Biomedical subjects

Gerd Sutter

Publications and source records attributed to Gerd Sutter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Vaccinia virus replication is not affected by APOBEC3 family members.

BACKGROUND: The APOBEC3G protein represents a novel innate defense mechanism against retroviral infection. It facilitates the deamination of the cytosine residues in the single stranded cDNA intermediate during early steps of retroviral infection. Most poxvirus genomes are relatively A/T-rich, which may indicate APOBEC3G-induced mutational pressure. In addition, poxviruses replicate exclusively in the cytoplasm where APOBEC3G is located. It was therefore tempting to analyze whether vaccinia virus replication is affected by APOBEC3G. RESULTS: The replication of vaccinia virus, a prototype poxvirus, was not, however, inhibited in APOBEC3G-expressing cells, nor did other members of the APOBEC3 family alter vaccinia virus replication. HIV counteracts APOBEC3G by inducing its degradation. However, Western blot analysis showed that the levels of APOBEC3G protein were not affected by vaccinia virus infection. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that APOBEC3G is not a restriction factor for vaccinia virus replication nor is vaccinia virus able to degrade APOBEC3G.

APOBEC Deaminases↗

PubMed2006

Infection of human dendritic cells with recombinant vaccinia virus MVA reveals general persistence of viral early transcription but distinct maturation-dependent cytopathogenicity.

Vector-infected dendritic cells (DC) are evaluated for antigen delivery in experimental therapy of cancer and infectious diseases. Here, we investigated infections of immature or mature, monocyte-derived human DC with recombinant vaccinia virus MVA producing human Her-2/neu, a candidate tumor-associated antigen. Assessment of the molecular virus life cycle in infected DC revealed a general arrest at the level of viral early gene expression. When monitoring the phenotype of MVA-infected DC, including expression of cell surface markers, we found immature cells readily undergoing apoptosis. Nevertheless, we detected significant populations of viable DC being characterized by high level Her-2/neu expression and unimpaired display of costimulatory molecules. While infected viable immature DC failed to undergo maturation despite cytokine treatment, both DC populations efficiently presented MVA-produced target antigen. These findings allow to better define the requirements for MVA-mediated antigen delivery to DC and help to derive optimized vectors for this advanced therapy option.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2006

T cell responses to respiratory syncytial virus fusion and attachment proteins in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The cellular immune response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is considered important in both protection and immunopathogenesis. We have studied the HLA class I- and class II-restricted T cell responses to RSV fusion (F) and attachment (G) proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from healthy young adults. PBMCs were stimulated with autologous cells infected with recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA) expressing RSV F (rMVA-F) or G (rMVA-G). In rMVA-F-stimulated bulk cultures F-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses were demonstrated, whereas in rMVA-G-stimulated cultures only G-specific CD4(+) T cell responses were detected. Using a set of overlapping peptides spanning the F protein, a number of the F-specific T cell responses could be mapped to different antigenic regions, whereas for the G protein only CD4(+) T cell responses recognizing the central conserved domain could be detected. These results suggest that the RSV glycoprotein-specific T cell response is directed to a number of different epitopes. Further studies must be performed to confirm the apparent inability of the RSV G protein to induce CD8(+) T cell responses. The rMVA-based in vitro stimulation protocol will be useful to define protein-specific T cell responses in different viral systems.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Double-stranded RNA-binding protein E3 controls translation of viral intermediate RNA, marking an essential step in the life cycle of modified vaccinia virus Ankara.

Infection of human cells with modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) activates the typical cascade-like pattern of viral early-, intermediate- and late-gene expression. In contrast, infection of human HeLa cells with MVA deleted of the E3L gene (MVA-DeltaE3L) results in high-level synthesis of intermediate RNA, but lacks viral late transcription. The viral E3 protein is thought to bind double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and to act as an inhibitor of dsRNA-activated 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2'-5'OA synthetase)/RNase L and protein kinase (PKR). Here, it is demonstrated that viral intermediate RNA can form RNase A/T1-resistant dsRNA, suggestive of activating both the 2'-5'OA synthetase/RNase L pathway and PKR in various human cell lines. Western blot analysis revealed that failure of late transcription in the absence of E3L function resulted from the deficiency to produce essential viral intermediate proteins, as demonstrated for vaccinia late transcription factor 2 (VLTF 2). Substantial host cell-specific differences were found in the level of activation of either RNase L or PKR. However, both rRNA degradation and phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2alpha (eIF2alpha) inhibited the synthesis of VLTF 2 in human cells. Moreover, intermediate VLTF 2 and late-protein production were restored in MVA-DeltaE3L-infected mouse embryonic fibroblasts from Pkr(0/0) mice. Thus, both host-response pathways may be involved, but activity of PKR is sufficient to block the MVA molecular life cycle. These data imply that an essential function of vaccinia virus E3L is to secure translation of intermediate RNA and, thereby, expression of other viral genes.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

PubMed2006

Short-term, but not post-exposure, protection against lethal orthopoxvirus challenge after immunization with modified vaccinia virus Ankara.

