B cells expressing IL-10 mRNA modulate memory T cells after DNA-Hsp65 immunization

In DNA vaccines, the gene of interest is cloned into a bacterial plasmid that is engineered to induce protein production for long periods in eukaryotic cells. Previous research has shown that the intramuscular immunization of BALB/c mice with a naked plasmid DNA fragment encoding the Mycobacterium leprae 65-kDa heat-shock protein (pcDNA3-Hsp65) induces protection against M. tuberculosis challenge. A key stage in the protective immune response after immunization is the generation of memory T cells. Previously, we have shown that B cells capture plasmid DNA-Hsp65 and thereby modulate the formation of CD8+ memory T cells after M. tuberculosis challenge in mice. Therefore, clarifying how B cells act as part of the protective immune response after DNA immunization is important for the development of more-effective vaccines. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which B cells modulate memory T cells after DNA-Hsp65 immunization. C57BL/6 and BKO mice were injected three times, at 15-day intervals, with 100 µg naked pcDNA-Hsp65 per mouse. Thirty days after immunization, the percentages of effector memory T (TEM) cells (CD4+ and CD8+/CD44high/CD62Llow) and memory CD8+ T cells (CD8+/CD44high/CD62Llow/CD127+) were measured with flow cytometry. Interferon γ, interleukin 12 (IL-12), and IL-10 mRNAs were also quantified in whole spleen cells and purified B cells (CD43−) with real-time qPCR. Our data suggest that a B-cell subpopulation expressing IL-10 downregulated proinflammatory cytokine expression in the spleen, increasing the survival of CD4+ TEM cells and CD8+ TEM/CD127+ cells.

Avaliação da segurança e imunogenicidade da vacina candidata ao controle da tuberculose pVAXhsp65 administrada por eletroporação em macacos cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) / Evaluation of safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate for tuberculosis control pVAX-hsp65 administered by electroporation in cynomolgus monkeys (macaca fascicularis)

A tuberculose é uma doença infecciosa crônica causada pelo Mycobacterium tuberculosis e foi declarada emergência em saúde pública mundial pela Organização Mundial de Saúde. A tuberculose persiste como um problema de saúde mundial, em parte, porque os indivíduos infectados, muitas vezes, não aderem ao longo tratamento de forma devida. A ampla vacinação com a BCG reduziu a ocorrência das formas mais graves de tuberculose em crianças, porém, a forma adulta pulmonar é responsável pela principal causa de morte no mundo. A validação de novas vacinas para utilização na clínica humana, passa pela necessidade de se testá-las, ainda em fase pré-clínica, em modelo animal que desenvolva e reproduza de forma semelhante a doença humana. Avaliamos, neste estudo, os aspectos referentes à segurança do método de eletroporação e a imunogenicidade da vacina pVAX-hsp65, administrada em 3 doses com intervalo de 1 mês cada, em macacos cynomolgusForam realizadas análises clínicas, hemograma, teste de função renal, hepática, além da avaliação das subpopulações celulares (TCD4, TCD8, NK, linfócitos B, células dendríticas mielóide e plasmacitóide), marcador de ativação celular (HLA-DR e CD69), grânulos citotóxicos (granzima B/perforina), citocinas (IFN-gama, TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-10, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 e IL-6), marcadores de proliferação (Ki-67) e ligados a apoptose (BcL-2). A vacina se mostrou segura, sem causar efeitos adversos relacionados ao local da inoculação, não induziu disfunção hepática ou renal nem alterações hematológicas. A vacinação não induziu conversão ao teste tuberculínico. Observamos um aumento de células T CD4+ de memória central, o que caracteriza ativação celular...

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacteriumtuberculosis and was declared a public health emergency by World HealthOrganization. Tuberculosis remains a worldwide health problem, partly becauseinfected individuals often refuse the long- treatment. Widespread vaccinationwith BCG reduced the occurrence of severe forms of tuberculosis in children;however, pulmonary tuberculosis in adult is the main cause of deathworldwide. To validate new vaccines for clinical use in human, preclinical testsin animal model to reproduce human disease is necessary. Our mean goal wasto evaluated, the safety and immunogenicity of a new vaccine pVAX-hsp65,administrated by electroporation in cynomolgus monkeys in three doses withone month apart. Clinical analyzes were performed: Red and white blood cellscount, renal and liver functional test, evaluation of lymphocyte subsets (CD4,CD8, NK, B lymphocytes, and myeloid and plasmacytoide dendritic cells),markers for cell activation (HLA-DR and CD69), activation of cytotoxic granules(granzyme B / perforin), cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-10, IL-2, Il-4, IL-5and IL-6), proliferation (Ki-67) and anti-apoptosis (BCL-2) markers. The vaccineproved to be safe, with no adverse effects related to the inoculation site and didnot induce liver or kidney dysfunction or hematological changes. Thevaccination did not convert the tuberculin skin test. We observed anenhancement of central memory TCD4 lymphocytes which indicates cellactivation...

Th1 polarized response induced by intramuscular DNA-HSP65 immunization is preserved in experimental atherosclerosis

We previously reported that a DNA vaccine constructed with the heat shock protein (HSP65) gene from Mycobacterium leprae (DNA-HSP65) was protective and also therapeutic in experimental tuberculosis. By the intramuscular route, this vaccine elicited a predominant Th1 response that was consistent with its protective efficacy against tuberculosis. It has been suggested that the immune response to Hsp60/65 may be the link between exposure to microorganisms and increased cardiovascular risk. Additionally, the high cholesterol levels found in atherosclerosis could modulate host immunity. In this context, we evaluated if an atherogenic diet could modulate the immune response induced by the DNA-HSP65 vaccine. C57BL/6 mice (4-6 animals per group) were initially submitted to a protocol of atherosclerosis induction and then immunized by the intramuscular or intradermal route with 4 doses of 100 mug DNA-HSP65. On day 150 (15 days after the last immunization), the animals were sacrificed and antibodies and cytokines were determined. Vaccination by the intramuscular route induced high levels of anti-Hsp65 IgG2a antibodies, but not anti-Hsp65 IgG1 antibodies and a significant production of IL-6, IFN-g and IL-10, but not IL-5, indicating a Th1 profile. Immunization by the intradermal route triggered a mixed pattern (Th1/Th2) characterized by synthesis of anti-Hsp65 IgG2a and IgG1 antibodies and production of high levels of IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-g. These results indicate that experimentally induced atherosclerosis did not affect the ability of DNA-HSP65 to induce a predominant Th1 response that is potentially protective against tuberculosis.