Enhancement of immune response and protection in BALB/c mice immunized with liposomal recombinant major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania (rgp63): the role of bilayer composition.

Abstract

Development of new generation vaccines requires adjuvants to elicit the type and intensity of immune response needed for protection. Liposomes have been shown to be an effective adjuvant formulation. In this study, the role of liposome bilayer composition with different phase transition temperature (T(c)) to induce a T helper 1 (Th1) type of immune response and protection against leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice was assessed. Liposome formulations with different bilayer compositions consisting of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC, T(c)<0 degrees C), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC, T(c) 41 degrees C), or distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC, T(c) 54 degrees C) were prepared. All liposomes were contained rgp63 as a recombinant antigen and used to immunize mice subcutaneously 3 times in 3-week intervals. Evaluation of lesion development and splenic parasite burden after challenge with L. major, evaluation of Th1 cytokine (IFN-gamma) and Th2 cytokine (IL-4), and titration of IgG isotypes were carried out to assess the type of generated immune response and extent of protection. The results indicated the generated immune response in mice was influenced by the bilayer composition of liposomes, so that mice immunized with liposomes consisting of EPC induced a Th2 type of immune response while liposome consisting of DPPC or DSPC induced Th1 type of immune response. It seems that liposomes prepared with higher Tm phospholipids are suitable formulation to induce Th1 type of immune response and protection, and so might be used for further investigations to develop an effective vaccine against leishmaniasis.

• Authors: Ali Badiee, Mahmoud R Jaafari, Ali Khamesipour, Afshin Samiei, Dina Soroush, Masoumeh Tavassoti Kheiri, Farzaneh Barkhordari, W Robert McMaster, Fereidoun Mahboudi
• Journal: Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces (Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces) Vol. 74 Issue 1 Pg. 37-44 (Nov 01 2009) ISSN: 1873-4367 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 19615870 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Protozoan
• Cytokines
• Glycoproteins
• Lipid Bilayers
• Liposomes
• Protozoan Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Protozoan (immunology)
• Antibody Formation (immunology)
• Cytokines (biosynthesis)
• Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
• Female
• Glycoproteins (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Immunity (immunology)
• Immunization
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Leishmania (immunology)
• Lipid Bilayers (chemistry, immunology)
• Liposomes (immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Parasites (immunology)
• Protozoan Proteins (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Recombinant Proteins (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Spleen (cytology, immunology, parasitology)