Safety-tested vaccinia virus (VACV) MVA serves as a candidate third-generation vaccine against smallpox. Here, MVA immunization of mice shortly before or after lethal respiratory challenge with VACV Western Reserve was investigated. Whilst post-exposure treatment failed to protect animals, immunizations on day 2 prior to challenge were fully protective. On the day of challenge, MVA inoculation may prevent death, but not onset of severe respiratory disease. After intranasal MVA application, massive influx of leukocytes (such as neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer cells and T cells) was found in the lungs of the animals, indicating the contribution of innate responses to protection. Correspondingly, in RAG-1-/- mice, MVA inoculation delayed onset of disease significantly, but did not prevent fatal infection. Thus, short-term protection required a tight interplay of both innate and adaptive antiviral immunity. These data suggest that, in addition to conventional vaccination, MVA may serve for potent emergency prophylaxis against orthopoxvirus infection.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A Toll-like receptor-independent antiviral response induced by double-stranded B-form DNA.

The innate immune system recognizes nucleic acids during infection or tissue damage; however, the mechanisms of intracellular recognition of DNA have not been fully elucidated. Here we show that intracellular administration of double-stranded B-form DNA (B-DNA) triggered antiviral responses including production of type I interferons and chemokines independently of Toll-like receptors or the helicase RIG-I. B-DNA activated transcription factor IRF3 and the promoter of the gene encoding interferon-beta through a signaling pathway that required the kinases TBK1 and IKKi, whereas there was substantial activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB independent of both TBK and IKKi. IPS-1, an adaptor molecule linking RIG-I and TBK1, was involved in B-DNA-induced activation of interferon-beta and NF-kappaB. B-DNA signaling by this pathway conferred resistance to viral infection in a way dependent on both TBK1 and IKKi. These results suggest that both TBK1 and IKKi are required for innate immune activation by B-DNA, which might be important in antiviral innate immunity and other DNA-associated immune disorders.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2005

Melanoma patients respond to a new HLA-A*01-presented antigenic ligand derived from a multi-epitope region of melanoma antigen TRP-2.

Tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) is a known target antigen of spontaneous cytotoxic T cell responses in melanoma patients. Its frequent expression in metastatic tumors suggests that it might be an ideal candidate antigen for T cell-based immunotherapy. To provide knowledge about TRP-2-derived T cell epitopes useful for immunotherapy we applied a "reverse immunology strategy" based on repeated in vitro peptide stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normal donors with predicted HLA-A*01 ligands. This led to the identification of TRP-2(181-190) as the first HLA-A*01-presented TRP-2-derived epitope. T-cell lines specific for peptide TRP-2(181-190) could be established from PBL of 50% of the normal HLA-A*01(+) donors tested. Such T cells responded specifically to autologous dendritic cells transduced virally with TRP-2, as well as to HLA-A*01(+), TRP-2(+) melanoma cells, although tumor cells had to be pretreated with IFN-gamma to become susceptible to T cell recognition. Interestingly, short-term in vitro peptide stimulation of PBL from HLA-A*01(+) melanoma patients showed the presence of TRP-2(181-190)-reactive CD8(+) T cells in some donors, suggesting their in vivo sensitization. Because TRP-2(181-190) overlaps with the known HLA-A*0201-presented epitope TRP-2(180-188), an 11mer peptide encompassing both epitopes might be of specific value for vaccination of a broad population of melanoma patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

The poxviral scrapin MV-LAP requires a myxoma viral infection context to efficiently downregulate MHC-I molecules.

Downregulation of MHC class I molecules is a strategy developed by some viruses to escape cellular immune responses. Myxoma virus (MV), a poxvirus causing rabbit myxomatosis, encodes MV-LAP that is known to increase MHC-I endocytosis and degradation through a C(4)HC(3) motif critical for an E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Here, we performed a functional mapping of MV-LAP and showed that not only the C(4)HC(3) motif is necessary for a marked downregulation of MHC-I but also a conserved region in the C-terminal part of the protein. We also showed that the putative transmembrane domains are responsible for a specific subcellular localization of the protein: they retain MV-LAP in the ER in transfected cells and in the endolysosomal compartments in infected cells. We observed that a specific MV infection context is necessary for a fully efficient downregulation of MHC-I. Our data suggest that the functionality of viral LAP factors, inherited by herpes- and poxviruses from mammalian cells, is more complex than anticipated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Inactivation of the viral interleukin 1beta receptor improves CD8+ T-cell memory responses elicited upon immunization with modified vaccinia virus Ankara.

