Listeria monocytogenes-derived listeriolysin O has pathogen-associated molecular pattern-like properties independent of its hemolytic ability

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2013 Jan;20(1):77-84. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00488-12. Epub 2012 Nov 7.

Abstract

There is a constant need for improved adjuvants to augment the induction of immune responses against tumor-associated antigens (TAA) during immunotherapy. Previous studies have established that listeriolysin O (LLO), a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin derived from Listeria monocytogenes, exhibits multifaceted effects to boost the stimulation of immune responses to a variety of antigens. However, the direct ability of LLO as an adjuvant and whether it acts as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) have not been demonstrated. In this paper, we show that a detoxified, nonhemolytic form of LLO (dtLLO) is an effective adjuvant in tumor immunotherapy and may activate innate and cellular immune responses by acting as a PAMP. Our investigation of the adjuvant activity demonstrates that dtLLO, either fused to or administered as a mixture with a human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E7 recombinant protein, can augment antitumor immune responses and facilitate tumor eradication. Further mechanistic studies using bone marrow-derived dendritic cells suggest that dtLLO acts as a PAMP by stimulating production of proinflammatory cytokines and inducing maturation of antigen-presenting cells (APC). We propose that dtLLO is an effective adjuvant for tumor immunotherapy, and likely for other therapeutic settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / isolation & purification
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / drug effects
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Bacterial Toxins / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Toxins / pharmacology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Hemolysin Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Hemolysin Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cytokines
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • hlyA protein, Listeria monocytogenes