Biomedical subjects

Jay A Berzofsky

Publications and source records attributed to Jay A Berzofsky.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Persistent human papillomavirus infection is associated with a generalized decrease in immune responsiveness in older women.

The development of cervical cancer and its precursors are linked to persistent infection with oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Host immune responses seem to be determinants of risk for this disease. However, little is known about the immunologic determinants of HPV persistence. Here, we examined the association between lymphoproliferative responses to antigens/mitogens and persistent HPV infection in women older than 45 years. Women included in this study were participants in a 10,000-woman population-based cohort study of cervical neoplasia in Costa Rica. Women older than 45 years and HPV DNA positive at a screening visit were selected as cases (n = 283). We selected a comparably sized control group of HPV DNA-negative women, matched to cases on age and time since enrollment (n = 261). At an additional clinical visit, women were cytologically and virologically rescreened, and cervical and blood specimens were collected. Proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), influenza virus (Flu), and HPV16 virus-like particle (VLP) were lower among women with persistent HPV infection [median counts per minute (cpm): 72,849 for PHA, 1,241 for Flu, and 727 for VLP] than for the control group (median cpm: 107,049 for PHA, 2,111 for Flu, and 2,068 for VLP). The decreases were most profound in women with long-term persistence and were only observed for the oldest age group (>/=65 years). Our results indicate that an impairment in host immunologic responses is associated to persistent HPV infection. The fact that effects were evident for all studied stimuli is suggestive of a generalized effect.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2006

Enhancement of CD8+ T cell immunity in the lung by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides increases protective efficacy of a modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine against lethal poxvirus infection even in a CD4-deficient host.

Immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) have proven effective as adjuvants for protein-based vaccines, but their impact on immune responses induced by live viral vectors is not known. We found that addition of CpG ODN to modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) markedly improved the induction of longer-lasting adaptive protective immunity in BALB/c mice against intranasal pathogenic vaccinia virus (Western Reserve; WR). Protection was mediated primarily by CD8(+) T cells in the lung, as determined by CD8-depletion studies, protection in B cell-deficient mice, and greater protection correlating with CD8(+) IFN-gamma-producing cells in the lung but not with those in the spleen. Intranasal immunization was more effective at inducing CD8(+) T cell immunity in the lung, and protection, than i.m. immunization. Addition of CpG ODN increased the CD8(+) response but not the Ab response. Depletion of CD4 T cells before vaccination with MVA significantly diminished protection against pathogenic WR virus. However, CpG ODN delivered with MVA was able to substitute for CD4 help and protected CD4-depleted mice against WR vaccinia challenge. This study demonstrates for the first time a protective adjuvant effect of CpG ODN for a live viral vector vaccine that may overcome CD4 deficiency in the induction of protective CD8(+) T cell-mediated immunity.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2006

Possible therapeutic vaccine strategy against human immunodeficiency virus escape from reverse transcriptase inhibitors studied in HLA-A2 transgenic mice.

Mutation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leading to escape from anti-HIV drugs is the greatest challenge to the treatment of HIV infection. High-grade resistance to the nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor lamivudine (also known as 3TC) is associated with a substitution of valine for methionine at position 184 of RT. This amino acid residue is contained within the HLA-A2-restricted epitope VIYQYMDDL (RT-WT). Here, we sought to determine whether a peptide vaccine could be developed using an epitope enhancement strategy that could induce a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response specific for an epitope containing the drug resistance mutation M184V to exert an opposing selective pressure. RT-WT-specific CTLs developed from HLA-A2 transgenic mice did not recognize the M184V mutation of RT-WT (RT-M184V). However, RT-M184V exhibited higher binding affinity for HLA-A2 than RT-WT. Also, both anchor-enhanced RT-WT (RT-2L9V) and RT-2L9V-M184V-specific CTLs recognized RT-M184V and displayed cross-reactivity to RT-WT. Nevertheless, the CTL repertoire elicited by the epitope-enhanced RT-2L9V-M184V appeared more selective for the RT inhibitor-induced M184V mutation. Peptide vaccines based on such strategies may be worth testing for their ability to exert selective pressure against drug-resistant strains and thus delay or prevent the development of HIV with the M184V resistance mutation.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed2006

Intratumoral therapy with IL13-PE38 results in effective CTL-mediated suppression of IL-13Ralpha2-expressing contralateral tumors.