Interleukin 1 (IL1) is an important regulator of inflammatory responses and contributes to host immune defence against infection. Vaccinia virus encodes a viral soluble IL1beta receptor (IL1betaR), which modulates the acute-phase host response to infection and might influence the induction of immune responses against virus-associated antigens. Here, modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) mutants defective in IL1betaR production were produced by insertion of selectable marker gene sequences that precisely deleted the IL1betaR coding sequences from the MVA genome (MVA-DeltaIL1betaR). Analysis of MVA mutants indicated that deletion of the IL1betaR gene did not abrogate the formation of MVA progeny upon tissue culture propagation. After high-dose intranasal infection with MVA-DeltaIL1betaR, mice showed no signs of fever or other illness, suggesting that the avirulent phenotype remained preserved for MVA-DeltaIL1betaR. Following vaccination of mice, MVA-DeltaIL1betaR or non-mutated MVA induced similar acute-phase immune responses. Importantly, when monitored at the memory phase, significantly higher vaccinia virus-specific total CD8(+) and HLA-A*0201-binding peptide epitope-specific T-cell responses were found after vaccination of HLA-A*0201-transgenic and non-transgenic mice with MVA-DeltaIL1betaR. Moreover, 4-6 months after vaccination, MVA-DeltaIL1betaR provided higher levels of protection against lethal respiratory challenge infection with virulent vaccinia virus strain Western Reserve compared with wild-type MVA. These data suggest that deletion of the viral IL1betaR gene may be considered a relevant approach to amplify the virus-specific CD8+ memory T-cell response and duration of protective immunity obtained after MVA vaccination.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Role of viral factor E3L in modified vaccinia virus ankara infection of human HeLa Cells: regulation of the virus life cycle and identification of differentially expressed host genes.

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated virus strain being developed as a vaccine for delivery of viral and recombinant antigens. The MVA genome lacks functional copies of numerous genes interfering with host response to infection. The interferon resistance gene E3L encodes one important viral immune defense factor still made by MVA. Here we demonstrate an essential role of E3L to allow for completion of the MVA molecular life cycle upon infection of human HeLa cells. A deletion mutant virus, MVA-DeltaE3L, was found defective in late protein synthesis, viral late transcription, and viral DNA replication in infected HeLa cells. Moreover, we detected viral early and continuing intermediate transcription associated with degradation of rRNA, indicating rapid activation of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase/RNase L in the absence of E3L. Further molecular monitoring of E3L function by microarray analysis of host cell transcription in MVA- or MVA-DeltaE3L-infected HeLa cells revealed an overall significant down regulation of more than 50% of cellular transcripts expressed under mock conditions already at 5 h after infection, with a more prominent shutoff following MVA-DeltaE3L infection. Interestingly, a cluster of genes up regulated exclusively in MVA-DeltaE3L-infected cells could be identified, including transcripts for interleukin 6, growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein beta, and dual-specificity protein phosphatases. Our data indicate that lack of E3L inhibits MVA antigen production in human HeLa cells at the level of viral late gene expression and suggest that E3L can prevent activation of additional host factors possibly affecting the MVA molecular life cycle.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Protection of rhesus monkeys against infection with minimally pathogenic simian-human immunodeficiency virus: correlations with neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T cells.

We studied the capacity of active immunization of rhesus monkeys with HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) to induce primary virus cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies to prevent infection following intravenous challenge with simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV). Monkeys were immunized with the human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) strain R2 Env. Initially, the Env was expressed in vivo by an alphavirus replicon particle system, and then it was administered as soluble oligomeric gp140. Concurrently, groups of monkeys received expression vectors that encoded either simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gag/pol genes or no SIV genes in vivo to test the additional protective benefit of concurrent induction of virus-specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses. Groups of control monkeys received either the gag/pol regimen or sham immunizations. The antibodies induced by the Env immunization regimen neutralized diverse primary HIV-1 strains. Similarly, potent CMI responses were induced by the gag/pol regimen, as measured by gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assays. Differences in the responses among groups of monkeys strongly suggested that there was interference between the Env and gag/pol immunization regimens. Complete protection of some of the monkeys against infection after intravenous challenge with the partially pathogenic SHIV(DH12R (Clone 7)) was associated independently with both neutralizing antibody and CMI responses. Protection was associated with SHIV(DH12 (Clone 7)) serum neutralizing antibody titers of > or =1:80 or with cellular immune responses corresponding to >2,000 spot forming cells per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Immunization was also associated with a reduction in the magnitude and duration of virus load. Induction of cross-reactive, primary HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies is feasible and, when potent, may result in complete protection against infection with a heterologous challenge virus strain.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed2004

A phase I vaccination study with tyrosinase in patients with stage II melanoma using recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA-hTyr).

