In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responses

Abstract There is an unmet need for antigen delivery systems that elicit efficient T cell priming to prevent infectious diseases or for treatment of cancers. Here, we explored the immunogenic potential of biologically assembled biopolymer particles (BPs) that have been bioengineered to display the a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Devi Jenika, Saranya Pounraj, David Wibowo, Leonhard M. Flaxl, Bernd H. A. Rehm, Justine D. Mintern
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-01-01
Series:npj Vaccines
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-023-00787-8
_version_ 1797340380398616576
author Devi Jenika
Saranya Pounraj
David Wibowo
Leonhard M. Flaxl
Bernd H. A. Rehm
Justine D. Mintern
author_facet Devi Jenika
Saranya Pounraj
David Wibowo
Leonhard M. Flaxl
Bernd H. A. Rehm
Justine D. Mintern
author_sort Devi Jenika
collection DOAJ
description Abstract There is an unmet need for antigen delivery systems that elicit efficient T cell priming to prevent infectious diseases or for treatment of cancers. Here, we explored the immunogenic potential of biologically assembled biopolymer particles (BPs) that have been bioengineered to display the antigenic MHC I and MHC II epitopes of model antigen ovalbumin (OVA). Purified dendritic cells (DCs) captured BP-OVA and presented the associated antigenic epitopes to CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Vaccination with BP-OVA in the absence of adjuvant elicited antigen presentation to OVA-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and cross-primed effective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) killers. BP-OVA induction of CTL killing did not require CD4+ T cell help, with active CTLs generated in BP-OVA vaccinated I-A b−/− and CD40 −/− mice. In contrast, IL-15 and type I IFN were required, with abrogated CTL activity in vaccinated IL-15 −/− and IFNAR1 −/− mice. cDC1 and/or CD103+ DCs were not essential for BP-OVA specific CTL with immunization eliciting responses in Batf3 −/− mice. Poly I:C, but not LPS or CpG, co-administered as an adjuvant with BP-OVA boosted CTL responses. Finally, vaccination with BP-OVA protected against B16-OVA melanoma and Eμ-myc-GFP-OVA lymphoma inoculation. In summary, we have demonstrated that epitope-displaying BPs represent an antigen delivery platform exhibiting a unique mechanism to effectively engage T cell immune responses.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T10:01:17Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e643f993703c465094e2a0f13d78daee
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2059-0105
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T10:01:17Z
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Vaccines
spelling doaj.art-e643f993703c465094e2a0f13d78daee2024-01-29T10:55:55ZengNature Portfolionpj Vaccines2059-01052024-01-019111110.1038/s41541-023-00787-8In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responsesDevi Jenika0Saranya Pounraj1David Wibowo2Leonhard M. Flaxl3Bernd H. A. Rehm4Justine D. Mintern5Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology InstituteCentre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith UniversityCentre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology InstituteCentre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology InstituteAbstract There is an unmet need for antigen delivery systems that elicit efficient T cell priming to prevent infectious diseases or for treatment of cancers. Here, we explored the immunogenic potential of biologically assembled biopolymer particles (BPs) that have been bioengineered to display the antigenic MHC I and MHC II epitopes of model antigen ovalbumin (OVA). Purified dendritic cells (DCs) captured BP-OVA and presented the associated antigenic epitopes to CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Vaccination with BP-OVA in the absence of adjuvant elicited antigen presentation to OVA-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and cross-primed effective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) killers. BP-OVA induction of CTL killing did not require CD4+ T cell help, with active CTLs generated in BP-OVA vaccinated I-A b−/− and CD40 −/− mice. In contrast, IL-15 and type I IFN were required, with abrogated CTL activity in vaccinated IL-15 −/− and IFNAR1 −/− mice. cDC1 and/or CD103+ DCs were not essential for BP-OVA specific CTL with immunization eliciting responses in Batf3 −/− mice. Poly I:C, but not LPS or CpG, co-administered as an adjuvant with BP-OVA boosted CTL responses. Finally, vaccination with BP-OVA protected against B16-OVA melanoma and Eμ-myc-GFP-OVA lymphoma inoculation. In summary, we have demonstrated that epitope-displaying BPs represent an antigen delivery platform exhibiting a unique mechanism to effectively engage T cell immune responses.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-023-00787-8
spellingShingle Devi Jenika
Saranya Pounraj
David Wibowo
Leonhard M. Flaxl
Bernd H. A. Rehm
Justine D. Mintern
In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responses
npj Vaccines
title In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responses
title_full In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responses
title_fullStr In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responses
title_full_unstemmed In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responses
title_short In vivo assembly of epitope-coated biopolymer particles that induce anti-tumor responses
title_sort in vivo assembly of epitope coated biopolymer particles that induce anti tumor responses
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-023-00787-8
work_keys_str_mv AT devijenika invivoassemblyofepitopecoatedbiopolymerparticlesthatinduceantitumorresponses
AT saranyapounraj invivoassemblyofepitopecoatedbiopolymerparticlesthatinduceantitumorresponses
AT davidwibowo invivoassemblyofepitopecoatedbiopolymerparticlesthatinduceantitumorresponses
AT leonhardmflaxl invivoassemblyofepitopecoatedbiopolymerparticlesthatinduceantitumorresponses
AT berndharehm invivoassemblyofepitopecoatedbiopolymerparticlesthatinduceantitumorresponses
AT justinedmintern invivoassemblyofepitopecoatedbiopolymerparticlesthatinduceantitumorresponses