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Biomedical subjects

A Sjölander

Publications and source records attributed to A Sjölander.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Therapy of murine cutaneous leishmaniasis by DNA vaccination.

Prophylactic DNA vaccination protects mice against infection with Leishmania major by inducing an exclusive Th1 immune response dominated by the production of IFN-gamma. Here we show that DNA vaccines, initially designed to prevent infection, can also have a significant therapeutic effect. In L. major infected mice, vaccination with DNA encoding the Parasite Surface Antigen/gp46/M2 causes reduction in lesion size and promotes healing in both genetically resistant C3H/He mice and susceptible BALB/c mice. The therapeutic effect is underpinned by a shift in the T cell-derived cytokine environment with an increase in the IFN-gamma producing Th1 type cells. Application of such immunotherapy in conjunction with antiparasite drugs may result in faster or more certain cure of the disease in humans.

Animals↗

Leukotriene D(4) triggers an association between gbetagamma subunits and phospholipase C-gamma1 in intestinal epithelial cells.

The proinflammatory mediator leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)) binds to the seven-transmembrane receptor CYSLT(1). Although this leukotriene plays an important biological role, its intracellular signaling pathways are only partly known. In previous experiments, we found that LTD(4) induced tyrosine phosphorylation and translocation of phospholipase (PLC)-gamma1 to a plasma membrane fraction in a human epithelial cell line (Int 407). In the present study, we further examined these signaling events and found that LTD(4) induced a rapid interaction between Gbetagamma subunits and PLC-gamma1; results obtained with GST fusion proteins of PLC-gamma1 suggest that this interaction is mediated via the pleckstrin homology domain of PLC-gamma1. Moreover, LTD(4) induced an increased association of c-Src with PLC-gamma1, and the selective Src family tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP1 blocked both LTD(4)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma1 and the association of PLC-gamma1 with Gbetagamma subunits. The relevance of these observations in intracellular calcium signaling was investigated by microinjecting cells with anti-Gbeta, anti-PLC-gamma1, or anti-c-Src antibodies and by pretreatment with PP1. LTD(4)-induced calcium mobilization was blocked by each of the indicated antibodies (but not isotype-matched control antibodies) and by PP1. Our data suggest that Gbetagamma subunits can, directly or indirectly, serve as membrane-bound partners for PLC-gamma1 and c-Src and that each of these proteins is essential for LTD(4)-induced downstream PLC-gamma1 signaling.

Calcium↗

General expression vectors for production of hydrophobically tagged immunogens for direct iscom incorporation.

A new general strategy for the production of recombinant protein immunogens has been investigated. The rationale involves the production of a recombinant immunogen as fused to a composite tag comprising one domain suitable for affinity purification and a hydrophobic tag designed for direct incorporation through hydrophobic interaction of the affinity-purified immunogen into an adjuvant system, in this case immunostimulating complexes (iscoms). Three different hydrophobic tags were evaluated: (i) a tag denoted IW containing stretches of hydrophobic isoleucine (I) and tryptophan (W) residues; (ii) a tag denoted MI consisting of the transmembrane region of hemagglutinin from influenza A virus; and (iii) a tag denoted PD designed to be pH-dependent in such a way that an amphiphatic alpha-helix would be formed at low pH. As an affinity tag, an IgG-binding domain Z derived from Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SpA) was used, and a malaria peptide M5, derived from the central repeat region of the Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage antigen Pf155/RESA, served as a model immunogen in this study. Three different fusion proteins, IW-Z-M5, MI-Z-M5 and PD-Z-M5, were produced in Escherichia coli, and after affinity purification these were evaluated in iscom-incorporation experiments. Two of the fusion proteins, IW-Z-M5 and MI-Z-M5 were found in the iscom fraction following preparative ultracentrifugation, indicating iscom incorporation. This was further supported by electron microscopy analysis showing that iscoms were formed. Furthermore, these iscom preparations were demonstrated to induce efficient M5-specific antibody responses upon immunization of mice, confirming successful incorporation into iscoms. The implications of these results for the design and production of subunit vaccines are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Uptake and adjuvant activity of orally delivered saponin and ISCOM vaccines.

