Tattoo Delivery of a Semliki Forest Virus-Based Vaccine Encoding Human Papillomavirus E6 and E7.
The skin is an attractive organ for immunization because of the presence of antigen-presenting cells. Intradermal delivery via tattooing has demonstrated superior vaccine immunogenicity of DNA vaccines in comparison to conventional delivery methods. In this study, we explored the efficacy of tattoo injection of a tumor vaccine based on recombinant Semliki Forest virus replicon particles (rSFV) targeting human papillomavirus (HPV). Tattoo injection of rSFV particles resulted in antigen expression in both the skin and draining lymph nodes. In comparison with intramuscular injection, the overall antigen expression determined at the site of administration and draining lymph nodes was 10-fold lower upon tattoo injection. Delivery of SFV particles encoding the E6 and E7 antigens of human papillomavirus type 16 (SFVeE6,7) via tattooing resulted in HPV-specific cytotoxic T cells and in vivo therapeutic antitumor response. Strikingly, despite the observed lower overall transgene expression, SFVeE6,7 delivered via tattoo injection resulted in higher or equal levels of immune responses as compared to intramuscular injection. The intrinsic immunogenic potential of tattooing provides a benefit for immunotherapy based on an alphavirus.
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, HPC EB88, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. m.n.s.van.de.wall@umcg.nl.
Stephanie
S
van de Wall
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, HPC EB88, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Mateusz.Walczak@rr-research.no.
Mateusz
M
Walczak
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, HPC EB88, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. n.van.rooij@umcg.nl.
Nienke
N
van Rooij
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, HPC EB88, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. b.n.hoogeboom@umcg.nl.
Baukje-Nynke
BN
Hoogeboom
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, HPC EB88, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. t.meijerhof@umcg.nl.
Tjarko
T
Meijerhof
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. h.w.nijman@umcg.nl.
Hans W
HW
Nijman
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, HPC EB88, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. c.a.h.h.daemen@umcg.nl.
Toos
T
Daemen
cervical cancer; immunotherapy; tattooing; viral vector