Virus-like particles from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus can induce an anti-tumor response

Vaccine. 2008 Oct 3;26(42):5334-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.074. Epub 2008 Aug 14.

Abstract

Recombinant virus-like particles (VLP) expressing heterologous tumor antigens have recently been investigated for use as vaccines. We have chemically conjugated ovalbumin (OVA) or OVA-derived CD4 (OTII) and CD8 (OTI) epitopes, to rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) VLP. VLP conjugated with OVA were able to cross-prime CD8+ cells from OT1 mice transgenic for the OVA T cell receptor. VLP.OTI was able to induce higher antigen-specific cytotoxicity in vivo than VLP mixed with either the protein or the peptide. Furthermore we have shown that the growth of the aggressive B16.OVA melanoma in mice was significantly delayed in those animals that had been vaccinated with VLP.OVA or with VLP coupled with both OTI and OTII peptides prior to the introduction of the tumor. Neither VLP.OTI nor VLP.OTII alone were capable of inhibiting tumor growth. This work suggests that RHDV VLP offer a versatile scaffold for multiple vaccine epitopes, enabling cross-presentation of the antigen to elicit potent cell-mediated and anti-tumor responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • CD8 Antigens / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / therapeutic use
  • Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Rabbit / immunology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Ovalbumin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Ovalbumin