Passive immune-prophylaxis against influenza virus infection by the expression of neutralizing anti-hemagglutinin monoclonal antibodies from plasmids

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2011;64(1):40-9.

Abstract

The genetic delivery of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by in vivo production may offer a new solution to the current problems in the mAb therapy for microbial diseases. Herein, plasmids encoding the neutralizing mAb against hemagglutinin (HA) of A/PR/8/34 influenza virus (IFV) were electro-transferred into mouse muscle and the relationship between serum recombinant anti-HA mAb (rHA mAb) levels and the prophylactic efficacy against lethal IFV infection were analyzed. Pretreatment of the muscle with hyaluronidase before electroporation and gene transfer into 3 muscles resulted in a marked enhancement of the mAb expression. After single gene transfer, peak serum concentrations were reached around 20 days after the gene transfer following sustained expression of >10 µg/ml of rHA mAbs. This level of rHA mAb expression was sufficient to protect all mice against a lethal IFV infection. Furthermore, a significant rHA mAb expression level sufficient to protect the host against lethal IFV infection was maintained for at least 130 days. Passive immune-prophylaxis with gene transfer using the plasmid encoding neutralizing mAbs may therefore provide effective protection against viral infections, including IFV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / genetics
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / metabolism
  • Chemoprevention
  • Electroporation
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive / methods*
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Influenza A virus / pathogenicity
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Influenza Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
  • Plasmids / genetics*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Influenza Vaccines