Dna Vaccines

Abstract

Observations in the early 1990s that plasmid DNA could directly transfect animal cells in vivo sparked exploration of the use of DNA plasmids to induce immune responses by direct injection into animals of DNA encoding antigenic proteins. This method, termed DNA immunization, now has been used to elicit protective antibody and cell-mediated immune responses in a wide variety of preclinical animal models for viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. DNA vaccination is particularly useful for the induction of cytotoxic T cells. This review summarizes current knowledge on the vectors, immune responses, immunological mechanisms, safety considerations, and potential for further application of this novel method of immunization.

Enhancement of suicidal DNA vaccine potency by delaying suicidal DNA-induced cell death

“…1,2 The use of naked DNA for vaccination has the advantages of purity, simplicity of preparation, and stability. Furthermore, multiple DNA vaccines can be administered simultaneously and repeatedly.…”

CCL19 as an adjuvant for intradermal gene gun immunization in a Her2/neu mouse tumor model: improved vaccine efficacy and a role for B cells as APC

“…The latter point is indeed supported by a strong antiHer2/neu antibody response after gene gun immunization (but not after i.m. vaccination) and by depletion experiments in the same tumor model as well as in B16 melanoma showing that CD4 þ T cells play a pivotal role for tumor protection 27,42,43 Furthermore, it has previously been demonstrated in a Her2/neu þ tumor model, that multiple antigen-specific and non-specific immune mechanisms are responsible for tumor rejection, 44 (2) splenic T cells (which were used in our assays) do not sufficiently reflect systemic responses or responses at the tumor site and (3) T-cell assays used did not include the most relevant tumor rejection epitopes. Although our data show that Her2/neu vaccines are still immunogenic in B-cell-deficient mice, they also show that B cells are involved at least in mediating the adjuvant activity of CCL19.…”

“…2 Gene gun immunization by delivery of DNAcoated gold particles to the skin was reported to be more efficient in generating antigen-specific T cell and antibody responses in mice, although a TH2-bias of the emerging immune response was also observed. 3 The higher efficiency of gene gun DNA delivery to the skin compared with i.m.…”

Gene transfer approaches in cancer immunotherapy

“…47 The list of diseases cured by DNA vaccination is very broad. 48 Our interest is focused on cancer treatment. In this case, the immunostimulatory properties of unmethylated plasmid DNA are combined with the genes encoding well-characterized individual or a combination of tumor antigens.…”