title: The effects of adjuvants on CTL induction by V3:Ty-virus-like particles (V3-VLPs) in mice.
abstract: We have previously described the generation of HIV-1 V3-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) responses in BALB/c (H-2d) mice following immunization with Ty-virus-like particles carrying the V3 loop of gp120 (V3-VLPs) without adjuvant. In this study the effects of various adjuvants on CTL induction by V3-VLPs was examined. Mice immunized with V3-VLPs formulated in aqueous-based adjuvants, Detox, gamma-inulin, galactosaminylmuramyl dipeptide and Chemivax generated V3-specific CTL responses, although at reduced levels when compared to the no adjuvant group. V3-VLPs prepared in Alhydrogel, algamulin or as an oil emulsion in SAF-MF failed to generate V3-specific CTL responses. The mechanism whereby alum prevented the induction of a CTL response was investigated further. Immunization with V3-VLPs prepared in non-saturating doses of alum or alum plus EDTA primed for strong CTL responses, indicating that free VLPs do, but alum-bound VLPs do not enter the MHC class I processing pathway of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Furthermore, V3-VLPs with very low doses of alum led to an enhancement of the CTL response. The formulation of hybrid Ty-VLPs in oil based or precipitating adjuvants, therefore, inhibits access to the MHC class I processing pathway of APCs. The intact particulate structure of hybrid VLPs is therefore strictly necessary for CTL induction.
authors.affiliation: British Biotech Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cowley, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Woodrow
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gearing
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kingsman
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Layton
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; C041524:aluminum sulfate