Interaction Between Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) and Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) From Dendritic Cells (DCs): Toward Better Engineering of VLPs

Abstract

Virus-like particles (VLPs) have been shown to be strong activators of dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are the most potent antigen presenting cells (APCs) and their activation prompts the priming of immunity mediators based on B and T cells. The first step for the activation of DCs is the binding of VLPs to pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on the surface of DCs, followed by VLP internalization. Like wild-type viruses, VLPs use specific PRRs from the DC; however, these recognition interactions between VLPs and PRRs from DCs have not been thoroughly reviewed. In this review, we focused on the interaction between proteins that form VLPs and PRRs from DCs. Several proteins that form VLP contain glycosylations that allow the direct interaction with PRRs sensing carbohydrates, prompting DC maturation and leading to the development of strong adaptive immune responses. We also discussed how the knowledge of the molecular interaction between VLPs and PRRs from DCs can lead to the smart design of VLPs, whether based on the fusion of foreign epitopes or their chemical conjugation, as well as other modifications that have been shown to induce a stronger adaptive immune response and protection against infectious pathogens of importance in human and veterinary medicine. Finally, we address the use of VLPs as tools against cancer and allergic diseases.

Non-permissive human conventional CD1c+dendritic cells enabletrans-infection of human primary renal tubular epithelial cells and protect BK polyomavirus from neutralization

“…Such micro domains function as a platform to segregate a wide range of effector molecules including GPI-anchored cargos (86). Wang (89). In contrast, both in vitro-generated murine and human DC were shown to remain unresponsive to BK-and JCPyV VLP (23,26).…”

Nanocarrier vaccines for SARS-CoV-2

“…Enveloped VLPs contain viral proteins on their outer lipid membrane formed through budding from respective host cells, whereas non-enveloped VLPs lack lipid layers and are composed of one or more viral structural proteins [ 321 ]. VLPs can be decorated on their surface to display target antigen using recombinant fusion protein expression or chemical cross-linking with bifunctional linkers [ 322 , 323 ]. VLPs also allow encapsulation of target antigenic gene or peptide fragment for the immune cell presentation and activation.…”

“…The major disadvantages of the VLP vaccines produced from the a eukaryotic expression systems are that they offer low VLPs yield and expensive to scale-up and therefore such vaccine produce only partial immunity. As an alternative, mammalian expression systems are used for cost effective and large scale VLP vaccine development with the goal to incude better immune responses [ 322 , 323 ]. A VLP vaccine Sci-B-Vac®, exhibiting three HBV surface antigens S, pre-S1, and pre-S2, is produced from the mammalian Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells produces higher antibody titers against against HBV compared to the vaccines generated from the eukaryotic expression systems [ 340 ].…”

Anti-Cancer Nanomedicines: A Revolution of Tumor Immunotherapy

“…VLPs do not contain nuclei acids which exhibit non-infectious function for the vaccinated individuals. By contrast, the structure of VLPs are similar to the conformation of wild type viruses which can activate adaptive immunity ( 134 ). VLPs can be modified by chemical or genetic fusion technologies to express chimeras or targeted delivery of small molecule drugs and nucleic acids as a result of the improvement of bioavailability of the delivered substance ( 135 ).…”

“…Furthermore, VLPs identify and combine specific pattern recognition receptors on the surface of DCs followed by internalizing into activate DCs, and then present peptides which was loaded into MHC-I/II. Eventually, they in turn initiate CD8 + or CD4 + T cell immunity ( 134 ). Collectively, the ability to engineer VLPs with exquisite detail makes them popular candidates for the design of a platform to produce vaccines against various diseases.…”