Norovirus P particle efficiently elicits innate, humoral and cellular immunity

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 29;8(4):e63269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063269. Print 2013.

Abstract

Norovirus (NoV) P domain complexes, the 24 mer P particles and the P dimers, induced effective humoral immunity, but their role in the cellular immune responses remained unclear. We reported here a study on cellular immune responses of the two P domain complexes in comparison with the virus-like particle (VLP) of a GII.4 NoV (VA387) in mice. The P domain complexes induced significant central memory CD4(+) T cell phenotypes (CD4(+) CD44(+) CD62L(+) CCR7(+)) and activated polyclonal CD4(+) T cells as shown by production of Interleukin (IL)-2, Interferon (IFN)-γ, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α. Most importantly, VA387-specific CD4(+) T cell epitope induced a production of IFN-γ, indicating an antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell response in P domain complex-immunized mice. Furthermore, P domain complexes efficiently induced bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) maturation, evidenced by up-regulation of co-stimulatory and MHC class II molecules, as well as production of IL-12 and IL-1β. Finally, P domain complex-induced mature dendritic cells (DCs) elicited proliferation of specific CD4(+) T cells targeting VA387 P domain. Overall, we conclude that the NoV P domain complexes are efficiently presented by DCs to elicit not only humoral but also cellular immune responses against NoVs. Since the P particle is highly effective for both humoral and cellular immune responses and easily produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli), it is a good choice of vaccine against NoVs and a vaccine platform against other diseases.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Female
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Immunity, Humoral*
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Molecular
  • Norovirus / immunology*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Species Specificity
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / chemistry*
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Interleukin-2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle
  • Interferon-gamma