title: Universal vaccine carrier. Liposomes that provide T-dependent help to weak antigens.
abstract: The design of a thymus-dependent synthetic vaccine that will provide a universal T cell epitope for B cell epitopes is described in this study. Simultaneous incorporation into liposomes of both a peptide recognized by Th lymphocytes and a lipophilic hapten and the IgG antibody responses to this hapten were assessed in outbred mice. DNP-aminocaproyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DNP-CapPE) is a well characterized T-independent hapten Ag. HA2 peptide derived from the hemagglutinin protein of influenza virus contains amino acid sequences recognized by Th and T cytotoxic lymphocytes. In addition, HA2 contains a sequence of hydrophobic amino acids near the carboxyl terminus, allowing its incorporation into liposomes. Results of immunization show that (i), when DNP-CapPE is carried by liposomes without the HA2 peptide, an IgM antibody response is induced, (ii) liposomes carrying both HA2 and DNP-CapPE elicit an IgG antibody response to DNP in a dose-dependent fashion for both HA2 and DNP, (iii) the liposomes must be processed intracellularly in order to elicit a response, (iv) the system leads to a memory response for DNP, and (v) all of the IgG subclasses are elicited. These data suggest that liposomes containing the HA2 peptide exhibit a T-dependent carrier effect for a T-independent Ag. The significance of these findings is discussed in conjunction with the characteristics of the liposome model used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Garcon
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Six
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008081:Liposomes; D014612:Vaccines