title: Genetic co-transfer of CCR7 ligands enhances immunity and prolongs survival against virulent challenge of pseudorabies virus.
abstract: The CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and cognate CCR7 ligands, CCL19 and CCL21, help establish microenvironments in lymphoid tissue that can facilitate encounters between naive T cells and mature dendritic cells (DCs). This study was conducted to determine if CCR7 ligands can augment the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine that expresses glycoprotein B (gB) of the pseudorabies virus (PrV). The genetic co-transfer of CCR7 ligands along with a PrV DNA vaccine increased the levels of serum PrV-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G by 2- to 2.5-fold. In addition, the level of PrV-specific IgG2a isotype was significantly enhanced by co-injection of CCR7 ligand DNA, which indicates that CCR7 ligand biases the humoral immunity toward the Th1-type pattern. The co-injection of CCR7 ligand DNA consistently enhanced the level of Th1-type cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) produced by stimulated immune cells when compared with a group that was vaccinated with the PrV DNA vaccine. Also, the genetic co-transfer of CCR7 ligand DNAs with PrV DNA vaccine provided prolonged survival against a virulent challenge by PrV. Moreover, the co-administration of CCR7 ligand DNA increased the number of mature DCs into the secondary lymphoid tissues, which appeared to enhance the proliferation of PrV-immune CD4(+) T cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that CCR7 ligands are an attractive adjuvant for a PrV DNA vaccine that can offer protective immunity against the PrV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-Safety Research Institute, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Abi G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Aleyas
authors.forename: Junu A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Seon Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Seong Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Seong Kug
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Eo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D054415:Chemokine CCL19 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054421:Chemokine CCL21 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011557:Pseudorabies / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022421:Pseudorabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D054415:Chemokine CCL19; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D016207:Cytokines; D022421:Pseudorabies Vaccines; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C070915:glycoprotein gII, pseudorabies virus