Saponins are a highly heterogenous group of glycosides which are common in plants and have been known to have adjuvant properties since the 1920s. The immunostimulating complex or ISCOM is a particulate adjuvant/antigen delivery system. ISCOMs are open cage-like complexes typically with a diameter of about 40 nm which are built up by cholesterol, lipid, immunogen and saponins from the bark of Quillaia saponaria Molina (soap bark tree). ISCOMs and saponins are used as adjuvants in some commercial veterinary vaccines and have been examined as adjuvants in a large number of human experimental vaccines. This review describes the current status and potential of saponin and ISCOMs as adjuvants for orally-administered vaccines with special reference to the induction of local and systemic immune responses and interactions with the intestinal epithelium. The structure and composition of saponins and ISCOMs will also be reviewed.

Journal Article↗

ISCOMs and other saponin based adjuvants.

Saponins are chemically a heterogeneous group of sterol glycosides and triterpene glycosides which are common constituents of plants. One source of triterpenoid saponins obtained from the bark of Quillaia saponaria Molina (the soap bark tree) have been known to cause substantial enhancement of immune responses since the 1920s. Despite their use in animal vaccines, the development of saponin-based formulations for human vaccines has been impeded by their complexity and concerns about toxicity. This review briefly covers the use of saponins for animal vaccines but focuses mainly on the development of these adjuvants for use in man. Important aspects include preparation of purified or highly defined saponin fractions, improved understanding of the relationships between adjuvant activity, toxicity and structure of saponins and formulation of saponins into structures with reduced toxicity such as ISCOMs. Recent developments in the understanding of cellular interactions, cytokine induction and the in vivo localisation of saponin containing formulations will also be reviewed.

Journal Article↗

Induction of a Th1 immune response and simultaneous lack of activation of a Th2 response are required for generation of immunity to leishmaniasis.

Experimental systems based on immunization with plasmid DNA or immune-stimulating complexes were used to delineate the requirements for generation of protective immunity against murine leishmaniasis. Vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding the host-protective Leishmania major parasite surface Ag-2 primed for an essentially exclusive Th1 response that protected mice against L. major infection. In contrast, parasite surface Ag-2 in immune-stimulating complexes generated an immune response with mixed Th1-like and Th2-like properties that was not protective despite the activation of large numbers of CD4+ T cells secreting IFN-gamma. These results indicate that a Th1 response is sufficient to protect against cutaneous leishmaniasis, but the induction of a simultaneous Th2 response abrogates the Th1 effector function. DNA vaccines may therefore have an advantage for diseases in which protection depends on the induction of Th1 responses.

Animals↗

ISCOMs: an adjuvant with multiple functions.

Aluminum salts are currently the only widely used adjuvant for human vaccines. Over the past 10-15 years, a large research effort has attempted to find novel adjuvants with ability to induce a broad range of immune responses, including cell-mediated immunity. The immunostimulating complex or ISCOM is one adjuvant with multiple adjuvant properties. ISCOMs are open cage-like complexes typically with a diameter of about 40 nm that are built up by cholesterol, lipid, immunogen, and saponins from the bark of the tree Quillaia saponaria Molina. ISCOMs have been demonstrated to promote antibody responses and induce T helper cell as well as cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in a variety of experimental animal models, and have now progressed to phase I and II human trials. This review describes recent developments in the understanding of the structure, composition, and preparation of ISCOMs and will cover important aspects of the understanding of the adjuvant functions of ISCOMs and how they act on the immune system.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Leukotriene D4 induces a rapid increase in cAMP in the human epithelial cell line, Int 407: a potential role for this signal in the regulation of calcium influx through the plasma membrane.

