Polymeric synthetic nanoparticles for the induction of antigen-specific immunological tolerance

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Jan 13;112(2):E156-65. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1408686111. Epub 2014 Dec 29.

Abstract

Current treatments to control pathological or unwanted immune responses often use broadly immunosuppressive drugs. New approaches to induce antigen-specific immunological tolerance that control both cellular and humoral immune responses are desirable. Here we describe the use of synthetic, biodegradable nanoparticles carrying either protein or peptide antigens and a tolerogenic immunomodulator, rapamycin, to induce durable and antigen-specific immune tolerance, even in the presence of potent Toll-like receptor agonists. Treatment with tolerogenic nanoparticles results in the inhibition of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation, an increase in regulatory cells, durable B-cell tolerance resistant to multiple immunogenic challenges, and the inhibition of antigen-specific hypersensitivity reactions, relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and antibody responses against coagulation factor VIII in hemophilia A mice, even in animals previously sensitized to antigen. Only encapsulated rapamycin, not the free form, could induce immunological tolerance. Tolerogenic nanoparticle therapy represents a potential novel approach for the treatment of allergies, autoimmune diseases, and prevention of antidrug antibodies against biologic therapies.

Keywords: anti-drug antibodies; immune tolerance; immunotherapy; nanoparticles; rapamycin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / administration & dosage*
  • Antigens / chemistry*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / prevention & control
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / therapy
  • Factor VIII / immunology
  • Female
  • Hemocyanins / administration & dosage
  • Hemophilia A / immunology
  • Hemophilia A / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / therapy
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nanocapsules / administration & dosage
  • Nanocapsules / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / administration & dosage
  • Ovalbumin / administration & dosage
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptides / administration & dosage
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Sirolimus / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antigens
  • CPG-oligonucleotide
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Nanocapsules
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • ovalbumin (325-339)
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • Factor VIII
  • Ovalbumin
  • Hemocyanins
  • keyhole-limpet hemocyanin
  • Sirolimus