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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.03.13.532404

An oral cholera vaccine in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Meunier, M.·Spillmann, A.·Rousseaux, C.·Schwamborn, K.·Hansson, M.
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Abstract

The oral cholera vaccine WC-rBS consists of 4 different inactivated strains of Vibrio cholerae (LPS source) admixed with recombinant cholera toxin B subunit. Because of its unique composition and anti-inflammatory properties reported for both CTB and low doses of LPS from other Gram-negative bacteria, we speculated that WC-rBS might have anti-inflammatory potential in a chronic autoimmune disease such as inflammatory bowel diseases. First in vitro endotoxin tolerance experiments showed the surprising WC-rBS potential in the modulation of inflammatory responses on both PBMCs and THP1 cells. WC-rBS was further evaluated in the Dextran Sodium Sulfate colitis mouse model. Administrated orally at different dosages, WC-rBS vaccine was safe and showed immunomodulatory properties when administered in a preventive mode (before and during the induction of DSS colitis) as well as in a curative mode (after colitis induction); with improvement of disease activity index (from 27 to 73%) and histological score (from 65 to 88%). Interestingly, the highest therapeutic effect of WC-rBS vaccine was observed with the lowest dosage, showing even better anti-inflammatory properties than mesalamine; an approved 5-aminosalicylic acid drug for treating IBD patients. In summary, this is the first time that a prophylactic medicine, safe and approved for prevention of an infectious disease, showed a benefit in an inflammatory bowel disease model, potentially offering a novel therapeutic modality for IBD patients.

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Meunier, M., Spillmann, A., Rousseaux, C., Schwamborn, K., Hansson, M.. 2023-03-13. An oral cholera vaccine in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.13.532404

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