Tolerogenic DNA Vaccine for Prevention of Autoimmune Ovarian Disease

Abstract

DNA vaccines have been widely used to induce immune responses against molecular targets. In this study, we explored the possibility of using DNA vaccine combined with the immunosuppressant FK506 (tacrolimus) to antigen-specifically suppress unwanted immune responses and prevent autoimmune ovarian disease. To that end, we immunized C57BL/6 mice with a DNA vaccine encoding mouse zona pellucida 3 (ZP3) together with FK506. The immunization induced ZP3-specific CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg), which suppressed the induction of ZP3-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity in the animals. Significantly, the immunization also protected the animals from experimentally induced autoimmune ovarian disease. These results suggest that DNA vaccination in the presence of FK506 may be used to induce Treg cells and prevent AOD.

• Tolerogenic DNA vaccine
• prevention
• autoimmune disease

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 31070805 (to YK), the Innovative Projects of Key Laboratory for Agro-Microbial Resource and Application, Ministry of Agriculture 201003 (to Y. K.), Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (to Y. K), a open project from the State Key Laboratory of Agro-Biotechnology 2009SKLAB08-2 (to Y. K and J. W), and a grant from State Experiment Innovation for Undergraduates 091001913 (to Y. K and H. F), a grant from National High Technology Development Program to BW.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.