Polyethyleneimine is a potent mucosal adjuvant for viral glycoprotein antigens

Frank Wegmann, Kate H. Gartlan, Ali M. Harandi, Sarah A. Brinckmann, Margherita Coccia, William R. Hillson, Wai Ling Kok, Suzanne Cole, Ling Pei Ho, Teresa Lambe, Manoj Puthia, Catharina Svanborg, Erin M. Scherer, George Krashias, Adam Williams, Joseph N. Blattman, Philip D. Greenberg, Richard A. Flavell, Amin E. Moghaddam, Neil C. SheppardQuentin J. Sattentau*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

Abstract

Protection against mucosally transmitted infections probably requires immunity at the site of pathogen entry, yet there are no mucosal adjuvant formulations licensed for human use. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) represents a family of organic polycations used as nucleic acid transfection reagents in vitro and DNA vaccine delivery vehicles in vivo. Here we show that diverse PEI forms have potent mucosal adjuvant activity for viral subunit glycoprotein antigens. A single intranasal administration of influenza hemagglutinin or herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein D with PEI elicited robust antibody-mediated protection from an otherwise lethal infection, and was superior to existing experimental mucosal adjuvants. PEI formed nanoscale complexes with antigen, which were taken up by antigen-presenting cells in vitro and in vivo, promoted dendritic cell trafficking to draining lymph nodes and induced non-proinflammatory cytokine responses. PEI adjuvanticity required release of host double-stranded DNA that triggered Irf3-dependent signaling. PEI therefore merits further investigation as a mucosal adjuvant for human use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)883-888
Number of pages6
JournalNature Biotechnology
Volume30
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering

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