Cell-mediated immunity plays a major role in protecting the host from viral infections and tumor challenge. Here, we report the enzymatic stability and adjuvanticity of a peptiomimetic stereoisomer of the bovine neutrophil peptide indolicidin. The analogue, dubbed LD-indolicidin, contains the regular enantiomeric sequence of indolicidin and is synthesized by general stepwise solid-phase strategy. LD-Indolicidin possesses high resistance to enzymatic degradation and shows tolerance in mice. As vaccine adjuvant, LD-indolicidin is better able than the native form of indolicidin to enhance cell-mediated immune responses, using inactivated H5N1 virus as a model antigen. Taken together, these results open up a new approach to the development of vaccine adjuvants and immunotherapy technologies.
Date:
2013-06-13
Relation:
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 2013 Jun 13;4(6):522-526.