Toll-like receptor agonist imiquimod facilitates antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell accumulation in the genital tract leading to tumor control through IFNγ.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Imiquimod is a Toll-like receptor 7 agonist used topically to treat external genital warts and basal cell carcinoma. We examined the combination of topical imiquimod with intramuscular administration of CRT/E7, a therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine comprised of a naked DNA vector expressing calreticulin fused to HPV16 E7.

Experimental design

Using an orthotopic HPV16 E6/E7(+) syngeneic tumor, TC-1, as a model of high-grade cervical/vaginal/vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, we assessed if combining CRT/E7 vaccination with cervicovaginal deposition of imiquimod could result in synergistic activities promoting immune-mediated tumor clearance.

Results

Imiquimod induced cervicovaginal accumulation of activated E7-specific CD8(+) T cells elicited by CRT/E

SUBMITTER: Soong RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4216740 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature