title: The role of ISCOMATRIX bilayer composition to induce a cell mediated immunity and protection against leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Development of new generation of vaccines against leishmaniasis is possible because long-term protection is usually seen after recovery from cutaneous leishmaniasis. ISCOMATRIX is particulate antigen delivery system composed of antigen, cholesterol, phospholipid and saponin. In this study, the role of ISCOMATRIX bilayer composition made by different phase transition temperature (Tc) to induce a type of immune response and protection against leishmaniasis was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  ISCOMATRIX formulations with different bilayer compositions consisting of EPC (Tc <0 °C), DMPC (Tc 23 °C) and DSPC (Tc 54 °C) were prepared. Different ISCOMATRIX formulations were mixed with soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA). BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously, three times with 2-week intervals. As criteria for protection, footpads swelling, parasite burden, determination of IgG isotypes and the level of IFN-γ and IL-4 were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the groups of mice immunized with ISCOMATRIX DMPC or ISCOMATRIX DSPC showed the smallest footpad swelling and least parasite burden compared with the buffer group, the difference was not significant. Moreover, the highest level of IFN- γ and IL-4 was observed in the splenocytes of mice immunized with ISCOMATRIX DMPC or ISCOMATRIX DSPC, respectively. After challenge, the mice immunized with ISCOMATRIX DSPC showed the highest elevation of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies (P<0.01) compared with control group. However, our results indicated that ISCOMATRIX EPC, DMPC or DSPC generated a mixed Th1/Th2 response that was not protective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that the adjuvanticity of prepared ISCOMATRIX doesn't influence with different phospholipids at least in our mice model.
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehravaran
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jaafari
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Amir
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khamesipour
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranjbar
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansure
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hojatizade
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badiee
keywords: ISCOMATRIX; Immune response; Leishmania major; Transition temperature