An antitumor cellular vaccine based on a mini-membrane IgE

J Immunol. 2012 Jan 1;188(1):103-10. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101842. Epub 2011 Nov 28.

Abstract

The IgE-mediated immune system activation can be redirected to combat tumors. Mouse and human IgE have been shown to provide a potent adjuvant effect in antitumor vaccination, with a crucial role played by FcεRI. This effect results from T cell-mediated adaptive immune response. Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) has been used to infect IgE-loaded tumor cells. These results led to a shift toward a highly safe protocol employing membrane IgE (mIgE), thus eliminating any possible anaphylactogenicity caused by circulating IgE. Evidence that human mIgE and a truncated version lacking IgE Fabs (tmIgE) bind and activate FcεRI has been fundamental and forms the core of this report. Human tmIgE has been engineered into a recombinant MVA (rMVA-tmIgE), and the expression of tmIgE and its transport to the surface of rMVA-tmIgE-infected cells has been detected by Western blot and cytofluorimetry, respectively. FcεRI activation by tmIgE has been confirmed by the release of β-hexosaminidase in a cell-to-cell contact assay using human FcεRI-transfected RBL-SX38 cells. The rMVA-tmIgE antitumor vaccination strategy has been investigated in FcεRIα(-/-) human FcεRIα(+) mice, with results indicating a level of protection comparable to that obtained using soluble human IgE tumor cell loading. The rMVA-tmIgE vector represents a device that suits safe IgE-based antitumor vaccines, harboring the possibility to couple tmIgE with other gene insertions that might enhance the antitumor effect, thus bringing the field closer to the clinics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / biosynthesis
  • Cancer Vaccines / genetics
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / genetics
  • Cell Membrane / immunology*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin E / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccinia virus*

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin E