Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres in respirable sizes enhance an in vitro T cell response to recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85B.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles in respirable sizes as carriers for Antigen 85B (Ag85B), a secreted protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with the ultimate goal of employing them in pulmonary delivery of tuberculosis vaccine.


METHODS
Recombinant Ag85B was expressed from two Escherichia coli strains and encapsulated by spray-drying in PLGA microspheres with/without adjuvants. These microspheres containing rAg85B were assessed for their ability to deliver antigen to macrophages for subsequent processing and presentation to the specific CD4 T-hybridoma cells DB-1. DB-1 cells recognize the Ag85B(97-112) epitope presented in the context of MHC class II and secrete IL-2 as the cytokine marker.


RESULTS
Microspheres suitable for aerosol delivery to the lungs (3.4-4.3 microm median diameter) and targeting alveolar macrophages were manufactured. THP-1 macrophage-like cells exposed with PLGA-rAg85B microspheres induced the DB-1 cells to produce IL-2 at a level that was two orders of magnitude larger than the response elicited by soluble rAg85B. This formulation demonstrated extended epitope presentation.


CONCLUSIONS
PLGA microspheres in respirable sizes were effective in delivering rAg85B in an immunologically relevant manner to macrophages. These results are a foundation for further investigation into the potential use of PLGA particles for delivery of vaccines to prevent M. tuberculosis infection.
Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7360, USA.
Dongmei
D
Lu
Lucila
L
Garcia-Contreras
Ding
D
Xu
Sherry L
SL
Kurtz
Jian
J
Liu
Miriam
M
Braunstein
David N
DN
McMurray
Anthony J
AJ
Hickey
D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000737:chemistry*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000336:Aerosols; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D000217:Acyltransferases; C121433:antigen 85B, Mycobacterium tuberculosis