PURPOSE: IL13-PE38, a targeted cytotoxin comprised of interleukin 13 (IL-13) and a mutated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin, induces specific killing of tumor cells expressing abundant levels of the IL-13Ralpha2 chain. We hypothesized that tumor cells killed by the cytotoxin may release antigens and/or apoptotic bodies when cells are dying, which then induce adoptive immunity, and that the PE38 portion of IL13-PE38 may act as a stimulant for the induction of a CTL response. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To test this hypothesis, we established D5 melanoma tumors with or without expression of the IL-13Ralpha2 chain in both flanks of C57BL/6 mice, and then IL13-PE38 was injected in the right flank tumors only. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: When animals with IL-13Ralpha2-expressing D5 tumor (right) were injected with IL13-PE38, right flank tumors expressing the IL-13Ralpha2 chain not only showed dramatic regression but contralateral tumors (left flank) also showed tumor regression. Cell depletion experiments in tumor-bearing animals indicated that both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells contribute to the regression of contralateral tumors through CTL activation in the periphery and cellular infiltration into tumors. In addition, intratumoral treatment into s.c. tumors of mice bearing metastatic lung tumors with IL13-PE38 showed not only the reduction of treated s.c. tumor but also the reduction of lung metastasis. Thus, IL13-PE38 mediates an antitumor effect not only directly but also indirectly by inducing a host CD8(+) T cell immune response. Accordingly, targeted cytotoxins may be used to treat local disease even if they cannot be administered systemically, and yet may still induce a reasonable systemic antitumor response.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Cellular immune responses to HPV-18, -31, and -53 in healthy volunteers immunized with recombinant HPV-16 L1 virus-like particles.

Human papillomavirus-like particles (HPV VLP) are candidate vaccines that have shown to be efficacious in reducing infection and inducing robust antiviral immunity. Neutralizing antibodies generated by vaccination are largely type-specific, but little is known about the type-specificity of cellular immune responses to VLP vaccination. To determine whether vaccination with HPV-16 L1VLP induces cellular immunity to heterologous HPV types (HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-53), we examined proliferative and cytokine responses in vaccine (n=11) and placebo (n=5) recipients. Increased proliferative and cytokine responses to heterologous types were observed postvaccination in some individuals. The proportion of women responding to heterologous types postvaccination (36%-55%) was lower than that observed in response to HPV-16 (73%). Response to HPV-16 VLP predicted response to other types. The strongest correlations in response were observed between HPV-16 and HPV-31, consistent with their phylogenetic relatedness. In summary, PBMC from HPV-16 VLP vaccine recipients can respond to L1VLP from heterologous HPV types, suggesting the presence of conserved T cell epitopes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Combined prophylactic and therapeutic cancer vaccine: enhancing CTL responses to HPV16 E2 using a chimeric VLP in HLA-A2 mice.

We identified the strategies to induce a CTL response to human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E2 in HLA-A2 transgenic mice (AAD). A chimeric HPV16 virus-like particle (VLP) that includes full length HPV16 E7 and E2 (VLP-E7E2) was generated. The combination of E2 and E7 has the advantage that E2 is expressed in early dysplasia and neoplasia lesions, where E7 is expressed in more advance lesions. Since T cell response to E2 is less defined, we first evaluated the strategies to enhancing CD8(+) T cell responses to HPV E7, using different combinations of immune-modulators with VLP-E7E2. Data showed that the CTL response to E7 could be significantly enhanced by coinjection of GM-CSF and anti-CD40 antibodies with chimeric VLP-E7E2 without adjuvant. However, using the same combination, a low level of CD8(+) T cell response to E2 was detected. To enhance the CD8+ T cell response to E2, we analyzed T cell epitopes from E2 sequence. A heterogenous prime-boost with chimeric VLP-E7E2 and E2 peptides was performed. The data showed that the priming with chimeric VLP-E7E2, followed by boosting with E2 peptides, gave a better CTL response than 2 immunizations with E2 peptides. The enhanced immunity is due to the increase of CD11c(+) and CD11c(+) CD40(+) double positive dendritic cells in mice that received immune-modulators, GM-CSF and anti-CD40. Furthermore, the level of anti-L1 antibodies remains similar in mice immunized with chimeric VLP with/without immune-modulators. Thus, the data suggested that the chimeric VLP-E7E2 has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of HPV-associated CINs and cancer without diminishing VLPs potential as a prophylactic vaccine by inducing anti-L1 antibodies against free virus.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Protective immunity provided by HLA-A2 epitopes for fusion and hemagglutinin proteins of measles virus.

