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Transplacental Genetic Immunization After Intravenous Delivery of Plasmid DNA to Pregnant Mice¹

Kenji Okuda^2,*, Ke-Qin Xin^*, Atsushi Haruki, Susumu Kawamoto^*, Yoshitsugu Kojima^*, Fumiki Hirahara, Hidechika Okada, Dennis Klinman and Kenji Hamajima^*

Departments of ^* Bacteriology and Gynecology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Molecular Biology, Nagoya City University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; and Center for Biologic Evaluation and Research/Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892

A number of factors influence the development of tolerance, including the nature, concentration, and mode of Ag presentation to the immune system, as well as the age of the host. The studies were conducted to determine whether immunizing pregnant mice with liposome-encapsulated DNA vaccines had an effect on the immune status of their offspring. Two different plasmids (encoding Ags from HIV-1 and influenza virus) were administered i.v. to pregnant mice. We examined the uptake of plasmid DNA by the fetuses until the 21st postcoital day, but little such transfer occurred in early pregnancy. At 9.5 days postconception with cationic liposomes, injected plasmid was present in the tissues of the fetus, consistent with transplacental transfer. When the offspring of vaccinated dams were immunized with DNA vaccine, they mounted stronger Ag-specific immune responses than controls, and were protected against challenge by homologous influenza virus after vaccination. Moreover, such immune responses were strong in the offspring of mothers injected with DNA plasmid 9.5 days after coitus. These results suggest that DNA-vaccinated mothers confer the Ag-specific immunity to their progeny.

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				K. Someya, K.-Q. Xin, K. Matsuo, K. Okuda, N. Yamamoto, and M. Honda A Consecutive Priming-Boosting Vaccination of Mice with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) gag/pol DNA and Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Strain DIs Elicits Effective Anti-SIV Immunity J. Virol., September 15, 2004; 78(18): 9842 - 9853. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]