Glycan-costumed virus-like particles promote type 1 anti-tumor immunity

Lensch, V.; Gabba, A.; Hincapie, R.; Bhagchandani, S. H.; Basak, A.; Alam, M. M.; Irvine, D. J.; Shalek, A. K.; Johnson, J. A.; Finn, M. G.; Kiessling, L. L.

doi:10.1101/2024.01.18.575711

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.01.18.575711

Glycan-costumed virus-like particles promote type 1 anti-tumor immunity

Lensch, V.·Gabba, A.·Hincapie, R.·Bhagchandani, S. H.·Basak, A.·Alam, M. M.·Irvine, D. J.·Shalek, A. K.·Johnson, J. A.·Finn, M. G.·Kiessling, L. L.

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Abstract

Cancer vaccine development is inhibited by a lack of strategies for directing dendritic cell (DC) induction of effective tumor-specific cellular immunity. Pathogen engagement of DC lectins and toll-like receptors (TLRs) shapes immunity by directing T cell function. Strategies to activate specific DC signaling pathways via targeted receptor engagement are crucial to unlocking type 1 cellular immunity. Here, we engineered a glycan-costumed virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine that delivers programmable peptide antigens to induce tumor-specific cellular immunity in vivo. VLPs encapsulating TLR7 agonists and decorated with a selective mannose-derived ligand for the lectin DC-SIGN induced robust DC activation and type 1 cellular immunity, whereas VLPs lacking this key DC-SIGN ligand failed to promote DC-mediated immunity. Vaccination with glycan-costumed VLPs generated tumor antigen-specific Th1 CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that infiltrated solid tumors, inhibiting tumor growth in a murine melanoma model. Thus, VLPs employing lectin-driven immune reprogramming provide a framework for advancing cancer immunotherapies.

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Lensch, V., Gabba, A., Hincapie, R., Bhagchandani, S. H., Basak, A., Alam, M. M., Irvine, D. J., Shalek, A. K., Johnson, J. A., Finn, M. G., Kiessling, L. L.. 2024-01-18. Glycan-costumed virus-like particles promote type 1 anti-tumor immunity. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.18.575711

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