Immunomodulatory activity of a plant extract containing human papillomavirus 16-E7 protein in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2009 Oct-Dec;22(4):967-78. doi: 10.1177/039463200902200412.

Abstract

This study reports the immunomodulatory activity on human monocyte derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) of a vaccine preparation shown to be effective against an HPV16-related tumour in an animal model. The vaccine is composed of extract from Nicotiana benthamiana leaves containing HPV16 E7 protein expressed by a potato virus X-derived vector (NbPVX-E7). The effect of the extract was evaluated on MDDC differentiation and maturation by monitoring the phenotypic expression of specific markers. The results show that NbPVX-E7 does not induce monocyte differentiation to dendritic cells, but does induce MDDC maturation. Plant extract does not influence MDDC-uptake of E7-FITC while it significantly improves the Ovalbumin-FITC uptake, considered as a model antigen. Importantly, NbPVX-E7-pulsed MDDCs/PBMCs are able to prime human blood-derived lymphocytes from healthy individuals to induce HPV16 E7-specific cytotoxic activity. This is a propaedeutic study for a possible use of E7-containing plant extract in human immunotherapy of HPV-related lesions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / isolation & purification
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Male
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / immunology*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Ovalbumin / metabolism
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / biosynthesis
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / genetics
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / immunology*
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / immunology*
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Leaves
  • Plants, Genetically Modified*
  • Potexvirus / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines
  • Plant Extracts
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Ovalbumin