IMMUNE-RESPONSES IN MICE INDUCED BY HSV-1 GLYCOPROTEINS PRESENTED WITH ISCOMS OR NISV DELIVERY SYSTEMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of a herp es simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) antigen preparation, obtained followin g zwitterionic detergent treatment of virus, and incorporation of the antigens into either immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs) or non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NISV) delivery systems. Using Balb/c mice the IS COM and NISV HSV-1 vaccines were assayed for their capacity to induce and enhance both the humoral and cellular immune responses, and to eli cit protection against both homologous and heterologous virus challeng e. The serum from animals vaccinated with either the NISV or the ISCOM HSV-1 antigen preparation, were found to contain high levels of total IgG and IgG1 and IgG2a subclass antibodies. In addition, both prepara tions were found to induce high neutralizing (NT) antibody levels foll owing a two immunization protocol and to provide some protection again st homologous and heterologous HSV challenge infection. Lymphoprolifer ative responses were observed in cultures of splenocytes from mice imm unized with both HSV-1 NISV vaccine and HSV-1 ISCOMs vaccine, followin g various antigenic stimuli in vitro. In general, these were most mark ed in animals immunized with the HSV-1 NISV preparation, and particula rly so when the splenocytes were stimulated in vitro with live HSV-1. Both the NISV and ISCOM HSV-1 vaccines were found to have induced inte rleukin 2, interleukin 10 and interferon-gamma in spleen cell culture supernatants, although again, the highest responses in general were ob served in supernatant fluids from spleen cell cultures from animals im munized with the HSV-1 NISV preparation. These results suggest that a wide range of immune activity can be elicited by HSV-1 antigens presen ted to the immune system of mice in these formulations. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.