Protective CD4 super(+) and CD8 super(+) T cells against influenza virus induced by vaccination with nucleoprotein DNA

DNA vaccination is an effective means of eliciting both humoral and cellular immunity, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Using an influenza virus model, we previously demonstrated that injection of DNA encoding influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) induced major histocompatibility complex class...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of virology 1998-07, Vol.72 (7), p.5648-5653
Main Authors: Ulmer, J B, Fu, T-M, Deck, R R, Friedman, A, Guan, L, DeWitt, C, Liu, X, Wang, S, Liu, MA, Donnelly, J J, Caulfield, MJ
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:DNA vaccination is an effective means of eliciting both humoral and cellular immunity, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Using an influenza virus model, we previously demonstrated that injection of DNA encoding influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) induced major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CTL and cross-strain protection from lethal virus challenge in mice (J. B. Ulmer et al., Science 259:1745-1749, 1993). In the present study, we have characterized in more detail the cellular immune responses induced by NP DNA, which included robust lymphoproliferation and Th1-type cytokine secretion (high levels of gamma interferon and interleukin-2 [IL-2], with little IL-4 or IL-10) in response to antigen-specific restimulation of splenocytes in vitro. These responses were mediated by CD4 super(+) T cells, as shown by in vitro depletion of T-cell subsets. Taken together, these results indicate that immunization with NP DNA primes both cytolytic CD8 super(+) T cells and cytokine-secreting CD4 super(+) T cells. Further, we demonstrate by adoptive transfer and in vivo depletion of T-cell subsets that both of these types of T cells act as effectors in protective immunity against influenza virus challenge conferred by NP DNA.
ISSN:0022-538X