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Richard Lo-Man

Publications and source records attributed to Richard Lo-Man.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Fetal spleen stroma drives macrophage commitment.

The role of the fetal spleen in hematopoeisis remains largely unknown. In this particular environment, we show that hematopoietic stem cells do not proliferate, but that they lose multipotency and differentiate exclusively into mature macrophages. B lymphocytes in the spleen derive from committed B cell precursors that are likely to have immigrated from the fetal liver. We developed fetal spleen stromal cell lines that are unique in their capacity to expand myeloid precursors, resulting in large numbers of mature macrophages. These lines secrete high levels of anti-inflammatory molecules. By phenotype, fetal splenic macrophages are reminiscent of their adult counterparts found in the red pulp. We postulate that F4/80(+) splenic macrophages participate in fetal erythropoiesis, as well as in the formation of the splenic architecture.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Enzymatic large-scale synthesis of MUC6-Tn glycoconjugates for antitumor vaccination.

In cancer, mucins are aberrantly O-glycosylated, and consequently, they express tumor-associated antigens such as the Tn determinant (alpha-GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr). As compared with normal tissues, they also exhibit a different pattern of expression. In particular, MUC6, which is normally expressed only in gastric tissues, has been detected in intestinal, pulmonary, colorectal, and breast carcinomas. Recently, we have shown that the MCF7 breast cancer cell line expresses MUC6-Tn glycoproteins in vivo. Cancer-associated mucins show antigenic differences from normal mucins, and as such, they may be used as potential targets for immunotherapy. To develop anticancer vaccines based on the Tn antigen, we prepared several MUC6-Tn glycoconjugates. To this end, we performed the GalNAc enzymatic transfer to two recombinant MUC6 proteins expressed in Escherichia coli, using UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (ppGalNAc-Ts), which catalyze in vivo the Tn antigen synthesis. We used either a mixture of ppGalNAc-Ts from MCF7 breast cancer cell extracts or a recombinant ppGalNAc-T1. In both cases, we achieved the synthesis of MUC6-Tn glycoconjugates at a semi-preparative scale (mg amounts). These glycoproteins displayed a high level of Tn antigens, although the overall density depends on both enzyme source and protein acceptor. These MUC6-Tn glycoconjugates were recognized by two anti-Tn monoclonal antibodies that are specific to human cancer cells. Moreover, the MUC6-Tn glycoconjugate glycosylated using MCF7 extracts as the ppGalNAc-T source was able to induce immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that recognized a human tumor cell line. In conclusion, the large-scaled production of MUC6 with tumor-relevant glycoforms holds considerable promise for developing effective anticancer vaccines, and further studies of their immunological properties are warranted.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed2006

[Analysis of in vitro delivering CD8+ T epitopes by attenuated bacteria].

AIM: To analyze the efficiency of delivery for CD8(+) T cell epitopes by recombinant bacteria vectors. METHODS: The recombinant E. coli strain 13A or 25A and recombinant Salmonella typhimurium strain SL7207 expressing CD8(+) T cell epitopes of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) and Ovalbumin (OVA), which were fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker at the C-terminal, were infected into LK(b) cells, LL(d) cells or bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDC). The efficiency of presentation for CD8(+) T cell epitopes by recombinant bacteria was analyzed by in vitro antigen presentation assay. RESULTS: After the infection of LK(b) cells, LL(d) cells or BMDC by recombinant bacteria, about 90% of cells were GFP positive. The results indicated that attenuated strain 13A, 25A and SL7207 had better invasive capacity to LK(b) and LL(d) cells, while BMDC had stronger capacity for uptaking recombinant bacteria. At 2 h post infection, CD8(+) T cell epitopes presented on the surface of those LK(b), LL(d) and BMDC cells infected by 13A (ptG2F) and SL7207(ptG2F) could be recognized by B3Z or nV1H7 T hybridoma cells, which were specific for OVA peptide p257-264 or LCMV peptide p118-132, respectively. But the efficiency of presentation for OVA or LCMV CD8(+) T cell epitope was decreased or increased respectively at 48 h post infection. However, LK(b), LL(d) and BMDC cells infected by 25A (ptG2F) did not effectively stimulate the specific B3Z or nV1H7 T cells. Furthermore, the presentation efficiency of BMDC was higher than those of LK(b) and LL(d) cells under the same condition. CONCLUSION: CD8(+) T cell epitopes can be delivered and presented to T lymphocytes by APC by attenuated bacteria in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Upon TLR9 signaling, CD5+ B cells control the IL-12-dependent Th1-priming capacity of neonatal DCs.

