Synergy of therapeutic heterologous prime-boost hepatitis B vaccination with CpG-application to improve immune control of persistent HBV infection

Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 25;9(1):10808. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47149-w.

Abstract

Therapeutic vaccination against chronic hepatitis B must overcome high viral antigen load and local regulatory mechanisms that promote immune-tolerance in the liver and curtail hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific CD8 T cell immunity. Here, we report that therapeutic heterologous HBcore-protein-prime/Modified-Vaccinia-Virus-Ankara (MVA-HBcore) boost vaccination followed by CpG-application augmented vaccine-induced HBcAg-specific CD8 T cell-function in the liver. In HBV-transgenic as well as AAV-HBV-transduced mice with persistent high-level HBV-replication, the combination of therapeutic vaccination with subsequent CpG-application was synergistic to generate more potent HBV-specific CD8 T cell immunity that improved control of hepatocytes replicating HBV.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / immunology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / prevention & control*
  • Liver / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / administration & dosage
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / therapeutic use*
  • Vaccination / methods*
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • MVA vaccine
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Viral Vaccines