GP120-specific exosome-targeted T cell-based vaccine capable of stimulating DC- and CD4(+) T-independent CTL

Roopa Hebbandi Nanjundappa1, Rong Wang, Yufeng Xie

  • 1Cancer Research Unit, Research Division, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Vaccine
|March 17, 2011
PubMed

The limitations of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) have necessitated the development of alternative therapeutics. In this study, we generated ovalbumin (OVA)-pulsed and pcDNAgp120-transfected dendritic cell (DC)-released exosomes (EXOova and EXOgp120) and ConA-stimulated C57BL/6 CD8(+) T cells. OVA- and Gp120-Texo vaccines were generated from CD8(+) T cells with uptake of EXOova and EXOgp120, respectively. We demonstrate that OVA-Texo stimulates in vitro and in vivo OVA-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses leading to long-term immunity against OVA-expressing BL6-10(OVA) melanoma. Interestingly, CD8(+) T cell responses are DC and CD4(+) T cell independent. Importantly, Gp120-Texo also stimulates Gp120-specific CTL responses and long-term immunity against Gp120-expressing B16 melanoma. Therefore, this novel HIV-1-specific EXO-targeted Gp120-Texo vaccine may be useful in induction of efficient CTL responses in AIDS patients with DC dysfunction and CD4(+) T cell deficiency.

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