Sublingual immunization with an HIV subunit vaccine induces antibodies and cytotoxic T cells in the mouse female genital tract.
A vaccine against heterosexual transmission by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) should generate cytotoxic and antibody responses in the female genital tract and in extra-genital organs. We report that sublingual immunization with HIV-1 gp41 and a reverse transcriptase polypeptide coupled to the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) induced gp41-specific IgA antibodies and antibody-secreting cells, as well as reverse transcriptase-specific CD8 T cells in the genital mucosa, contrary to intradermal immunization. Conjugation of the reverse transcriptase peptide to CTB favored its cross-presentation by human dendritic cells to a T cell line from an HIV(+) patient. Sublingual vaccination could represent a promising vaccine strategy against heterosexual transmission of HIV-1.
Hervouet
Catherine
C
Inserm, U634, Faculté de Médecine Pasteur, 06107 Nice cedex 2, France.
Luci
Carmelo
C
Cuburu
Nicolas
N
Cremel
Magali
M
Bekri
Selma
S
Vimeux
Lene
L
Marañon
Concepcion
C
Czerkinsky
Cecil
C
Hosmalin
Anne
A
Anjuère
Fabienne
F
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000818:Animals; D045142:Cross-Priming; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C514787:gp41 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1