IMMUNE INDUCTION AND MODULATION BY TOPICAL OCULAR ADMINISTRATION OF PLASMID DNA ENCODING ANTIGENS AND CYTOKINES

In this article, the authors investigated if administration of eukaryo tic expression plasmid DNA delivered to the ocular surface provided a means of inducing and modulating the immune response to herpes simplex virus (HSV). Topical application of gB DNA led to the development of HSV specific systemic humoral and cellular immunity. In addition, muco sal antibody was induced at both proximal and distal locations. Topica lly gB DNA immunized animals were protected against lethal challenge v ia either the systemic or the vaginal mucosal routes. Ocular pre-expos ure to DNA encoding the cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-10, but not the IL-2 or interferon-gamma, modulated the severity of the immunoinf lammatory response to subsequent corneal infection with HSV. The prese nt results indicate that the ocular surface provides a readily accessi ble site for DNA immunization and is suitable for both immune inductio n and modulation of the nature of the immune response that is induced. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.