DO DNA VACCINES INDUCE AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASE

This report examines whether plasmid DNA vaccines induce the productio n of anti-DNA or anti-muscle cell autoantibodies. A three-fold increas e in the number of B cells secreting immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-DNA a utoantibodies was detected in BALB/c mice immunized and boosted with a ny of three DNA plasmids (p < 0.004). This correlated with a transient increase in serum anti-DNA autoantibody titers but was not associated with the development of glomerulonephritis or autoimmune disease. Non e of the DNA vaccines examined stimulated the production of anti-muscl e cell autoantibodies or the development of myositis. The effect of DN A vaccines on the development of nascent autoimmunity in lupus-prone ( NZB x NZW)F-1 mice was also examined. Repeated vaccination did not alt er the onset or course of disease in these animals. These findings sug gest that DNA vaccines neither initiate nor accelerate the development of systemic autoimmunity.