Natural infection and vaccination with a live-attenuated measles virus (MV) induce CD8(+) T-cell-mediated immune responses that may play a central role in controlling MV infection. In this study, we show that newly identified human HLA-A2 epitopes from MV hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) proteins induced protective immunity in HLA-A2 transgenic mice challenged with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing F or H protein. HLA-A2 epitopes were predicted and synthesized. Five and four peptides from H and F, respectively, bound to HLA-A2 molecules in a T2-binding assay, and four from H and two from F could induce peptide-specific CD8+ T cell responses in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Further experiments proved that three peptides from H (H9-567, H10-250, and H10-516) and one from F protein (F9-57) were endogenously processed and presented on HLA-A2 molecules. All peptides tested in this study are common to 5 different strains of MV including Edmonston. In both A2K(b) and HHD-2 mice, the identified peptide epitopes induced protective immunity against recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing H or F. Because F and H proteins induce neutralizing antibodies, they are major components of new vaccine strategies, and therefore data from this study will contribute to the development of new vaccines against MV infection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Characterization of a novel human tumor antigen interleukin-13 receptor alpha2 chain.

The interleukin (IL)-13 receptor alpha2 (IL-13Ralpha2) chain is a primary binding and internalization subunit for a Th2-derived immune regulatory cytokine, IL-13. Although extremely high levels of IL-13Ralpha2 chain are expressed on a variety of human tumor cells and specimens, its precise role in tumor immunology has not been defined. To investigate the role of IL-13Ralpha2 in tumor immunity, we used D5 melanoma cells stably transfected with the human IL-13Ralpha2 gene (D5alpha2) to assess the effect of an IL-13Ralpha2 DNA vaccine in immunocompetent animals. Prophylactic immunization of mice with the IL-13Ralpha2 DNA vaccine resulted in protection against D5alpha2 tumor development. In vivo depletion experiments in C57BL/6 and RAG-2 knockout mice indicated that both T and B cells, but not natural killer cells, were required for the tumor protection. In addition, antibody induced by the IL-13Ralpha2 DNA vaccine showed a modest but significant inhibitory effect on D5alpha2 cells in vitro, suggesting that the antibody is biologically functional. The IL-13Ralpha2 DNA vaccine also exhibited antitumor activity against established D5alpha2 tumors in mice. Histologic analysis of regressing tumors identified infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the expression of CXCL9 chemokine in tumors. Taken together, our results identify the human IL-13Ralpha2 chain as a novel tumor rejection antigen.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells can down-regulate tumor immunosurveillance independent of interleukin-4 receptor-signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 or transforming growth factor-beta.

