A soluble hexameric form of CD40 ligand activates human dendritic cells and augments memory T cell response.
A strategy to improve the immunogenicity of candidate vaccines is to trigger the innate immune system. Triggering of CD40 at the surface of dendritic cells (DC) is essential in the induction of an efficient immune response. Although CD40 agonist antibodies have been shown to be potent inducers of immune responses in experimental models, serious safety concerns have been raised for their use in humans. In addition, the production of soluble functional CD40 ligand has been challenging and the soluble form existing so far is not developed anymore. Here, we have evaluated the potency of a new soluble form of hexameric CD40 ligand (sCD40L) to serve as an adjuvant for anti-viral T cell responses. sCD40L was able to activate human DC and to enhance virus-specific memory T cell responses. These results demonstrate that this soluble form of CD40 ligand may serve as an adjuvant for T cell response and thus provide the rationale for its potential use in T cell based vaccine strategies.
Laboratory of AIDS Immunopathogenesis, Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Isabelle
I
Miconnet
Giuseppe
G
Pantaleo
D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D012834:Silver / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D012834:Silver