The susceptibility to infections and the strong Th2 bias observed in neonates are thought to be due to the immaturity of the dendritic cell (DC) compartment. We show that neonatal DCs, like their adult counterparts, elicit Th1 responses. We also demonstrate that during potentially harmful systemic inflammation, after Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 triggering, neonatal B cells produce high concentrations of IL-10, preventing optimal IL-12 secretion by neonatal DCs and, thus, Th1 priming. Although both CD5+ and CD5- B cell subsets respond to CpG ODN stimulation, we found that only CD5+ B cells produce IL-10. Therefore, these results show the regulatory role of CD5+ B cells on DC activation in vivo for Th1/Th2 polarization and highlight the paradoxical effects of TLR triggering in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

A fully synthetic therapeutic vaccine candidate targeting carcinoma-associated Tn carbohydrate antigen induces tumor-specific antibodies in nonhuman primates.

We recently developed an efficient strategy based on a fully synthetic dendrimeric carbohydrate display (multiple antigenic glycopeptide; MAG) to induce anticarbohydrate antibody responses for therapeutic vaccination against cancer. Here, we show the superior efficacy of the MAG strategy over the traditional keyhole limpet hemocyanin glycoconjugate to elicit an anticarbohydrate IgG response against the tumor-associated Tn antigen. We highlight the influence of the aglyconic carrier elements of such a tumor antigen for their recognition by the immune system. Finally, we additionally developed the MAG system by introducing promiscuous HLA-restricted T-helper epitopes and performed its immunological evaluation in nonhuman primates. MAG:Tn vaccines induced in all of the animals strong tumor-specific anti-Tn antibodies that can mediate antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity against human tumor. Therefore, the preclinical evaluation of the MAG:Tn vaccine demonstrates that it represents a safe and highly promising immunotherapeutic molecularly defined tool for targeting breast, colon, and prostate cancers that express the carbohydrate Tn antigen.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis and immunological evaluation of an antitumor neoglycopeptide vaccine bearing a novel homoserine Tn antigen.

As part of our program on Tn-specific anti-tumor immunotherapy, our aim was to vary the nature of the aglyconic part of the tumor-associated Tn antigen (alpha-d-GalNAc-Ser/Thr). This report describes the synthesis of Fmoc-hSer-(alpha-d-GalNAc)-OH (4) in 19% overall yield from protected aspartic acid. The building block 4 was incorporated as trimeric clusters into a glycopeptide vaccine [MAG:Tn(hSer)3-PV], using solid-phase peptide synthesis. When injected in mice, the resulting MAG induces a strong antibody response, which recognizes native tumor-associated antigens (TAA) at the surface of human tumor cells. This approach may be extended to the use of other nonnatural TAA in order to improve half-life of synthetic anti-cancer vaccines.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Ontogeny and innate properties of neonatal dendritic cells.

We investigated whether a developmental immaturity of the dendritic cells (DCs) compartment could contribute to the high susceptibility to infections observed in newborns. DCs are among the first cells to colonize the spleen, but the ontogeny of DC subsets follows distinct steps. At birth, plasmacytoid DCs and CD4-CD8alpha- DCs are found in the spleen, whereas CD8alpha+ and CD4+ DCs are not present. Then, the CD8alpha+ DC compartment quickly develops and reaches an adult size by day 7, whereas the CD4+ DC compartment slowly increases to become predominant by the age of 3 weeks. The production of interleukin (IL)-12p70 by DCs is particularly efficient after birth, reflecting the stronger capacity of the neonatal CD8alpha- DCs to secrete IL-12 compared with its adult counterpart. Like-wise, neonatal DCs produced type I and II interferons. In vivo, following microbial stimulation, up-regulation of major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) and of costimulatory molecules on DCs was induced clearly showing the activation of neonatal DCs in the neonatal environment. Therefore, despite a markedly different DC subset composition in early life compared with the adult DC compartment, neonatal DCs are fully competent in their innate immune functions.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The shift of Th1 to Th2 immunodominance associated with the chronicity of Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin infection does not affect the memory response.

In the present study we investigated the shaping and evolution of the immunodominance of the T cell response during a chronic mycobacterial infection. Using a recombinant bacille Calmette-Guérin expressing a reporter Ag, the Escherichia coli MalE protein, we analyzed the peptide specificity and the cytokine profile of the T cell response to the reporter Ag by ELISPOT. During the early steps of infection, the T cell response was focused on two dominant MalE epitopes and was characterized by a pure IFN-gamma response. Then, in the course of infection the initial IFN-gamma response to these two epitopes shifted to a mixed IFN-gamma/IL-4 response. At the same time, the peptide specificity of the T cell response was broadened to two additional MalE epitopes characterized by a unique IL-4 response resulting in the establishment of a dominant IL-4 response to the MalE protein at 16 wk postinfection. However, this phenomenon did not impair the outcome of a predominant IFN-gamma response upon subsequent MalE recall in vivo performed in the presence of CFA, a Th1-driving adjuvant. These results indicate that the Th2 nature of the immune response established during a chronic infection, which most likely reflects regulatory mechanisms to allow the return to T cell homeostasis, does not shape the Th1/Th2 nature of the memory response.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[In-vivo dynamic changes of antigen presenting cells infected with recombinant attenuated Salmonella typhimurium expressing green fluorescent protein].

