Co-administration of a CpG adjuvant (VaxImmune, CPG 7909) with CETP vaccines increased immunogenicity in rabbits and mice.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a plasma glycoprotein that facilitates the transfer of neutral lipids and phospholipids between lipoproteins and contributes to the regulation of the plasma concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Vaccines have been developed that elicit antibodies that bind to and reduce the lipid transfer function of CETP as a way to increase the plasma concentration of HDL-C and prevent or treat atherosclerosis. This study assessed the immunogenicity of two vaccine peptides. The first, CETi-1, is a dimerized synthetic peptide, including residues 461-476 of human CETP and residues 830-843 of tetanus toxoid, TT(830-843). The second, PADRE-CETP, is a monomeric peptide, in which a PADRE T cell epitope (aK-Cha-VAAWTLKAa) replaces the TT(830-843) T cell epitope of CETi-1. Both peptides were formulated with aluminum-containing adjuvants (Alhydrogel), and tested in mice and rabbits with or without the co-administration of the investigational TLR9 agonist VaxImmune (CPG 7909). In both mice and rabbits, the vaccine peptide utilizing the PADRE T cell epitope elicited stronger anti-CETP antibody responses than the CETi-1 vaccine. Also, co-administration of VaxImmune enhanced the anti-CETP antibody responses to both vaccines. Isotype analysis of the murine anti-CETP antibody response to both vaccines demonstrated a switch from IgG1 to IgG2a upon co-administration of VaxImmune. We conclude that (1) the PADRE T cell epitope is more potent than the TT(830-843) epitope in providing help for the anti-CETP antibody response; and (2) co-administration of VaxImmune with either vaccine increased immunogenicity as measured by antibody response.

Vaccines for cholesterol management.

Over the last 50 years, several attempts have been made to harness the power and economy of vaccines in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Vaccines directed to lipoproteins, cholesterol itself, and molecules involved in cholesterol metabolism have all demonstrated success in modifying progression of disease in animal models of atherosclerosis. One vaccine that elicits antibodies to cholesteryl ester transfer protein has also progressed into the realm of human clinical testing. This review summarizes the published scientific work describing the various approaches that have been tried, their strengths and weaknesses, and where this field may go in the future.

Vaccines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Atherosclerosis, especially coronary heart disease (CHD), remains a most significant global public health problem. Highly effective LDL-lowering therapies have gained widespread adoption in the United States and throughout the developed world, but therapeutic options for raising low HDL, a key independent risk factor for CHD, remain limited. We are developing a vaccine approach to raising HDL, by inducing an immune response to endogenous cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and have demonstrated proof of principle in preclinical and clinical models. This vaccine approach may offer the opportunity to address low HDL with a cost-effective semi-annual injection.

Production of a complement inhibitor possessing sialyl Lewis X moieties by in vitro glycosylation technology.

Recombinant soluble human complement receptor type 1 (sCR1) is a highly glycosylated glycoprotein intended for use as a drug to treat ischemia-reperfusion injury and other complement-mediated diseases and injuries. sCR1-sLe(x) produced in the FT-VI-expressing mutant CHO cell line LEC11 exists as a heterogeneous mixture of glycoforms, a fraction of which include structures with one or more antennae terminated by the sialyl Lewis X (sLe(x)) [Neu5Acalpha2-3Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc]) epitope. Such multivalent presentation of sLe(x) was shown previously to effectively target sCR1 to activated endothelial cells expressing E-selectin. Here, we describe the use of the soluble, recombinant alpha2-3 sialyltransferase ST3Gal-III and the alpha1-3 fucosyltransferase FT-VI in vitro to introduce sLe(x) moieties onto the N-glycan chains of sCR1 overexpressed in standard CHO cell lines. The product (sCR1-S/F) of these in vitro enzymatic glycan remodeling reactions performed at the 10-g scale has approximately 14 N-glycan chains per sCR1 molecule, comprised of biantennary (90%), triantennary (8.5%), and tetraantennary (1.5%) structures, nearly all of whose antennae terminate with sLe(x) moieties. sCR1-S/F retained complement inhibitory activity and, in comparison with sCR1-sLe(x) produced in the LEC11 cell line, contained twice the number of sLe(x) moieties per mole glycoprotein, exhibited a twofold increase in area under the intravenous clearance curve in a rat pharmacokinetic model, and exhibited a 10-fold increase in affinity for E-selectin in an in vitro binding assay. These results demonstrate that in vitro glycosylation of the sCR1 drug product reduces heterogeneity of the glycan profile, improves pharmacokinetics, and enhances carbohydrate-mediated binding to E-selectin.