title: Immunostimulatory effects of a plasmid expressing CD40 ligand (CD154) on gene immunization.
abstract: Interaction of CD40 with its ligand (CD154) can induce CD40-bearing APCs to express immune stimulatory accessory molecules that facilitate immune recognition. We evaluated whether a plasmid vector encoding CD154 (pCD40L) could influence the immune response to a transgene protein encoded by coinjected plasmid DNA. We found that coinjection of pCD40L in BALB/c mice enhanced the Ab response to beta-galactosidase induced by i.m. or intradermal injection of placZ, a plasmid DNA vector encoding beta-galactosidase. Furthermore, i.m. or intradermal coinjection of pCD40L with placZ enhanced the generation of CTL specific for P815 cells transfected with placZ. This study indicates that pCD40L can serve as a genetic adjuvant capable of augmenting humoral and cellular immune responses to Ags encoded by plasmid DNA expression vectors.
authors.affiliation: Human Gene Therapy Program, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0663, USA.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cantwell
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kipps
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012515:Mast-Cell Sarcoma; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000906:Antibodies; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D001616:beta-Galactosidase