AIM: To clarify in-vivo early dynamic changes of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) infected with recombinant attenuated Salmonella typhimurium. METHODS: BALB/c mice were orally infected with recombinant attenuated Salmonella typhimurium expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) X4550 (pYAGFP). Peritoneal macrophages were taken out 3 days after infection, cultured for 24 hours, and observed under the fluorescent microscope. Moreover, BALB/c mice were also infected intravenously with X4550 (pYAGFP) and low density cells (LDCs) were isolated and prepared from mouse spleen and liver 3,6 and 12 hours after infection. Infection rates of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: About 50% peritoneal macrophages were X4550 (pYAGFP) positive. Infection rates of macrophages in spleen and liver were about 20%-40%. As for the DCs, the infection rates in spleen and liver were about 4%-10% and 10%-20%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Recombinant attenuated Salmonella can be captured by APCs in-vivo in early infection, which provides a precondition for inducing effective immune responses.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Efficient in vivo priming of specific cytotoxic T cell responses by neonatal dendritic cells.

In early life, a high susceptibility to infectious diseases as well as a poor capacity to respond to vaccines are generally observed as compared with observations in adults. The mechanisms underlying immune immaturity have not been fully elucidated and could be due to the immaturity of the T/B cell responses and/or to a defect in the nature and quality of Ag presentation by the APC. This prompted us to phenotypically and functionally characterize early life murine dendritic cells (DC) purified from spleens of 7-day-old mice. We showed that neonatal CD11c(+) DC express levels of costimulatory molecules and MHC molecules similar to those of adult DC and are able to fully maturate after LPS activation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that neonatal DC can efficiently take up, process, and present Ag to T cells in vitro and induce specific CTL responses in vivo. Although a reduced number of these cells was observed in the spleen of neonatal mice as compared with adults, this study clearly shows that neonatal DC have full functional capacity and may well prime Ag-specific naive T cells in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Dendritic cells are host cells for mycobacteria in vivo that trigger innate and acquired immunity.

In the present study, we investigated in vivo the infection and APC functions of dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages (Mphi) after administration of live mycobacteria to mice. Experiments were conducted with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or a rBCG expressing a reporter Ag. Following infection of mice, DC and Mphi were purified and the presence of immunogenic peptide/MHC class II complexes was detected ex vivo on sorted cells, as was the secretion of IL-12 p40. We show in this study that DC is a host cell for mycobacteria, and we provide an in vivo detailed picture of the role of Mphi and DC in the mobilization of immunity during the early stages of a bacterial infection. Strikingly, BCG bacilli survive but remain stable in number in the DC leukocyte subset during the first 2 wk of infection. As Ag presentation by DC is rapidly lost, this suggests that DC may represent a hidden reservoir for mycobacteria.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Induction of protective antiviral cytotoxic T cells by a tubular structure capable of carrying large foreign sequences.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) produces large numbers of tubules during infection which are formed by a single virus coded non-structural protein, NS1. The NS1 protein has been fused with full length green fluorescent protein (GFP) and was shown to retain the capacity to form tubules when expressed in heterologous expression systems. Moreover, recombinant purified chimeric tubules were demonstrated to be internalized by macrophages and dendritic cells. The ability of such chimeric tubules to induce protective cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses has been assessed by generating chimeric tubules carrying a single CD8(+) T cell epitope from the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) nucleoprotein. These chimeric tubules were recognized by MHC class I restricted T cell hybridoma in vitro and induced in vivo strong CD8(+) class I-restricted CTL responses in immunized mice. Further, the immunized mice were protected when challenged with a lethal dose of LCMV. This is the first study that demonstrates that the virus derived tubules synthesized by a recombinant non-structural protein carrying a single viral CTL epitope could induce protective immunity against a lethal viral challenge. Since recombinant tubules carrying large inserts can be purified at a large quantity from insect cells, they have potential to develop as safe multi-CTL vaccine delivery systems.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemoselective assembly and immunological evaluation of multiepitopic glycoconjugates bearing clustered Tn antigen as synthetic anticancer vaccines.

In this paper we investigated the use of regioselectively addressable functionalized templates (RAFTs) as new scaffolds for the design of anticancer vaccine candidates. We report the synthesis of well-defined multiepitopic RAFT scaffolds and their immunological evaluation. These conjugates exhibit clustered Tn analogue as tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA, B-cell epitope) and the CD4+ helper T-cell peptide from the type 1 poliovirus. The saccharidic and peptidic epitopes were both synthesized separately and combined regioselectively to the RAFT core using a sequential oxime bond formation strategy. B- and T-antigenicity and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidates were investigated in vitro and in vivo. These studies clearly demonstrate that the saccharidic part of the conjugates is recognized by Tn-specific monoclonal antibodies. Moreover, the antibodies elicited by immunization of mice with our vaccine candidates recognize the native form of Tn epitope expressed on human tumor cells. Together with oxime ligation technique, these results suggest that the RAFT scaffold provides a promising and suitable tool for engineering potent synthetic anticancer vaccine.

Animals↗