Importance of particle size of oligomannose-coated liposomes for induction of Th1 immunity.

Oligomannose-coated liposomes (OMLs) comprised of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and Man3-DPPE at a molar ratio of 1:1:0.1 and particle diameters of about 1000 nm can induce liposome-encased antigen-specific strong Th1 immunity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of particle sizes of OMLs on induction of Th1 immune responses in mice. Spleen cells obtained from mice immunized with antigen-encapsulating OMLs with 1000- and 800-nm diameters secreted remarkably high levels of IFN-γ upon in vitro stimulation. In addition, sera of mice that received these OMLs had significantly higher titers of antigen-specific IgG2a than those of IgG1, which are commonly associated with Th1 responses. In contrast, treatment with antigen-encapsulating OMLs with 400- and 200-nm diameters failed to induce IFN-γ secretion from spleen cells, although these OMLs did elicit elevation of antigen-specific IgGs. In addition, the titers of serum antigen-specific IgG2a were the same as those of IgG1 in mice that received 400-nm OMLs. Resident peritoneal mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) treated with OMLs of diameter ≥ 600 nm secreted IL-12, which is essential for induction of Th1 immune responses, while those treated with OMLs of ≤ 400 nm failed to produce this cytokine. However, 400-nm OMLs did induce enhanced expression of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules on MNPs, similarly to OMLs of ≥ 600 nm. Taken together, these results strongly indicate that OMLs of diameter ≥ 600 nm are required to induce Th1 immune responses against OML-encased antigens, although OMLs of diameter ≤ 400 nm can activate MNPs.

Novel colloidal associations of soyasaponins and lipid components (DPPC, cholesterol) as potential adjuvants for vaccines.

Soyasaponins from soybean (Glycine max) represent promising new potent adjuvants for vaccine research because of their immunostimulating properties and weak hemolytic activity. In the present study, saponin microstructures of soyasaponins (soyasaponin Bb, soyasaponin Ab) with lipid components (cholesterol, DPPC (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine)) were designed by the lipid film method. In interaction studies between soyasaponins (soyasaponin Ab/Bb) and Langmuir monolayers (model membranes), composed of cholesterol and DPPC, marked interactions between soyasaponins and a pure cholesterol monolayer were observed. No interaction was detected for soyasaponins with a pure DPPC monolayer. The intercalation of soyasaponins in a mixed DPPC/cholesterol (3:1, w/w) monolayer was only observed for the monodesmosidic soyasaponin Bb whereas the second sugar chain of the bidesmosidic soyasaponin Ab impaired the access to the monolayer. Transmission electron microscopy was used for visualizing particle formation of soyasaponins and lipid components. Pseudo-binary systems (soyasaponin Ab/Bb, cholesterol) formed colloidal associations built up from ring-like subunits in the nanometer size range. In pseudo-ternary systems (soyasaponin, cholesterol, DPPC) soyasaponin Bb attacked the liposomal membrane by forming colloidal associations. Colloidal associations in pseudo-ternary systems with soyasaponin Ab, cholesterol and a phospholipid were only observed in the presence of PE (phosphatidylethanolamine) instead of DPPC. In an MTT assay with a HaCaT cell line (keratinocyte cell line) the cell viability was neither affected by the soyasaponins nor by the corresponding formulations. Both the pure soyasaponin solution and the saponin formulations may be promising adjuvant systems for the intradermal vaccine application. Furthermore, interaction studies between the model antigen ovalbumin and colloidal associations of saponins and cholesterol using MST (Microscale Thermophoresis) gave first indications of an antigen binding to colloidal associations. Ex vivo T-cell proliferation in the presence of soyasaponin Ab was confirmed.

The adjuvant GLA-AF enhances human intradermal vaccine responses.

Adjuvants are key to shaping the immune response to vaccination, but to date, no adjuvant suitable for human use has been developed for intradermal vaccines. These vaccines could be self-administered and sent through the mail as they do not require long needles or technical expertise in immunization. In the event of a pandemic outbreak, this approach could alleviate the congregation of patients in health centers and thus reduce the potential of these centers to enhance the spread of lethal infection. A reliable and potent vaccine system for self-administration would provide an effective countermeasure for delivery through existing product distribution infrastructure. We report results from preclinical and clinical trials that demonstrate the feasibility of an adjuvanted, intradermal vaccine that induced single shot protection in ferrets and seroprotection in humans against one of the more lethal strains of pandemic flu, Indonesia H5N1. In the human trial, the vaccine was safe and clinical responses were above approvable endpoints for a protective flu vaccine. Inclusion of a modern TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4) agonist-based adjuvant was critical to the development of the response in the intradermal groups. In humans, this is the first report of a safe and effective intradermal adjuvant, GLA-AF (aqueous formulation of glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant), and provides a future path for developing a vaccine-device combination for distribution by mail and self-administration in case of a pandemic.

GLA-AF, an emulsion-free vaccine adjuvant for pandemic influenza.

The ongoing threat from Influenza necessitates the development of new vaccine and adjuvant technologies that can maximize vaccine immunogenicity, shorten production cycles, and increase global vaccine supply. Currently, the most successful adjuvants for Influenza vaccines are squalene-based oil-in-water emulsions. These adjuvants enhance seroprotective antibody titers to homologous and heterologous strains of virus, and augment a significant dose sparing activity that could improve vaccine manufacturing capacity. As an alternative to an emulsion, we tested a simple lipid-based aqueous formulation containing a synthetic TLR4 ligand (GLA-AF) for its ability to enhance protection against H5N1 infection. GLA-AF was very effective in adjuvanting recombinant H5 hemagglutinin antigen (rH5) in mice and was as potent as the stable emulsion, SE. Both adjuvants induced similar antibody titers using a sub-microgram dose of rH5, and both conferred complete protection against a highly pathogenic H5N1 challenge. However, GLA-AF was the superior adjuvant in ferrets. GLA-AF stimulated a broader antibody response than SE after both the prime and boost immunization with rH5, and ferrets were better protected against homologous and heterologous strains of H5N1 virus. Thus, GLA-AF is a potent emulsion-free adjuvant that warrants consideration for pandemic influenza vaccine development.

