Recombinant single-cycle influenza virus with exchangeable pseudotypes allows repeated immunization to augment anti-tumour immunity with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Elife. 2023 Jan 10:12:e76414. doi: 10.7554/eLife.76414.

Abstract

Virus-based tumour vaccines offer many advantages compared to other antigen-delivering systems. They generate concerted innate and adaptive immune response, and robust CD8+ T cell responses. We engineered a non-replicating pseudotyped influenza virus (S-FLU) to deliver the well-known cancer testis antigen, NY-ESO-1 (NY-ESO-1 S-FLU). Intranasal or intramuscular immunization of NY-ESO-1 S-FLU virus in mice elicited a strong NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T cell response in lungs and spleen that resulted in the regression of NY-ESO-1-expressing lung tumour and subcutaneous tumour, respectively. Combined administration with anti-PD-1 antibody, NY-ESO-1 S-FLU virus augmented the tumour protection by reducing the tumour metastasis. We propose that the antigen delivery through S-FLU is highly efficient in inducing antigen-specific CD8+ T cell response and protection against tumour development in combination with PD-1 blockade.

Keywords: cancer biology; cancer vaccine; immunology; inflammation; influenza virus; mouse; tumour metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors*
  • Immunization
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Orthomyxoviridae*

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Antibodies