Chitosan Nanovaccines as Efficient Carrier Adjuvant System for IL-12 with Enhanced Protection Against HBV

Purpose: Alum adjuvant in HBV prophylactic vaccines is poor in inducing cellular immunity with the inhibition of IL-12 secretion, and approximately 5-10% of immunised individuals fail to clear HBV upon infection. IL-12 plasmids (pIL-12) as adjuvants enhance significant humoral and cellular immune response in vaccines. However, finding a novel delivery system to protect pIL-12 from enzymatic degradation and achieve efficient delivery remains a major challenge.

Methods: We prepared the chitosan nanovaccine-loaded IL-12 expression plasmid (termed as "Ng(-)pIL-12") and analysed the physicochemical properties, encapsulation efficiency and safety. Then, we evaluated the efficiency of Ng(-)pIL-12 for prophylactic HBV vaccine. Serum samples were collected and analysed for IL-12, HBsAg, anti-HBs IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b. Liver tissues were collected and analysed for HBV DNA and RNA. BMDCs and lymphocytes were collected and analysed for HBV-specific immune responses. To further confirm the long-term protective immune response against HBV, these immunised mice were challenged with hydrodynamic injection of pAAV/HBV 1.2 plasmid on day 56 after the initiation of immunisation.

Results: Chitosan nanovaccine prepared with CS and γ-PGA could load pIL-12 effectively and safely, and IL-12 was efficiently produced in vivo. Interestingly, Ng(-)pIL-12 adjuvant combined with HBsAg induced higher levels of anti-HBs IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b, promoted maturation and presentation capacity of DCs, especially CD8α⁺/CD103⁺ DCs. Meanwhile, Ng(-)pIL-12 adjuvant generated robust HBV-specific CD8⁺ T and CD4⁺ T cell responses. More importantly, Ng(-)pIL-12 adjuvant triggered terminally differentiated effector memory responses with strong anti-HBV effects.

Conclusion: Chitosan nanovaccines as an efficient carrier adjuvant system for pIL-12 combined with HBsAg induced protective anti-HBs IgG and enhanced HBV-specific CD8⁺ T and CD4⁺ T cell responses, and achieved long-term memory response against HBV, making it a promising candidate for prophylactic HBV vaccines.