A significant percentage of patients with stage II melanomas suffer a relapse after surgery and therefore need the development of adjuvant therapies. In the study reported here, safety and immunological response were analyzed after vaccination in an adjuvant setting with recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara carrying the cDNA for human tyrosinase (MVA-hTyr). A total of 20 patients were included and vaccinated three times at 4-week intervals with 5x10(8) IU of MVA-hTyr each time. The responses to the viral vector, to known HLA class I-restricted tyrosinase peptides, and to dendritic cells transfected with tyrosinase mRNA, were investigated by ELISpot assay on both ex vivo T cells and on T cells stimulated in vitro prior to testing. The delivery of MVA-hTyr was safe and did not cause any side effects above grade 2. A strong response to the viral vector was achieved, indicated by an increase in the frequency of MVA-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and an increase in virus-specific antibody titers. However, no tyrosinase-specific T-cell or antibody response was observed with MVA-hTyr in any of the vaccinated patients. Although MVA-hTyr provides a safe and effective antigen-delivery system, it does not elicit a measurable immune response to its transgene product in patients with stage II melanoma after repeated combined intradermal and subcutaneous vaccination. We presume that modification of the antigen and/or prime-boost vaccination applying different approaches to antigen delivery may be required to induce an effective tyrosinase-specific immune response.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Protective and disease-enhancing immune responses induced by recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) expressing respiratory syncytial virus proteins.

Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) recombinants expressing single or multiple RSV surface proteins (F or G) are promising potential vaccines. We studied humoral and cellular responses induced by MVA-F and MVA-G in mice, comparing them to a formalin inactivated RSV preparation (FI-RSV) known to increase disease severity. MVA-F or MVA-G vaccination enhanced weight loss during RSV challenge, but did not show the lung eosinophilia seen after FI-RSV vaccination. FI-RSV induced a stronger total RSV IgG response than the MVA recombinants, but very little IgG2a. MVA recombinants induced cytokine responses biased towards IFNgamma and IL-12, while FI-RSV induced strong IL-4/5 responses in the lungs during RSV challenge. Thus, MVA vaccines induce a favourable immune profile in RSV disease but retain the potential to enhance disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Partial tyrosinase-specific self tolerance by HLA-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mice and man.

The human tyrosinase (hTyr) (369-377) cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope is presented by malignant melanoma and various nontransformed cells in association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201 (A2.1) and used for vaccination-based immunotherapy of melanoma patients. Its mouse homologue, mTyr (369-377), is naturally processed and bound by A2.1 with equivalent efficacy and thus enabled us to explore the effect of self tolerance on Tyr-specific T cells in different lines of A2.1 transgenic (Tg) mice and man. We found that self Tyr-reactive CTL in Tg mice and, importantly, in man were affected by partial tolerance resulting in only residual T lymphocytes of higher avidity for self Tyr along with low-avidity T cells to be present in the periphery. Immunizing mice with the xenogeneic nonself Tyr peptide facilitated the generation of self Tyr-reactive CTL. As compared to Tyr-reactive CTL induced by high amounts of the self Tyr epitope, however, the nonself antigen (Ag) had no effect on improving the avidity of self Tyr-specific mouse and human T cells. Depleting mice of CD25(+) T cells with and without CTL-associated Ag 4 (CTLA-4) blockade demonstrated that tolerance of Tyr-specific CTL was not regulated by CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells (Treg) or CTLA-4. Our studies have important implications for the design of anti-Tyr-based immunotherapeutics.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

HER-2/neu-mediated regulation of components of the MHC class I antigen-processing pathway.

