Open AccessA synthetic lymph node containing inactivated T reponema pallidum cells elicits strong, antigen‐specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice
Author(s) -
Stamm Lola V.,
Drapp Rebecca L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.983
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2049-632X
DOI - 10.1111/2049-632x.12098
Subject(s) - treponema , antigen , immune system , antibody , immunology , splenocyte , group a , humoral immunity , biology , lymph node , microbiology and biotechnology , adjuvant , medicine , syphilis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
The goal of this study was to investigate the use of a synthetic lymph node ( SLN ) for delivery of T reponema pallidum ( T p ) antigens. Immune responses of C5 7 B L/6 mice were analyzed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after SLN implantation. Group 1 mice received SLN with no antigen; Group 2, SLN with formalin‐inactivated T p (f‐ T p ); and Group 3, SLN with f‐ T p plus a C p G oligodeoxynucleotide. When tested by ELISA , sera from Group 2 and Group 3 mice showed stronger I g G antibody reactivity than sera from Group 1 mice to sonicates of f‐ T p or untreated T p , but not to sonicate of normal rabbit testicular extract at all times. The I g G 1 level was higher than I g G 2c level for Group 2 mice at all times and for Group 3 mice at 4 and 8 weeks. I g G 1 and I g G 2c levels were nearly equivalent for Group 3 mice at 12 weeks. Immunoblotting showed that I g G from Group 2 and Group 3 mice recognized several T p proteins at all times. Supernatants of splenocytes from Group 2 and Group 3 mice contained significantly more IFN γ than those from Group 1 mice after stimulation with f‐ T p at all times. A significant level of IL‐4 was not detected in any supernatants. These data show that strong humoral and cellular immune responses to T p can be elicited via a SLN .