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Skin Tattooing As A Novel Approach For DNA Vaccine Delivery
Published on: October 18, 2012
Immunogenic Comparison of Nucleic Acid-Based Vaccines Administered by Pyro-Drive Jet Injector
Jiayu A Tai1, Tomoyuki Nishikawa1, Hiroki Hayashi2
1Department of Device Application for Molecular Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract:
mRNA vaccines were successfully developed and approved for emergency use to fight coronavirus disease 2019. However, the effect of DNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is considerably lower than that of mRNA vaccines. A pyro-drive jet injector (PJI) efficiently delivers plasmid DNA intradermally into animal models. Here, we compared the immunogenic potential of DNA and mRNA vaccines in mice using the same platform. PJI was used to deliver naked mRNA and pDNA and their efficacy in inducing antigen expression and immune responses was assessed. Our results showed that PJI efficiently delivered mRNA into the skin, and a smaller effective dose than that of pDNA injection was required to achieve similar levels of antigen expression. The PJI-delivered CpG-free pDNA vaccine efficiently induced antigen-specific antibody production and a cell-mediated IFN-γ response compared to the mRNA vaccine, as well as the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-1β) in the skin and lymph nodes. However, the intradermal mRNA vaccine was significantly less immunogenic than the standard intramuscular mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine, despite equivalent mRNA dosages. Improvements in lipid nanoparticle and mRNA technology have revolutionized mRNA vaccines, and DNA vaccines can be similarly modified for higher clinical efficacy.
Insights
Pyro-drive jet injectors (PJI) efficiently deliver DNA and mRNA vaccines intradermally. While PJI-delivered DNA vaccines induced stronger immune responses in mice, mRNA vaccines require further technological improvements for enhanced efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Vaccinology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have shown success against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- DNA vaccines have demonstrated lower efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 compared to mRNA vaccines.
- Pyro-drive jet injectors (PJI) offer efficient intradermal delivery of plasmid DNA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the immunogenic potential of DNA and mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in mice.
- To evaluate the efficacy of PJI for intradermal delivery of both mRNA and DNA vaccines.
- To assess antigen expression and immune responses induced by PJI-delivered vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Mice were vaccinated intradermally using PJI with naked mRNA and plasmid DNA (pDNA).
- Antigen expression, antibody production, and cell-mediated immune responses (IFN-γ) were assessed.
- Upregulation of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-1β) in skin and lymph nodes was measured.
Main Results:
- PJI efficiently delivered mRNA intradermally, requiring a lower dose for antigen expression compared to pDNA.
- PJI-delivered CpG-free pDNA vaccine induced robust antigen-specific antibody and IFN-γ responses.
- Intradermal mRNA vaccine showed lower immunogenicity than intramuscular mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines.
- PJI-delivered pDNA vaccine upregulated inflammatory cytokines in skin and lymph nodes.
Conclusions:
- PJI is an effective platform for intradermal delivery of both mRNA and DNA vaccines.
- CpG-free pDNA vaccines delivered via PJI can elicit significant antigen-specific immunity.
- Further advancements in DNA vaccine technology, similar to mRNA improvements, could enhance clinical efficacy.
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