Although the LTD4-induced Ca2+ influx in human epithelial cells has been shown to be regulated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric G-protein, most likely a G alpha i3 protein [Adolfsson J.L.P., Ohd J.F., Sjölander A. Leukotriene D4-induced activation and translocation of the G-protein alpha i3-subunit in human epithelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1996; 226: 413-419], the signalling pathway further downstream is still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the possible involvement of cAMP and protein kinase A activity in the LTD4-induced Ca2+ influx in the epithelial cell line Int 407. Stimulation with LTD4, but not with the calcium ionophore ionomycin, triggered a rapid increase (peak at 7 s) in the cellular cAMP level, an effect that was totally abolished by pertussis toxin. Furthermore, the LTD4-induced Ca2+ signal was reduced by 60% when cells that had been pre-incubated with the protein kinase A inhibitor Rp-cAMPS (50 microM for 30 min) were stimulated in a calcium containing medium. In contrast, Rp-cAMPS had no apparent effect on the LTD4-induced Ca2+ signal when the cells were stimulated in a calcium-depleted medium. The immediate LTD4-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation (15 s), previously shown to be necessary for the subsequent Ca2+ influx, was abolished not only by pretreatment with pertussis toxin but also by exposure to Rp-cAMPS. Furthermore, direct activation of the cellular adenylyl cyclase activity by treatment with forskolin alone induced a prompt Ca2+ signal in the presence, but not in the absence, of extracellular Ca2+, identical results were obtained with the cell permeable cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP. In addition, forskolin induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation similar to that seen with LTD4. These results suggest that protein kinase A activity participates in the regulation of the LTD4-induced Ca2+ influx at a site that is downstream of the activation of the pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein but upstream of a LTD4-stimulated tyrosine kinase(s).

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Characterization of immune responses to experimental polyvalent subunit vaccines assembled in iscoms.

Immune responses to experimental polyvalent subunit vaccines assembled in a particulate adjuvant/delivery system, iscoms, are described. The fusion protein ZZ-M5 comprises structures of staphylococcal protein A (ZZ) and the Plasmodium falciparum malaria antigen Pf155/RESA (M5). MHC congenic mice were immunized with ZZ-M5 conjugated to iscoms containing human influenza virus antigen (flu ag, M5-flu-isc) or to iscom matrix (iscom particles without flu ag, M5-isc). Comparison of antibody and T-cell responses to M5-isc and M5-flu-isc demonstrated that the flu ag in M5-flu-isc exhibits carrier-related helper functions and that the assembly of immunogens in M5-flu-isc did not result in any apparent antigenic competition. In addition, assembly of ZZ-M5 and flu ag in iscoms induced an alteration of the IgG subclass profile of the antibody response to M5. The results suggest that assembly of immunogens in iscoms may be a useful approach to the design of subunit vaccines but that both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the immunogenic properties of such constructs should be scrutinized.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The inflammatory mediator leukotriene D4 triggers a rapid reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton in human intestinal epithelial cells.

Epithelial cells play an important role in maintaining the intestinal mucosa barrier, a barrier that is impaired in several inflammatory conditions. The mechanisms behind this impairment are not known, but it can be presumed that structural alterations of the epithelial cells are involved. In support of this notion, we here show the inflammatory mediator leukotriene D4 (LTD4) triggered first a rapid (10 s) increase and immediately thereafter (30 s) a sustained decrease in the cellular filamentous actin (F-actin) level in intestinal epithelial cells. The initial LTD4-induced increase in F-actin content was effectively blocked by preincubating the cells with either pertussis toxin or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. A possible involvement of the tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) in the polymerisation of actin was supported by the observations that LTD4 induced a translocation to a membrane fraction of PI-3-kinase and by the findings that wortmannin, a PI-3-kinase inhibitor, totally abolished both this translocation of PI-3-kinase as well as the initial LTD4-induced polymerisation of actin. In addition, pertussis toxin and genistein, both known to interfere with the LTD4-induced calcium signal, completely or partially reversed the actin-depolymerising effect of LTD4. The calcium ionophore ionomycin (30s) induced actin depolymerisation to the same extent as LTD4 (30 s) did, but lacked the initial effect on actin polymerisation. In cells loaded with the calcium chelator MAPT, LTD4 induced a normal actin polymerisation response but the subsequent depolymerisation was completely inhibited. Similar results were obtained when the cells were preincubated with the protein kinase A inhibitor Rp-cAMPS, which has been shown to impair the LTD4-induced calcium signal in these epithelial cells. The present results show that the inflammatory mediator LTD4 triggers a reorganisation of the actin network in intestinal epithelial cells that is likely to contribute to the impairment of the intestinal barrier function.

Actins↗

Vaccination with recombinant Parasite Surface Antigen 2 from Leishmania major induces a Th1 type of immune response but does not protect against infection.

