A Single ssDNA Aptamer Binding to Mannose-Capped Lipoarabinomannan of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Enhances Immunoprotective Effect against Tuberculosis

J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Sep 14;138(36):11680-9. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b05357. Epub 2016 Aug 29.

Abstract

Because Mycobacterium bovis, termed bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only available used tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, retains immunomodulatory properties that limit its protective immunogenicity, there are continuous efforts to identify the immunosuppression mechanism as well as new strategies for improving the immunogenicity of BCG. Here, an ssDNA aptamer "antibody" BM2 specifically bound to the mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM) of BCG was selected. BM2 significantly blocked ManLAM-mannose receptor (MR) binding, triggered ManLAM-CD44 signaling, and enhanced M1 macrophage and Th1 activation via cellular surface CD44 in vitro and in vivo. BM2 enhanced immunoprotective effects of BCG against virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv infection in mice and monkeys models. Thus, we report a new mechanism of the interaction between ManLAM and CD44 on macrophages and CD4(+) T cells and reveal that ManLAM-binding membrane molecule CD44 is a novel target for the enhancement of BCG immunogenicity, and BM2 has strong potential as an immune enhancer for BCG.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / metabolism*
  • BCG Vaccine / immunology*
  • BCG Vaccine / metabolism*
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / metabolism*
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mannose / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • SELEX Aptamer Technique
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • BCG Vaccine
  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • lipoarabinomannan
  • Mannose