TRIM21 mediates antibody inhibition of adenovirus-based gene delivery and vaccination

Adenovirus has enormous potential as a gene-therapy vector, but preexisting immunity limits its widespread application. What is responsible for this immune block is unclear because antibodies potently inhibit transgene expression without impeding gene transfer into target cells. Here we show that antibody prevention of adenoviral gene delivery in vivo is mediated by the cytosolic antibody receptor TRIM21. Genetic KO of TRIM21 or a single-antibody point mutation is sufficient to restore transgene expression to near-naïve immune levels. TRIM21 is also responsible for blocking cytotoxic T cell induction by vaccine vectors, preventing a protective response against subsequent influenza infection and an engrafted tumor. Furthermore, adenoviral preexisting immunity can lead to an augmented immune response upon i.v. administration of the vector. Transcriptomic analysis of vector-transduced tissue reveals that TRIM21 is responsible for the specific up-regulation of hundreds of immune genes, the majority of which are components of the intrinsic or innate response. Together, these data define a major mechanism underlying the preimmune block to adenovirus gene therapy and demonstrate that TRIM21 efficiently blocks gene delivery in vivo while simultaneously inducing a rapid program of immune transcription

Cell-derived vesicles exposing coagulant tissue factor in saliva

On vascular damage, coagulation is initiated by extravascular tissue factor (TF). Intravascular TF, which is present on circulating cell-derived vesicles, is non-coagulant under physiologic conditions but prothrombotic under pathologic conditions. Human saliva triggers coagulation, but the mechanism and physiologic relevance are unknown. Because saliva is known to contain TF, we hypothesized that this TF may also be associated with cell-derived vesicles to facilitate coagulation when saliva directly contacts blood. The saliva-induced shortening of the clotting time of autologous plasma and whole blood from healthy subjects (n = 10) proved TF-dependent. This TF was associated with various types of cell-derived vesicles, including microparticles and exosomes. The physiologic function was shown by adding saliva to human pericardial wound blood collected from patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Addition of saliva shortened the clotting time from 300 +/- 96 to 186 +/- 24 seconds (P=.03). Our results show that saliva triggers coagulation, thereby reducing blood loss and the risk of pathogens entering the blood. We postulate that our reflex to lick a wound may be a mechanism to enable TF-exposing vesicles, present in saliva, to aid in the coagulation process and thus protect the organism from entering pathogens. This unique compartmentalization may be highly conserved because also animals lick their wounds. (Blood. 2011; 117(11): 3172-3180

Complement C4 prevents viral infection through capsid inactivation

The complement system is vital for anti-microbial defense. In the classical pathway, pathogen-bound antibody recruits the C1 complex (C1qC1r2C1s2) that initiates a cleavage cascade involving C2, C3, C4, and C5 and triggering microbial clearance. We demonstrate a C4-dependent antiviral mechanism that is independent of downstream complement components. C4 inhibits human adenovirus infection by directly inactivating the virus capsid. Rapid C4 activation and capsid deposition of cleaved C4b are catalyzed by antibodies via the classical pathway. Capsid-deposited C4b neutralizes infection independent of C2 and C3 but requires C1q antibody engagement. C4b inhibits capsid disassembly, preventing endosomal escape and cytosolic access. C4-deficient mice exhibit heightened viral burdens. Additionally, complement synergizes with the Fc receptor TRIM21 to block transduction by an adenovirus gene therapy vector but is partially restored by Fab virus shielding. These results suggest that the complement system could be altered to prevent virus infection and enhance virus gene therapy efficacy