Vaccination with the native Parasite Surface Antigen 2 of Leishmania major with Corynebacterium parvum as adjuvant protects mice from leishmaniasis through a Th1 mediated response. Here we show that vaccination with a recombinant form of this protein, purified from Escherichia coli and administered in iscoms or with C. parvum as adjuvant, does not induce protective immunity despite the induction of Th1 responses. The results suggest that protective immunity depends on the ability of the vaccinating antigen to induce Th1-like T cells with ability to be recalled by infection. Therefore, the conformation of antigens may play a more major role for the induction of T cell mediated immunity than originally considered.

Animals↗

Kinetics, localization and characteristics of B- and T-cell responses to iscoms containing human influenza virus glycoproteins.

B- and T-cell responses have been studied after primary and secondary immunizations of mice with iscoms containing influenza virus envelope glycoproteins. After primary immunization both B- and T-cell responses were initiated in the draining lymph nodes. T-cells showed peak activity with respect to proliferation and cytokine production after five to eight days and the highest number of IgG secreting cells (IgG-SC) was recorded at day seven. The responses in the spleen developed slowly but were of longer duration. Cytokines produced by spleen cells included high levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2. After a secondary immunization the frequencies of IgG-SC were drastically increased in both LN and spleen, but decreased rapidly with time. At day eight after the secondary immunization high numbers of IgG-SC were detected in the bone marrow. High titres of IgG1 and IgG2a and substantial titres of IgG2b and IgG3 were detected in serum.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Iscoms containing purified Quillaja saponins upregulate both Th1-like and Th2-like immune responses.

The immune stimulating complex (iscom) is built up by antigen, cholesterol, phospholipids, and adjuvant active Quillaja saponins. Previous studies have shown that iscoms containing Quil A (a semipurified preparation of saponins) efficiently induce antibody and cell-mediated immune responses. In this study, we demonstrate that iscoms containing a mixture of two purified low toxicity Quillaja saponin fractions (ISCOPREP 703) are able to upregulate both Th1-like and Th2-like immune responses. Thus, ovalbumin (OVA) iscoms induced higher levels of antigen-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies and increased the production of both IFN-gamma and IL-4 compared with OVA administered without adjuvant. In contrast, OVA formulated in Al(OH)3 elicited IgG1 and IgE antibodies and primed spleen cells producing IL-4 and IL-10, suggesting the activation of primarily Th2-like cells. These findings underline that adjuvants are able to alter the character of immune responses and may be used to generate responses with desired properties.

Animals↗

The serum albumin-binding region of streptococcal protein G: a bacterial fusion partner with carrier-related properties.

In this study, we have explored the use of the serum albumin-binding region (BB) from streptococcal protein G (SpG) as a bacterial fusion partner for production of peptide immunogens. The fusion protein BB-M3, containing BB and repeated structures from the Plasmodium falciparum malaria antigen Pf155/RESA, was efficiently purified from Escherichia coli culture supernatants by affinity chromatography using BB as an affinity tag. Rabbits immunized with BB-M3 in Freund's adjuvant produced high levels of antibodies which reacted with both M3 and BB in ELISA and stained intact Pf155/RESA in the membrane of infected erythrocytes. These antibody levels were sustained for more than 30 weeks. BB-M3 also induced antibody responses to M3, BB and intact Pf155/RESA in a number of mouse strains, including several strains which are non-responders to the malaria sequences. In the latter mice, however, BB-M3 only activated BB-specific T cells, suggesting that BB has ability to provide carrier-related T cell help for antibody production. Moreover, the minimal albumin-binding motif of SpG, containing only 46 amino acids, was immunogenic in both B10.BR, B10.D2 and C57BL/6 mice (H-2k, H-2d and H-2b, respectively). These results indicate that BB has both affinity tag and carrier-related properties and suggest that fusion proteins containing BB can be efficient tools for the generation of antibody responses to peptides which are weak immunogens.

Animals↗

Leukotriene D4-induced signalling events in human epithelial cells: G alpha i3 activation and translocation.