It has been shown previously that the suppression of tumor immunosurveillance may be a mechanism by which tumors resist immune detection and elimination. In this study, we evaluated the role of the immunoregulatory natural killer T (NKT) cells in the biology of immunosurveillance of osteosarcoma. The K7M2 mouse osteosarcoma cell line was implanted orthotopically into wild-type and NKT cell-deficient CD1d knockout (KO) BALB/c mice, and mice were monitored for growth of primary tumors. Further, we examined the role of CD4(+) and/or CD8(+) cells by depleting the cells in vivo and measuring CTL activity in vitro. We also asked the role of interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Ralpha)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) signaling, including IL-13, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) by using gene-disrupted mice or treating mice with cytokine antagonists. We were surprised to find a high rate of rejection of osteosarcoma primary tumors in 88% (14 of 16) of CD1d KO mice compared with syngeneic wild-type BALB/c mice that showed rejection of tumor in <24% of mice. Further studies suggested that the rejection of tumor in CD1d KO mice was dependent on CD8(+) lymphocytes. Distinct from other murine tumor models, the negative regulation induced by CD1d-restricted NKT cells was not dependent on IL-4Ralpha-STAT6 signaling, including IL-13, or on TGF-beta. These data suggest that a novel CD1d-restricted NKT cell-mediated mechanism for tumor immunosuppression is active in the K7M2 osteosarcoma model and that NKT cells can regulate immunosurveillance through more than one pathway.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2006

Epitope enhancement of a CD4 HIV epitope toward the development of the next generation HIV vaccine.

Virus-specific CD4+ T cell help and CD8+ cytotoxic T cell responses are critical for maintenance of effective immunity in chronic viral infections. The importance of CD4+ T cells has been documented in HIV infection. To investigate whether a stronger CD4+ T cell response can be induced by modifications to enhance the T1 epitope, the first CD4+ T cell epitope discovered in HIV-1-gp120, we developed a T1-specific CD4+ T cell line from a healthy volunteer immunized with a canarypox vector expressing gp120 and boosted with recombinant gp120. This T1-specific CD4+ T cell line was restricted to DR13, which is common in U.S. Caucasians and African-Americans and very frequent in Africans. Peptides with certain amino acid substitutions in key positions induced enhanced specific CD4+ T cell proliferative responses at lower peptide concentration than the original epitope. This relatively conserved CD4 epitope improved by the epitope enhancement strategy could be a component of a more effective second generation vaccine construct for HIV infection.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed2006

Identification and epitope enhancement of a PAX-FKHR fusion protein breakpoint epitope in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells created by a tumorigenic chromosomal translocation inducing CTL capable of lysing human tumors.

Fusion proteins created by chromosomal translocations in tumors can create neoantigenic determinants at the breakpoint, which are unique to the tumor cells but shared by the vast majority of tumors of that histologic type. If the fusion protein is responsible for the malignant transformation, its expression cannot be lost by the tumor to escape immune responses against this tumor antigen. Here, we identify such a fusion protein breakpoint epitope in the PAX-FKHR fusion protein created by the t(2;13) translocation present in 80% of cases of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a highly aggressive pediatric soft-tissue sarcoma. We use autologous dendritic cells pulsed with the RS10 breakpoint fusion peptide to raise a human CTL line from a normal healthy HLA-B7+ blood donor specific for this peptide. These CTLs are CD8+ (CD4-CD56-) and restricted by HLA-B7. These human peptide-specific CTL lyse human HLA-B7+ rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells. Therefore, the fusion protein is endogenously processed to produce this natural epitope presented by HLA-B7 and thus this peptide is a bone fide human tumor antigen. We also define a substitution that increases the affinity for HLA-B7 without loss of antigenicity. This epitope-enhanced peptide may serve as a candidate cancer vaccine for HLA-B7+ patients with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

The NS2 protein of human respiratory syncytial virus suppresses the cytotoxic T-cell response as a consequence of suppressing the type I interferon response.

