title: Cytokine and gene transcription profiles of immune responses elicited by HIV lipopeptide vaccine in HIV-negative volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To dissect the biological mechanisms involved in the cellular responses to a candidate vaccine containing 5 HIV peptides coupled to a palmytoil tail (HIV-LIPO-5) in healthy volunteers, by using extensive immunogenicity assessments with different stimulation durations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunogenicity substudy of a randomized phase II prophylactic HIV vaccine trial (ANRS VAC 18).
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV-LIPO-5 or placebo was administered at W0, W4, W12 and W24. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a subset of participants at W0 and W14 were stimulated with HIV-LIPO-5, Gag peptides contained in the vaccine and control peptides. ELISpot, lymphoproliferation, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), cytokine multiplex and transcriptomic analyses were performed. Different time points and stimulation conditions were compared, controlling for test multiplicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cultured ELISpot and lymphoproliferation responses were detected at W14. Ex-vivo ICS showed mainly interleukin (IL)-2-producing cells. Secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-5 and IL-13 increased significantly after culture and Gag stimulation at W14 compared to W0. Metallothionein genes were consistently overexpressed after HIV-LIPO-5 stimulation at W0 and W14. At W14, significant probes increased substantially, including IFN-γ, CXCL9, IL2RA, TNFAIP6, CCL3L1 and IL-6. Canonical pathway analyses indicated a role of interferon signalling genes in response to HIV-LIPO-5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-LIPO-5 vaccination elicited Th1 and Th2 memory precursor responses and a consistent modulation in gene expression. The response profile before vaccination suggests an adjuvant effect of the lipid tail of HIV-LIPO-5. Our combined immunogenicity analyses allowed to identify a specific signature profile of HIV-LIPO-5 and indicate that HIV-LIPO-5 could be further developed as a prime in heterologous prime-boost strategies.
authors.affiliation: University Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hue
authors.forename: Hakim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hocini
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raimbault
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacabaratz
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surenaud
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
authors.forename: Pascaline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tisserand
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durier
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: Jean-Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lelièvre
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chêne
authors.forename: Rodolphe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thiébaut
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lévy
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D055666:Lipopeptides