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A nanovaccine for immune activation and prophylactic protection of atherosclerosis in mouse models

Author

Listed:
  • Lei Zhang

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Abdulrahman AL-Ammari

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Danxuan Zhu

    (The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University)

  • Hongsong Zhang

    (Nanjing Medical University)

  • Peng Zhou

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Xu Zhi

    (Nanjing University)

  • Weixiao Ding

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Xinmeng Li

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Qingqing Yu

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Yuwen Gai

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Xiaoling Ma

    (The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University)

  • Chuntao Chen

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Chao Zuo

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Jiaan Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College)

  • Wanying Zhu

    (Nanjing Medical University)

  • Dongping Sun

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Vaccines offer prophylactic treatments against atherosclerosis by eliciting effector T cell and antibody responses, which require effective delivery of antigen and adjuvant to activate dendritic cells (DC). Here we show that individual conjugation of antigen p210 and adjuvant CpG oligodeoxynucleotides onto superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles formulates a nanovaccine cocktail that activates DCs for antigen cross-presentation and induction of co-stimulatory signals, cytokines and CD8+ effector/effector memory T cell responses. This nanovaccine modulates the DCs in the draining lymph nodes, activates both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, elicits memory responses, and induces both anti-p210 IgM and IgG antibodies to suppress atherosclerosis. Lastly, three intradermal vaccinations of this nanovaccine mitigate the atherosclerosis development in the ApoE−/− mice. Our nanovaccine design and preclinical data thus presents a potential candidate for prophylactic treatment for atherosclerosis.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Zhang & Abdulrahman AL-Ammari & Danxuan Zhu & Hongsong Zhang & Peng Zhou & Xu Zhi & Weixiao Ding & Xinmeng Li & Qingqing Yu & Yuwen Gai & Xiaoling Ma & Chuntao Chen & Chao Zuo & Jiaan Zhang & Wany, 2025. "A nanovaccine for immune activation and prophylactic protection of atherosclerosis in mouse models," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57467-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57467-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hiroaki Hemmi & Osamu Takeuchi & Taro Kawai & Tsuneyasu Kaisho & Shintaro Sato & Hideki Sanjo & Makoto Matsumoto & Katsuaki Hoshino & Hermann Wagner & Kiyoshi Takeda & Shizuo Akira, 2000. "A Toll-like receptor recognizes bacterial DNA," Nature, Nature, vol. 408(6813), pages 740-745, December.
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