The NS1 and NS2 proteins of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) have been shown to antagonize the type I interferon (IFN) response, an effect subject to host range constraints. We have now found that the HRSV NS2 protein strongly controls IFN induction in mouse cells in vitro, validating the use of the mouse model to study the consequences of these gene deletions on host immunity. We evaluated the effects of deleting the NS1 and/or NS2 gene on the induction of HRSV-specific pulmonary cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in BALB/c and 129S6 mice in response to intranasal infection with HRSV lacking the NS1 and/or NS2 gene and subsequent challenge with wild-type (wt) HRSV. In mice infected with HRSV lacking the NS2 gene (DeltaNS2) or lacking the NS2 gene in combination with the NS1 gene (DeltaNS1/2 HRSV), the magnitude of the pulmonary CTL response was substantially elevated compared to that of mice infected with wt HRSV or the DeltaNS1 mutant, whether measured by binding of CD8(+) cells to an HRSV-specific major histocompatibility complex class I tetramer, by measurement of CD8(+) cells secreting gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in response to specific in vitro stimulation, or by a standard chromium release cell-killing assay. In contrast, in STAT1 knockout mice, which lack responsiveness to type I IFN, the level of IFN-gamma-secreting CD8(+) cells was not significantly different for HRSV lacking the NS2 gene, suggesting that the increase in CTL observed in IFN-responsive mice is type I IFN dependent. Thus, the NS2 protein of HRSV suppresses the CTL component of the adaptive immune response, and this appears to be a consequence of its suppression of type I IFN.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Systemic immunization with an ALVAC-HIV-1/protein boost vaccine strategy protects rhesus macaques from CD4+ T-cell loss and reduces both systemic and mucosal simian-human immunodeficiency virus SHIVKU2 RNA levels.

Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) occurs primarily via the mucosal route, suggesting that HIV-1 vaccines may need to elicit mucosal immune responses. Here, we investigated the immunogenicity and relative efficacy of systemic immunization with two human ALVAC-HIV-1 recombinant vaccines expressing Gag, Pol, and gp120 (vCP250) or Gag, Pol, and gp160 (vCP1420) in a prime-boost protocol with their homologous vaccine native Env proteins. The relative efficacy was measured against a high-dose mucosal exposure to the pathogenic neutralization-resistant variant SHIV(KU2) (simian-human immunodeficiency virus). Systemic immunization with both vaccine regimens decreased viral load levels not only in blood but unexpectedly also in mucosal sites and protected macaques from peripheral CD4+ T-cell loss. This protective effect was stronger when the gp120 antigen was included in the vaccine. Inclusion of recombinant Tat protein in the boosting phase along with the Env protein did not contribute further to the preservation of CD4+ T cells. Thus, systemic immunization with ALVAC-HIV-1 vaccine candidates elicits anti-HIV-1 immune responses able to contain virus replication also at mucosal sites in macaques.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed2005

Impact of vaccine-induced mucosal high-avidity CD8+ CTLs in delay of AIDS viral dissemination from mucosa.

Natural HIV transmission occurs through mucosa, but it is debated whether mucosal cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can prevent or reduce dissemination from the initial mucosal site to the systemic circulation. Also, the role of CTL avidity in mucosal AIDS viral transmission is unknown. To address these questions, we used delay in acute-phase peak viremia after intrarectal challenge as an indicator of systemic dissemination. We found that a peptide-prime/poxviral boost vaccine inducing high levels of high-avidity mucosal CTLs can have an impact on dissemination of intrarectally administered pathogenic SHIV-ku2 in macaques and that such protection correlates better with mucosal than with systemic CTLs and particularly with levels of high-avidity mucosal CTLs.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed2005

A nonclassical non-Valpha14Jalpha18 CD1d-restricted (type II) NKT cell is sufficient for down-regulation of tumor immunosurveillance.

