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Impact of Th1 CD4 Follicular Helper T Cell Skewing on Antibody Responses to an HIV-1 Vaccine in Rhesus Macaques.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Verma, A; Schmidt, BA; Elizaldi, SR; Nguyen, NK; Walter, KA; Beck, Z; Trinh, HV; Dinasarapu, AR; Lakshmanappa, YS; Rane, NN; Matyas, GR ...
Published in: J Virol
February 28, 2020

Generating durable humoral immunity through vaccination depends upon effective interactions of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells with germinal center (GC) B cells. Th1 polarization of Tfh cells is an important process shaping the success of Tfh-GC B cell interactions by influencing costimulatory and cytokine-dependent Tfh help to B cells. However, the question remains as to whether adjuvant-dependent modulation of Tfh cells enhances HIV-1 vaccine-induced antienvelope (anti-Env) antibody responses. We investigated whether an HIV-1 vaccine platform designed to increase the number of Th1-polarized Tfh cells enhances the magnitude and quality of anti-Env antibodies. Utilizing a novel interferon-induced protein 10 (IP-10)-adjuvanted HIV-1 DNA prime followed by a monophosphoryl lipid A and QS-21 (MPLA+QS-21)-adjuvanted Env protein boost (DIP-10 PALFQ) in macaques, we observed higher anti-Env serum IgG titers with greater cross-clade reactivity, specificity for V1V2, and effector functions than in macaques primed with DNA lacking IP-10 and boosted with MPLA-plus-alum-adjuvanted Env protein (DPALFA) The DIP-10 PALFQ vaccine regimen elicited higher anti-Env IgG1 and lower IgG4 antibody levels in serum, showing for the first time that adjuvants can dramatically impact the IgG subclass profile in macaques. The DIP-10 PALFQ regimen also increased vaginal and rectal IgA antibodies to a greater extent. Within lymph nodes, we observed augmented GC B cell responses and the promotion of Th1 gene expression profiles in GC Tfh cells. The frequency of GC Tfh cells correlated with both the magnitude and avidity of anti-Env serum IgG. Together, these data suggest that adjuvant-induced stimulation of Th1-Tfh cells is an effective strategy for enhancing the magnitude and quality of anti-Env antibody responses.IMPORTANCE The results of the RV144 trial demonstrated that vaccination could prevent HIV transmission in humans and that longevity of anti-Env antibodies may be key to this protection. Efforts to improve upon the prime-boost vaccine regimen used in RV144 have indicated that booster immunizations can increase serum anti-Env antibody titers but only transiently. Poor antibody durability hampers efforts to develop an effective HIV-1 vaccine. This study was designed to identify the specific elements involved in the immunological mechanism necessary to produce robust HIV-1-specific antibodies in rhesus macaques. By clearly defining immune-mediated pathways that improve the magnitude and functionality of the anti-HIV-1 antibody response, we will have the foundation necessary for the rational development of an HIV-1 vaccine.

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Published In

J Virol

DOI

EISSN

1098-5514

Publication Date

February 28, 2020

Volume

94

Issue

6

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Virology
  • Th1 Cells
  • Saponins
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Lipid A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Humans
  • HIV-1
  • HIV Antibodies
 

Citation

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MLA
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Verma, A., Schmidt, B. A., Elizaldi, S. R., Nguyen, N. K., Walter, K. A., Beck, Z., … Iyer, S. S. (2020). Impact of Th1 CD4 Follicular Helper T Cell Skewing on Antibody Responses to an HIV-1 Vaccine in Rhesus Macaques. J Virol, 94(6). https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01737-19
Verma, Anil, Brian A. Schmidt, Sonny R. Elizaldi, Nancy K. Nguyen, Korey A. Walter, Zoltan Beck, Hung V. Trinh, et al. “Impact of Th1 CD4 Follicular Helper T Cell Skewing on Antibody Responses to an HIV-1 Vaccine in Rhesus Macaques.J Virol 94, no. 6 (February 28, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01737-19.
Verma A, Schmidt BA, Elizaldi SR, Nguyen NK, Walter KA, Beck Z, et al. Impact of Th1 CD4 Follicular Helper T Cell Skewing on Antibody Responses to an HIV-1 Vaccine in Rhesus Macaques. J Virol. 2020 Feb 28;94(6).
Verma, Anil, et al. “Impact of Th1 CD4 Follicular Helper T Cell Skewing on Antibody Responses to an HIV-1 Vaccine in Rhesus Macaques.J Virol, vol. 94, no. 6, Feb. 2020. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/JVI.01737-19.
Verma A, Schmidt BA, Elizaldi SR, Nguyen NK, Walter KA, Beck Z, Trinh HV, Dinasarapu AR, Lakshmanappa YS, Rane NN, Matyas GR, Rao M, Shen X, Tomaras GD, LaBranche CC, Reimann KA, Foehl DH, Gach JS, Forthal DN, Kozlowski PA, Amara RR, Iyer SS. Impact of Th1 CD4 Follicular Helper T Cell Skewing on Antibody Responses to an HIV-1 Vaccine in Rhesus Macaques. J Virol. 2020 Feb 28;94(6).

Published In

J Virol

DOI

EISSN

1098-5514

Publication Date

February 28, 2020

Volume

94

Issue

6

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Virology
  • Th1 Cells
  • Saponins
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Lipid A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Humans
  • HIV-1
  • HIV Antibodies