Tolerogenic β2-glycoprotein I DNA vaccine and FK506 as an adjuvant attenuates experimental obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 12;13(6):e0198821. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198821. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

DNA vaccines have recently emerged as a therapeutic agent for treating autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by β2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI)-targeting antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) and vascular thrombosis or obstetrical complications. To examine the therapeutic potential of a β2-GPI DNA vaccine, we administered a vaccine mixed with FK506 as an adjuvant to a mouse model of obstetric APS. First, the pCMV3-β2-GPI DNA vaccine, which encodes the full-length human β2-GPI gene, was constructed. Then, we administered the β2-GPI DNA vaccine in 0.1 ml of saline, mixed with or without 100 μg of FK506, intramuscularly to the mice on days 28, 35 and 42. Blood titers of the anti-β2-GPI antibody, platelet counts, activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs), and the percentage of fetal loss were measured. We also stimulated murine splenic T cells ex vivo with β2-GPI and determined the T helper cell proportion and cytokine secretion. The administration of the β2-GPI DNA vaccine mixed with FK506 reduced the blood IgG anti-β2-GPI antibody titers and suppressed APS manifestations in mice. The combination also suppressed interferon-γ and interleukin (IL)-17A secretion but increased the Treg cell proportion and IL-10 secretion in murine splenic T cells following ex vivo stimulation with β2-GPI. Our results demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of a β2-GPI DNA vaccine and FK506 as an adjuvant in a murine model of obstetric APS. Possible mechanisms include the inhibition of Th1 and Th17 responses and the up-regulation of Treg cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / blood
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / immunology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / genetics
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / pathology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / prevention & control*
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Pregnancy
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Tacrolimus / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I / genetics*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Autoantibodies
  • Cytokines
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I
  • Tacrolimus

Grants and funding

The works were supported by a grant (105-2320-B-005 -006) form the ministry of science and technology, R.O.C. (https://www.most.gov.tw/?l=en). This study was also supported by a grant from the Taichung Veterans General Hospital Research Program, TCVGH-1063802B (https://www.vghtc.gov.tw). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.