Because of its amplification and/or overexpression in many human tumors, the HER-2/neu proto-oncogene represents an attractive target for T-cell-mediated vaccination strategies. However, overexpression of oncogenes is often associated with defective expression of components of the MHC class I antigen-processing machinery (APM), thereby resulting in an immune escape phenotype of oncogene-transformed cells. To determine whether HER-2/neu influences the MHC class I antigen-processing pathway, the expression pattern of different APM components was examined in murine in vitro models of constitutive and tetracycline-controlled HER-2/neu expression. In comparison with HER-2/neu(-) control cells, HER-2/neu(+) fibroblasts exhibit reduced levels of MHC class I surface antigens that were associated with impaired expression and/or function of the peptide transporter associated with antigen processing, the proteasome subunits low molecular weight protein 2 and low molecular weight protein 10, the proteasome activators PA28alpha and PA28beta, and tapasin. These APM abnormalities resulted in reduced sensitivity to lysis by CTLs. The HER-2/neu-mediated immune escape phenotype could be corrected by IFN-gamma treatment. The clinical relevance of this finding was supported by an inverse correlation between HER-2/neu and the peptide transporter associated with antigen-processing protein expression as determined by immunhistochemical analysis of a series of HER-2/neu(-) and HER-2/neu(+) breast cancer specimens. Thus, a functional link between deficient APM component expression and HER-2/neu overexpression is proposed that might influence the design of HER-2/neu-targeted T-cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2004

Melanoma-reactive class I-restricted cytotoxic T cell clones are stimulated by dendritic cells loaded with synthetic peptides, but fail to respond to dendritic cells pulsed with melanoma-derived heat shock proteins in vitro.

Immunization with heat shock proteins (hsp) isolated from cancer cells has been shown to induce a protective antitumor response. The mechanism of hsp-dependent cellular immunity has been attributed to a variety of immunological activities mediated by hsp. Hsp have been shown to bind antigenic peptides, trim the bound peptides by intrinsic enzymatic activity, improve endocytosis of the chaperoned peptides by APCs, and enhance the ability of APCs to stimulate peptide-specific T cells. We have investigated the potential capacity of hsp70 and gp96 to function as a mediator for Ag-specific CTL stimulation in an in vitro model for human melanoma. Repetitive stimulation of PBLs by autologous DCs loaded with melanoma-derived hsp did not increase the frequency of T cells directed against immunodominant peptides of melanoma-associated Ags Melan-A and tyrosinase. In contrast, repeated T cell stimulation with peptide-pulsed DCs enhanced the number of peptide-specific T cells, allowing HLA/peptide multimer-guided T cell cloning. We succeeded in demonstrating that the established HLA-A2-restricted CTL clones recognized HLA-A2(+) APCs exogenously loaded with the respective melanoma peptide as well as melanoma cells processing and presenting these peptides in the context of HLA-A2. We were not able to show that these melanoma-reactive CTL clones were stimulated by autologous dendritic cells pulsed with melanoma-derived hsp. These results are discussed with respect to various models for proving the role of hsp in T cell stimulation and to recent findings that part of the immunological antitumor activities reported for hsp are independent of the chaperoned peptides.

Antigen Presentation↗

PubMed2004

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara as antigen delivery system: how can we best use its potential?

Safety-tested modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) has been established as a potent vector system for the development of candidate recombinant vaccines. The versatility of the vector system was recently demonstrated by the rapid production of experimental MVA vaccines for immunization against severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus. Promising results were also obtained in the delivery of Epstein-Barr virus or human cytomegalovirus antigens and from the clinical testing of MVA vectors for vaccination against immunodeficiency virus, papilloma virus, Plasmodium falciparum or melanoma. Moreover, MVA is considered to be a prime candidate vaccine for safer protection against orthopoxvirus infections. Thus, vector development to challenge dilemmas in vaccinology or immunization against poxvirus bio-threat seems possible, yet the right choice should be made for a most beneficial use.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Vaccine protection from CD4+ T-cell loss caused by simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) mac251 is afforded by sequential immunization with three unrelated vaccine vectors encoding multiple SIV antigens.

Candidate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine strategies that induce strong cellular immune responses protect rhesus macaques that are infected with recombinant simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIV89.6p from acute CD4+ T-cell loss and delay progression to AIDS. However, similar strategies have not proven as efficacious in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)mac model of AIDS, an infection that causes a slow, steady loss of CD4+ T-cell function and numbers in rhesus macaques similar to that caused by HIV-1, the principal cause of AIDS in humans. Efforts to increase vaccine efficacy by repeated boosting with the same vector are quickly limited by rising anti-vector immune responses. Here, the sequential use of three different vectors (DNA, Semliki Forest virus and modified vaccinia virus Ankara) encoding the same SIVmac structural and regulatory antigens was investigated and demonstrated to prevent or slow the loss of CD4+ T-cells after mucosal challenge with the highly pathogenic SIVmac251 strain. Of particular interest was an inverse association between the extent of T-helper 2 cytokine responses and steady-state virus load. Although limited in the number of animals, this study provides important proof of the efficacy of the triple-vector vaccine strategy against chronic, progressive CD4+ T-cell loss in the rigorous SIVmac/rhesus macaque model of AIDS.

Animals↗