Our model of LTD4-induced signal transduction in epithelial cells is summarised in Figure 2. Extending what is already known about LTD4 signalling in epithelial cells, we identified the Gi3-protein as the crucial PTX sensitive G-protein and found that it is translocated to what might be a cytoskeletal fraction. This finding suggests a subtle response to LTD4, mediated via the bifurcation at the alpha/beta gamma junction. Although little is known about the role of epithelial cells in inflammation, it has been shown that such cells produce the potent chemoattractant LTB4 and the proinflammatory 5-HETE in response to intracellular accumulation of Ca2+ 24. The target protein(s) and the effect(s) of the translocation of the activated G alpha i3-proteins, as well as the possible role of the beta/gamma-subunits of Gi3, remain to be elucidated.

Animals↗

Kinetics, localization and cytokine profile of T cell responses to immune stimulating complexes (iscoms) containing human influenza virus envelope glycoproteins.

Immune stimulating complexes (iscoms) are 40 nm particles combining adjuvant-active Quillaja saponins and multimeric presentation of antigens. The distribution in mice of influenza virus iscoms and the resulting T cell responses in the lymph nodes (LN) and spleen were characterized. After a single subcutaneous injection, iscoms were delivered to the draining LN where they induced a transient population of LN cells which responded with proliferation and secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2), gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) after restimulation. The response in the spleen developed more slowly, sustained for 12 weeks and was characterized by cells producing in particular IL-2 and IFN-gamma but also IL-4. A booster resulted in a dramatic enhancement of the production of IFN-gamma, indicating that iscoms efficiently recruit cells with Th1 properties. Comparisons of T cell responses to iscoms and to influenza virus antigen in Freund's complete adjuvant demonstrate that these adjuvants affect both the localization and cytokine profile of T cell responses.

Animals↗

Leukotriene D4-induced activation and translocation of the G-protein alpha i3-subunit in human epithelial cells.

The present results show that stimulation of Intestine 407 epithelial cells with LTD4 (Leukotriene D4) triggers a rapid activation of the pertussis-toxin-sensitive Gi3-protein and a simultaneous translocation of its alpha-subunits to a crude cytoskeletal fraction. The activation of G alpha i3, which was measured as the GTP/ GDP exchange ratio, peaked about 15 s after the addition of LTD4. Western blot analyses of subcellular fractions showed that G alpha i3-subunits accumulated in the cytoskeletal fraction and decreased in the membrane fraction, and the decrease was most marked 15 s after the exposure to LTD4. None of the other pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-proteins (Gi3-Z and G alpha 0) were activated or translocated upon stimulation with LTD4. This agonist was also found to reduce the GTP/GDP exchange ratio of Gi-proteins without affecting the subcellular distribution of its alpha-subunits. These findings imply that the Gi3-protein is the pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-protein previously found to mediate several downstream LTD4-stimulated signalling events. Furthermore, the translocation of G alpha i3-subunits to the cytoskeleton and the simultaneous inhibition of G3-proteins indicate that the cytoskeleton might participate in the signalling process of human epithelial cells.

Biological Transport↗

Antibody-induced engagement of beta 2 integrins on adherent human neutrophils triggers activation of p21ras through tyrosine phosphorylation of the protooncogene product Vav.

It is known that beta 2 integrins are crucial for leukocyte cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and accumulating evidence now suggests that integrins serve not only as a structural link but also as a signal-transducing unit that controls adhesion-induced changes in cell functions. In the present study, we plated human neutrophils on surface-bound anti-beta 2 (CD18) antibodies and found that the small GTP-binding protein p21ras is activated by beta 2 integrins. Pretreatment of the cells with genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, led to a complete block of p21ras activation, an effect that was not achieved with either U73122, which abolishes the beta 2 integrin-induced Ca2+ signal, or wortmannin, which totally inhibits the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. Western blot analysis revealed that antibody-induced engagement of beta 2 integrins causes tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in the cells. One of these tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins had an apparent molecular mass of 95 kDa and was identified as the protooncogene product Vav, a p21ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor that is specifically expressed in cells of hematopoietic lineage. A role for Vav in the activation of p21ras is supported by the observations that antibody-induced engagement of beta 2 integrins causes an association of Vav with p21ras and that the effect of genistein on p21ras activation coincided with its ability to inhibit both the tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav and the Vav-p21ras association. Taken together, these results indicate that antibody-induced engagement of beta 2 integrins on neutrophils triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav and, possibly through its association, a downstream activation of p21ras.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