title: The synthetic peptide Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met as a novel adjuvant for DNA vaccine.
abstract: Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met (WKYMVm) is a synthetic peptide known to activate human neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells, resulting in the enhancement of superoxide generation, bactericidal activity, chemotactic migration and survival. In this study, we demonstrated that WKYMVm enhanced the surface expression of CD80, but not that of CD40, CD86 and MHC class II, on mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells which is one of the essential costimulatory signals for the induction of immune responses. Furthermore, when WKYMVm was codelivered with HIV, HBV and Influenza DNA vaccines, WKYMVm selectively enhanced the vaccine-induced CD8(+) T cell responses in a dose-dependent manner, in terms of IFN-gamma secretion and cytolytic activity. Our results indicate that a synthetic peptide, WKYMVm can function as a novel adjuvant for DNA vaccine.
authors.affiliation: National Research Laboratory of DNA medicine, Division of Molecular and Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyungbuk 790-784, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Geun
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Su-Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ki Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D009842:Oligopeptides; C113617:Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines