Targeting of antigens to B cells augments antigen-specific T-cell responses and breaks immune tolerance to tumor-associated antigen MUC1

Blood. 2008 Oct 1;112(7):2817-25. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-05-157396. Epub 2008 Jul 31.

Abstract

B cells are antibody (Ab)-secreting cells as well as potent antigen (Ag)-presenting cells that prime T-cell activation, which evokes great interest in their use for vaccine development. Here, we targeted ovalbumin (OVA) to B cells via CD19 and found that a single low dose of anti-CD19-OVA conjugates, but not isotype mAb-OVA, stimulated augmented CD4 and CD8 T-cell proliferation and expansion. Administration of TLR9 agonist CpG could significantly enhance long-term T-cell survival. Similar results were obtained when the tumor-associated Ag MUC1 was delivered to B cells. MUC1 transgenic (Tg) mice were previously found to lack effective T-cell help and produce low-titer of anti-MUC1 Abs after vaccination. Targeting MUC1 to B cells elicited high titer of anti-MUC1 Abs with different isotypes, predominantly IgG2a and IgG2b, in MUC1 Tg mice. The isotype switching of anti-MUC1 Ab was CD4 dependent. In addition, IFN-gamma-producing CD8 T cells and in vivo cytolytic activity were significantly increased in these mice. The mice also showed significant resistance to MUC1(+) lymphoma cell challenge both in the prophylactic and therapeutic settings. We conclude that Ags targeting to B cells stimulate CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses as well as Th-dependent humoral immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • Antigens, CD19 / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Clonal Anergy / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mucin-1 / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / pharmacology
  • Ovalbumin / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, CD19
  • CPG-oligonucleotide
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Ovalbumin