Sublingual vaccine with groel attenuates atherosclerosis

Autoimmune responses to heat-shock protein 60 (hsp60) contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis,whereas immunization with hsp60 may induce atheroprotective responses. we assessed the capacity of an atheroprotective vaccine that targeted a recombinant hsp60 from porphyromonas gingivalis (rgroel) to induce a protective mucosal immune response. female apolipoprotein e-deficient spontaneously hyperlipidemic (apoeshl) mice received sublingual delivery of rgroel prior to p. gingivalis 381 injection. the animals were euthanized 16 weeks later. sublingual immunization with rgroel induced significant rgroel-specific serum igg responses. antigen-specific cells isolated from spleen produced significantly high levels of il-10 and ifn-γ after antigen re-stimulation in vitro. flow cytometric analysis indicated that the frequencies of both il-10+ and ifn-γ+ cd4+ foxp3+ cells increased significantly in submandibular glands (smg). furthermore,sublingual immunization with rgroel significantly reduced atherosclerosis lesion formation in the aortic sinus and decreased serum crp,mcp-1,and ox-ldl levels. these findings suggest that sublingual immunization with rgroel is associated with the increase of ifnγ+ or il-10+ foxp3+ cells in smg and a systemic humoral response,which could be an effective strategy for the prevention of naturally occurring or p. gingivalis-accelerated atherosclerosis. © international & american associations for dental research.