A Super TLR Agonist to Improve Efficacy of Dendritic Cell Vaccine in Induction of Anti-HCV Immunity

Bangxing Hong, Sung Hyung Lee, Xiao Tong Song, Lindsey Jones, Keigo Machida, Xue F. Huang, Si Yi Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Persistent infections caused by pathogens such as hepatitis C virus are major human diseases with limited or suboptimal prophylactic and therapeutic options. Given the critical role of dendritic cell (DC) in inducing immune responses, DC vaccination is an attractive means to prevent and control the occurrence and persistence of the infections. However, DCs are built-in with inherent negative regulation mechanisms which attenuate their immune stimulatory activity and lead to their ineffectiveness in clinical application. In this study, we developed a super DC stimulant that consists of a modified, secretory Toll-like Receptor (TLR)-5 ligand and an inhibitor of the negative regulator, suppressor of cytokine sinaling-1 (SOCS1). We found that expressing the super stimulant in DCs is drastically more potent and persistent than using the commonly used DC stimuli to enhance the level and duration of inflammatory cytokine production by both murine and human DCs. Moreover, the DCs expressing the super stimulant are more potent to provoke both cellular and humoral immune responses against hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen in vivo. Thus, the strategy capable of triggering and sustaining proinflammatory status of DCs may be used to boost efficiency of DC vaccine in preventing and combating the persistent infection of HCV or other chronic viruses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere48614
JournalPloS one
Volume7
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 7 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Super TLR Agonist to Improve Efficacy of Dendritic Cell Vaccine in Induction of Anti-HCV Immunity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this