Transcutaneous gene gun delivery of hNC16A Induces BPAG2-specific tolerance

J Invest Dermatol. 2012 Jun;132(6):1665-71. doi: 10.1038/jid.2012.19. Epub 2012 Mar 1.

Abstract

Immune recognition and rejection of tissues expressing transfected genes is a major complication of gene replacement therapy for inherited genetic disorders. Owing to the high immunogenicity of human bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 (hBPAG2), the induction and maintenance of tolerance to this neo-antigen is essential to deliver the gene product to patients with epidermolysis bullosa junctionalis. In a skin grafting mouse model, we used gene gun transfection with a construct encoding hNC16A, the immunodominant domain of hBPAG2, to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance. Eighty percent of wild-type mice transfected with hNC16A showed long-term survival of skin grafts expressing hBPAG2. Tolerance was stable and transferable by T cells but not by B cells of tolerant mice to naive hosts. A dense Foxp3(+) regulatory T-cell (T(reg)) infiltrate was noticed in grafts of tolerant mice and depletion of these cells resulted in a loss of tolerance. Taken together, we show that long-lasting hBPAG2-specific tolerance was induced with gene gun delivery of hNC16A through a T(reg)-dependent mechanism. This is of relevance to patients undergoing gene therapy and has broader implications for the treatment of antigen-specific autoimmune diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Autoantigens / genetics*
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Basement Membrane / immunology
  • Collagen Type XVII
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Graft Rejection / genetics
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control*
  • Graft Survival / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / genetics*
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Non-Fibrillar Collagens / genetics*
  • Non-Fibrillar Collagens / immunology
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / genetics*
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / immunology
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / therapy*
  • Skin Transplantation / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Transfection / methods

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Non-Fibrillar Collagens
  • Immunoglobulin E