IgG-mediated anaphylaxis to a synthetic long peptide vaccine containing a B cell epitope can be avoided by slow-release formulation.

Abstract

Synthetic long peptides (SLP) are a promising vaccine modality to induce therapeutic T cell responses in patients with chronic infections and tumors. We studied different vaccine formulations in mice using SLP derived from carcinoembryonic Ag. We discovered that one of the SLP contains a linear Ab epitope in combination with a CD4 epitope. Repeated vaccination with this carcinoembryonic Ag SLP in mice shows improved T cell responses and simultaneously induced high titers of peptide-specific Abs. These Abs resulted in unexpected anaphylaxis after a third or subsequent vaccinations with the SLP when formulated in saline. Administration of low SLP doses in the slow-release vehicle IFA prevented the anaphylaxis after repeated vaccination. This study underscores both the immunogenicity of SLP vaccination, for inducing T cell as well as B cell responses, and the necessity of safe administration routes.