Enhancement of anti-allergic effect of DNA vaccine by macrolide antibiotic

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

We examined the effect of erythromycin (EM), a 14-membered macrolide, on the immune response to a DNA vaccine that induces a T-helper-1 (Thl)-biased immune response through a Thl-promoting adjuvant effect of unmethylated CpG motifs within plasmid DNA. EM enhanced Thl responses in plasmid DNA-immunized mice as measured by antigen-specific IgG2a antibody production, interferon- γ production by antigen-specific CD4+ T cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Since immunization with plasmid DNA encoding a specific allergen via the systemic routes has been shown to both prevent activation of allergen-specific Th2 cells following injection of allergen protein in aluminum hydroxide, we attempted to determine whether EM enhances the inhibition of pulmonary eosinophilia in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice after inhalation OVA challenge. The results showed that EM enhances the inhibitory effect of DNA vaccine on pulmonary eosinophilia.