1. Pharm Res. 2009 Jul;26(7):1745-51. Epub 2009 Apr 21.

Effect of tape stripping and adjuvants on immune response after intradermal DNA
electroporation.

Vandermeulen G, Daugimont L, Richiardi H, Vanderhaeghen ML, Lecouturier N, Ucakar
B, Préat V.

Université catholique de Louvain, Unité de Pharmacie Galénique, Avenue Emmanuel
Mounier 73, UCL 7320, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.

PURPOSE: DNA vaccines require both efficient delivery methods and appropriate
adjuvants. Based on their mechanisms of action, we hypothesised that some
adjuvants could enhance vaccine immunogenicity or direct the response towards Th1
profile after intradermal DNA electroporation. METHODS: After intradermal
electroporation of plasmid DNA encoding luciferase, mice received hyaluronidase, 
imiquimod, monophosphoryl lipid A or were tape stripped in order to modulate the 
immune response against the encoded protein. We measured total immunoglobulin G, 
IgG1, IgG2a titres and the cytokines produced by splenocyte cultures to assess
both humoral and cellular response. The effect of tape stripping on the response 
against intradermally delivered ovalbumin protein was also assessed. RESULTS:
Neither hyaluronidase nor imiquimod improved the immune response against the
encoded luciferase. Monophosphoryl lipid A did not modify the cytokines
production but increased the anti-luciferase IgG2a titres. Tape stripping
significantly increased anti-luciferase IgG2a and IFN-gamma responses. It also
enhanced the humoral response after intradermal injection of the ovalbumin
protein. CONCLUSIONS: Tape stripping is able to increase the Th1 immune response 
against both DNA and protein vaccines. Therefore, tape stripping appears to have 
interesting adjuvant effect on intradermal vaccination.

PMID: 19384465 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]