Induction of immune responses against glycosphingolipid antigens: comparison of antibody responses in mice immunized with antigen associated with liposomes prepared from various phospholipids.

The immune responses of mice against glycosphingolipid (GSL) antigens and the effect of the phospholipid composition of liposomes on the immunogenicity in mice of liposome-associated GSL antigens were examined. The immunization with GSL antigen alone was unable to induce any detectable anti-GSL antibody responses. On the other hand, the immune responses against GSL antigens were detected after immunization with liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) (0.5 micromol), cholesterol (Chol) (0.5 micromol), Salmonella minnesota R595 lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (10 microg) and GSL (0.05 micromol) (DPPC-liposome). However, the administration with liposome composed of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) (0.5 micromol), Chol (0.5 micromol), S. minnesota R595 LPS (10 microg) and GSL (0.05 micromol) and with liposomes composed of distearylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) (0.5 micromol), Chol (0.5 micromol), and S. minnesota R595 LPS (10 microg) and GSL (0.05 micromol) was ineffective for the induction of the immune responses against GSL antigens. These results suggest that DPPC-liposome would serve effectively as a delivery vehicle for inducing immune responses against GSL antigen.

Antibody response in the intestinal tract of mice orally immunized with antigen associated with liposomes.

In order to evaluate the usefulness of liposomes, which are stable in acidic solution, bile and pancreatin solution (stable liposomes), as vehicle for oral vaccines, the intestinal IgA antibody responses of mice to liposome-associated antigen after oral administration were examined. The intestinal IgA antibody responses against ganglioside GM1 were detected after the oral immunization of ganglioside GM1-containing stable liposomes. When monophosphoryl lipid A was incorporated into stable liposomes containing ganglioside GM1, further augmentation of IgA responses to ganglioside GM1 was observed. On the other hand, the oral administration with ganglioside GM1 alone was unable to induce any detectable intestinal anti-ganglioside GM1 IgA antibody response. These results suggest that liposomes which are stable in acidic solution, bile, and pancreatin solution would serve effectively as an oral delivery vehicle for inducing mucosal immune responses.

Modulation of noninduced and phorbol ester-induced generation of superoxide anion by free liposomes and liposomes containing dexamethasone.

We tested the relative efficacy of free dexamethasone, dexamethasone containing liposomes and free liposomes in preventing superoxide anion, O-2 generation by neutrophils. O-2 production by 5 x 10(5) neutrophils, whether primed or not with lipopolysaccharide, was stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to 13.4 +/- 1.3 nmoles after 15 minutes compared to 1.2 +/- 0.3 nmoles with nonstimulated cells. Free liposomes but not dexamethasone (dexa) decreased non-stimulated as well as PMA-induced O-2 generation. Dexa-containing phosphatidylcholine from egg yolk: phosphatidylserine from bovine brain (PC:PS 7:3) liposomes, unlike free dexa, diminished PMA-stimulated O-2 production in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal effect at 37.5 micrograms/ml phospholipid (6.6 +/- 1.6 nmoles). The kinetics of cytochrome-c reduction revealed that decreased O-2 production resulted from an extended lag-time of release to almost 8 minutes with PMA induction and consequently led to the conclusion that liposomes modified the activity of NADPH oxidase as well as that of protein kinase C. Liposomes prepared with PC and PS of natural origin had a greater inhibitory effect on O-2 generation by neutrophils than dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and phosphatidylethanolamine from egg yolk (PE):PC (3:1) liposomes. When 100 microM of Ca2+ was added to the medium, the inhibitory action of liposomes prepared with egg yolK PC and DPPC was increased by 30 and 60% respectively, while that of PS and PE:PC was prevented. We also verified that liposomes by themselves, even if phagocytized, did not induce O-2 generation or its concentration was too low to be detected by this technique. From the clinical point of view, some formulations delayed non-induced and PMA-induced O-2 generation, thus adding to the anti-inflammatory effect of the glucocorticoid they transported.

Optimization of antigen presentation to T cell hybridomas by purified Ia molecules in planar membranes. Ia molecule polymorphism determines the antigenic fine specificity of the response to cytochrome c peptides.

Ia molecule (Ek,b beta:Ek alpha or Ak beta:Ak alpha)-containing planar membranes were constructed with cholesterol and a 9:1 molar ratio of the phospholipids dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and dilinoleoyl phosphatidylcholine. This lipid composition was found to be optimal for the stimulation of T cell hybridomas of different specificities. Use of this system allowed the detection of weak responses not measurable when other artificial membranes were used. Activation of the cytochrome c, Ek,b beta:Ek alpha-reactive hybridoma 2B4.11 using such membranes resulted in responses comparable to those found using antigen-presenting cells (APC); that is, similar amounts of IL-2 were produced at the same concentrations of antigenic peptides. Presentation of moth and pigeon cytochrome c peptides by Ek beta:Ek alpha- or Eb beta:Ek alpha-reconstituted membranes resulted in 2B4.11 response patterns similar to those previously described using B10.A or B10.A(5R) APC. These data conclusively demonstrate that differential stimulation by moth and pigeon cytochrome c peptides depends solely on structural differences in the E beta:E alpha molecules used for antigen presentation.