerized repertoire against similar Ags that may be overexpressed by tumor cells, for focused immune attack.

Source: Europe PubMed Central