Expression of B-cell activating factor enhances protective immunity of a vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
| Publication Type | Academic Article |
| Authors | Tertilt C, Joh J, Krause A, Chou P, Schneeweiss K, Crystal R, Worgall S |
| Journal | Infect Immun |
| Volume | 77 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pagination | 3044-55 |
| Date Published | 04/13/2009 |
| ISSN | 1098-5522 |
| Keywords | Adjuvants, Immunologic, B-Cell Activating Factor, Pseudomonas Vaccines, Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Abstract | B-cell activating factor (BAFF), a member of the TNF family, is a potent cytokine with stimulatory effects on B and T cells. To evaluate the potential of transient overexpression of BAFF to enhance vaccine immunogenicity, a replication-deficient adenovirus expressing full-length murine BAFF (AdBAFF) was tested in a mouse vaccine model against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When coadministered with heat-killed P. aeruginosa, AdBAFF mediated a significant increase in anti-P. aeruginosa-specific serum and lung mucosal antibodies and resulted in improved protection against a lethal respiratory challenge with P. aeruginosa. This effect was independent of the site of administration of AdBAFF and was observed both when AdBAFF was given simultaneously with heat-killed P. aeruginosa as well as when AdBAFF was administered 4 weeks after immunization with heat-killed P. aeruginosa. These data demonstrate that a temporal increase in systemic BAFF levels is able to augment a P. aeruginosa-specific immune response upon immunization with heat-killed P. aeruginosa, suggesting that the immune-stimulatory effects of BAFF may be exploited as a molecular adjuvant for genetic vaccines. |
| DOI | 10.1128/IAI.00927-08 |
| PubMed ID | 19364838 |
| PubMed Central ID | PMC2708570 |