Many classical vaccines contain whole pathogens and, thus, may occasionally induce adverse effects, such as inflammation. Vaccines containing purified rAgs resolved this problem, but, owing to their low antigenicity, they require adjuvants. Recently, the use of several cytokines, including thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), has been proposed for this purpose. However, it is difficult to use cytokines as vaccine adjuvants in clinical practice. In this study, we examined the effects of all- retinoic acid (atRA) on TSLP production and Ag-induced Ab production. Application of atRA onto the ear lobes of mice selectively induced TSLP production without inducing apparent inflammation. The effects appeared to be regulated via retinoic acid receptors γ and α. Treatment with atRA was observed to enhance OVA-induced specific Ab production; however, this effect was completely absent in TSLP receptor-knockout mice. An enhancement in Ab production was also observed when recombinant hemagglutinin was used as the Ag. In conclusion, atRA was an effective adjuvant through induction of TSLP production. Therefore, we propose that TSLP-inducing low m.w. compounds, such as atRA, may serve as effective adjuvants for next-generation vaccines.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a key cytokine that exacerbates allergic and fibrotic reactions. Several microbes and virus components have been shown to induce TSLP production, mainly in epithelial cells. TLR4 activators, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), induce TSLP production in vivo, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the contribution of LPS-activated leukocytes to the production of TSLP in a mouse air-pouch-type inflammation model. LPS induced the production of TSLP in this model but not in the mouse keratinocyte cell line PAM212. Transfer of the infiltrated leukocytes collected from an LPS-injected air pouch to the air pouch of another mouse enhanced TSLP production. Further, the LPS-activated leukocytes produced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β); a deficiency in these cytokines attenuated the LPS-induced production of TSLP. TSLP production was induced by TNF-α and enhanced by IL-1β and LPS in the PAM212 cells. These results demonstrated that TNF-α and IL-1β, which are partly produced by LPS-activated leukocytes, contribute to TSLP production via TLR4 activation in vivo.
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