Intranasal delivery of the cytoplasmic domain of CTLA-4 using a novel protein transduction domain prevents allergic inflammation
Authors
Je-Min Choi ; Mi-Hyun Ahn ; Wook-Jin Chae ; Yung-Gook Jung ; Jae-Chul Park ; Hyun-Mi Song ; Young-Eun Kim ; Jung-Ah Shin ; Choon-Sik Park ; Jung-Won Park ; Tae-Kwann Park ; Jung-Hoon Lee ; Byung-Fhy Seo ; Kyun-Do Kim ; Eun-Sung Kim ; Dong-Ho Lee ; Seung-Kyou Lee ; Sang-Kyou Lee
CTLA-4 is a negative regulator of T-cell activation, and its inhibitory effects can be accomplished either by competition with CD28 or by transmitting negative signals through its intracellular domain. To utilize the cytoplasmic domain of CTLA-4 to suppress allergic inflammation, we fused it to a novel protein-transduction domain in the human transcriptional factor Hph-1. Transduction efficiency was verified in vitro and in vivo after ocular, intranasal and intradermal administration. After transduction into T cells, the Hph-1-ctCTLA-4 fusion protein inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-2, and downregulated CD69 and CD25. Intranasal administration of Hph-1-ctCTLA-4 resulted in markedly reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells, secretion of T helper type 2 (T(H)2) cytokines, serum IgE levels and airway hyper-responsiveness in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. These results indicated that Hph-1-ctCTLA-4 constitutes an effective immunosuppressive protein drug for potential use in the treatment of allergic asthma, via nasal administration.