T. Kieber-emmons et al., Cutting edge: DNA immunization with minigenes of carbohydrate mimotopes induce functional anti-carbohydrate antibody response, J IMMUNOL, 165(2), 2000, pp. 623-627
To date, the generation of anti-carbohydrate Th1 immune responses, which wo
uld be useful for both tumor immunotherapy as well as in pathogen vaccine s
trategies, has been elusive. To augment Th1 immune responses to carbohydrat
e Ags, we describe results of DNA vaccination studies in mice using plasmid
s encoding designed peptide mimotopes (minigenes) of the neolactoseries Ag
Lewis Y (LeY), In contrast to LeY immunization, immunization with mimotope-
encoded plasmids induced LeY cross-reactive IgG2a Abs, Minigene immunizatio
n primed for a LeY-specific response that is rapidly activated upon encount
er with nominal Ag upon subsequent boost, The resulting IgG2a response medi
ated complement-dependent cytotoxicity of a LeY-expressing human tumor cell
line in the presence of human complement. These studies establish that pep
tide mimotopes of carbohydrate Ags encoded as DNA plasmids are novel immuno
gens providing a means to manipulate carbohydrate cross-reactive Th1 respon
ses.