Journal Article

The Novel Tuberculosis Vaccine, AERAS-402, Induces Robust and Polyfunctional CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in Adults

Erasmus, Mzwandile, Hendriks, Jenny, Mahomed, Hassan, Makhethe, Lebohang, Mansoor, Nazma, Gelderbloem, Sebastian, Gearhart, Jacqueline, Hanekom, Willem A., Goetz, Margaret, Weverling, Gerrit Jan, McClain, J. Bruce, Sadoff, Jerald C., Kock, Marwou de, Veldsman, Ashley, Hughes, Jane, Abrahams, Deborah, van der Merwe, Linda, Pau, Maria Grazia, Hussey, Gregory D., Tameris, Michele, Hawkridge, Anthony, Goudsmit, Jaap, Hatherill, Mark, Sizemore, Donata, Abel, Brian, Schirru, Giulia

2010

Overview

Abstract Rationale AERAS-402 is a novel tuberculosis vaccine designed to boost immunity primed by bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only licensed vaccine. Objectives We investigated the safety and immunogenicity of AERAS-402 in healthy Mycobacterium tuberculosis–uninfected BCG-vaccinated adults from a tuberculosis-endemic region of South Africa. Methods Escalating doses of AERAS-402 vaccine were administered intramuscularly to each of three groups of healthy South African BCG-vaccinated adults, and a fourth group received two injections of the maximal dose. Participants were monitored for 6 months, with all adverse effects documented. Vaccine-induced CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immunity was characterized by an intracellular cytokine staining assay of whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Measurements and Main Results AERAS-402 was well tolerated, and no vaccine-related serious adverse events were recorded. The vaccine induced a robust CD4+ T-cell response dominated by cells coexpressing IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-2 (“polyfunctional” cells). AERAS-402 also induced a potent CD8+ T-cell response, characterized by cells expressing IFN-γ and/or tumor necrosis factor-α, which persisted for the duration of the study. Conclusions Vaccination with AERAS-402 is safe and immunogenic in healthy adults. The immunity induced by the vaccine appears promising: polyfunctional T cells are thought to be important for protection against intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and evidence is accumulating that CD8+ T cells are also important. AERAS-402 induced a robust and durable CD8+ T-cell response, which appears extremely promising. Clinical trial registered with www.sanctr.gov.za (NHREC no. 1381).

• Publisher: Oxford University Press,American Thoracic Society
• Subject: Adult / Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy / Biological and medical sciences / Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis / CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects / CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology / CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - drug effects / CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology / Dose-Response Relationship, Drug / Double-Blind Method / Female / Follow-Up Studies / H. Tuberculosis and Mycobacterial Disease / Humans / Intensive care medicine / Lymphocyte Activation - immunology / Lymphocytes / Male / Medical sciences / South Africa / Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy / Tuberculosis / Tuberculosis Vaccines - immunology / Tuberculosis Vaccines - therapeutic use / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF / Vaccines / Young Adult