Intranasal immunization with an apolipoprotein B-100 fusion protein induces antigen-specific regulatory T cells and reduces atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Autoimmune responses to low-density lipoproteins (LDL) contribute to its progression, whereas immunization with LDL may induce atheroprotective or proatherogenic responses. The objective of this study was to develop an atheroprotective vaccine by targeting a peptide of the LDL protein constituent apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) to the nasal mucosa to induce a protective mucosal immune response. METHODS AND RESULTS A peptide comprising amino acids 3136 to 3155 of apoB-100 (p210) was fused to the B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB), which binds to a ganglioside on mucosal epithelia. The effect of nasal administration of the p210-CTB fusion protein on atherogenesis was compared with that of an ovalbumin peptide fused to CTB and with untreated controls. Immunization with p210-CTB for 12 weeks caused a 35% reduction in aortic lesion size in Apoe(-/-) mice. This effect was accompanied by induction of regulatory T cells that markedly suppressed effector T cells rechallenged with apoB-100 and increased numbers of interleukin (IL)-10(+) CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, a peptide-specific antibody response was observed. Atheroprotection was also documented in apoe(-/-) mice lacking functional transforming growth factor-beta receptors on T cells. CONCLUSION Nasal administration of an apoB-100 peptide fused to CTB attenuates atherosclerosis and induces regulatory Tr1 cells that inhibit T effector responses to apoB-100.