The importance of immunoregulatory T cells has become increasingly apparent. Both CD4+CD25+ T cells and CD1d-restricted NKT cells have been reported to down-regulate tumor immunity in mouse tumor models. However, the relative roles of both T cell populations have rarely been clearly distinguished in the same tumor models. In addition, CD1d-restricted NKT cells have been reported to play a critical role not only in the down-regulation of tumor immunity but also in the promotion of the immunity. However, the explanation for these apparently opposite roles in different tumor models remains unclear. We show that in four mouse tumor models in which CD1d-restricted NKT cells play a role in suppression of tumor immunity, depletion of CD4+CD25+ T cells did not induce enhancement of immunosurveillance. Surprisingly, among the two subpopulations of CD1d-restricted NKT cells, Valpha14Jalpha18+ (type I) and Valpha14Jalpha18- (type II) NKT cells, type I NKT cells were not necessary for the immune suppression. These unexpected results may now resolve the paradox in the role of CD1d-restricted NKT cells in the regulation of tumor immunity, in that type II NKT cells may be sufficient for negative regulation, whereas protection has been found to be mediated by alpha-galactosylceramide-responsive type I NKT cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Lymphopenia and interleukin-2 therapy alter homeostasis of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells have a crucial role in maintaining immune tolerance. Mice and humans born lacking T(reg) cells develop severe autoimmune disease, and depletion of T(reg) cells in lymphopenic mice induces autoimmunity. Interleukin (IL)-2 signaling is required for thymic development, peripheral expansion and suppressive activity of T(reg) cells. Animals lacking IL-2 die of autoimmunity, which is prevented by administration of IL-2-responsive T(reg) cells. In light of the emerging evidence that one of the primary physiologic roles of IL-2 is to generate and maintain T(reg) cells, the question arises as to the effects of IL-2 therapy on them. We monitored T(reg) cells during immune reconstitution in individuals with cancer who did or did not receive IL-2 therapy. CD4(+)CD25(hi) cells underwent homeostatic peripheral expansion during immune reconstitution, and in lymphopenic individuals receiving IL-2, the T(reg) cell compartment was markedly increased. Mouse studies showed that IL-2 therapy induced expansion of existent T(reg) cells in normal hosts, and IL-2-induced T(reg) cell expansion was further augmented by lymphopenia. On a per-cell basis, T(reg) cells generated by IL-2 therapy expressed similar levels of FOXP3 and had similar potency for suppression compared to T(reg) cells present in normal hosts. These studies suggest that IL-2 and lymphopenia are primary modulators of CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg) cell homeostasis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Immunization with mutant p53- and K-ras-derived peptides in cancer patients: immune response and clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: To determine the ability to induce tumor-specific immunity with individual mutant K-ras-or p53-derived peptides and to monitor clinical outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients in varying stages of disease underwent genetic analysis for mutations in K-ras and p53. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. Seventeen-mer peptides were custom synthesized to the corresponding mutation. Baseline immunity was assessed for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) release from mutant peptide-primed lymphocytes. Patients' peripheral-blood mononuclear cells were pulsed with the corresponding peptide, irradiated, and applied intravenously. Patients were observed for CTL, IFN-gamma, interleukin (IL) -2, IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor responses, for treatment-related toxicity, and for tumor response. RESULTS: No toxicity was observed. Ten (26%) of 38 patients had detectable CTL against mutant p53 or K-ras, and two patients were positive for CTL at baseline. Positive IFN-gamma responses occurred in 16 patients (42%) after vaccination, whereas four patients had positive IFN-gamma reaction before vaccination. Of 29 patients with evident disease, five experienced a period of stable disease. Favorable prognostic markers were detectable CTL activity and a positive IFN-gamma reaction but not IL-5 release. Median survival times of 393 v 98 days for a positive versus negative CTL response (P = .04), respectively, and of 470 v 88 days for a positive versus negative IFN-gamma response (P = .02), respectively, were detected. CONCLUSION: Custom-made peptide vaccination is feasible without any toxicity. CTL and cytokine responses specific to a given mutation can be induced or enhanced with peptide vaccines. Cellular immunity to mutant p53 and K-ras oncopeptides is associated with longer survival.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

HPV-16 L1 VLP vaccine elicits a broad-spectrum of cytokine responses in whole blood.

Here, we evaluated innate and adaptive immune system cytokine responses induced by HPV-16 L1 VLP in whole blood (WB) cultures from individuals receiving the vaccine (n=20) or placebo (n=4) before and after vaccination. 11 cytokines were measured: IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and GM-CSF using multiplex bead arrays. Cytokine profiles from WB samples clearly discriminated between vaccine and placebo recipients and between pre and post-vaccination responses. Significant increases in Th1, Th2 and inflammatory cytokines were observed in WB assays following vaccination. Results from WB assays were compared against parallel PBMC-based assays in a subset of patients. Differences between whole blood assay and PBMC were observed, with the highest levels of induction found for WB for several cytokines. Our results indicate that multiplex assays for cytokine profiling in WB are an efficient tool for assessing broad spectrum, innate and adaptive immune responses to vaccines and identifying immunologic correlates of protection in efficacy studies.

Adolescent↗