Vaccine-induced memory T cells present in mucosal surfaces may provide a potent barrier to infection with HIV, could reduce HIV transmission, and/or ameliorate progression to AIDS. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been shown to induce the expression of gut-homing receptors on T cells during activation in vitro.

We investigated the use of ATRA (300 μg. intraperitoneal) as an in vivo adjuvant during vaccination of mice with adenovirus expressing the LCMV glycoprotein (gp) as a model antigen (Ad5 gp, 5 × 10⁸ pfu, intramuscular) on the formation and migration of antigen-specific T cells to mucosal sites. To have a definable population for tracking T cell responses, we adoptively transferred 10³ congenically marked P14 TCR-transgenic CD8 T cells, which are specific for the gp33-41 epitope, prior to immunization.

ATRA treatment during priming with Ad5gp did not systemically alter the activation or magnitude of the primary gp33-41 specific CD8 T response, but did increase the number of effector and (and subsequently memory) T cells that localized to mucosal associated tissues. However, ATRA during priming did result in a higher proportion of systemic central-memory phenotype T cells. T cells primed in the presence of ATRA proliferated more during heterologous boosting with modified vaccinia Ankara expressing gp (MVAgp, 10⁷ pfu, intraperitoneal) and exhibited increased gut homing. Mice receiving ATRA during vaccination were also more resistant to vaginal mucosa challenge with vaccinia virus (VVgp, 6 × 10⁶ pfu) and this correlated with increased gp33–41 specific T cell responses at these sites.

ATRA administration during priming in this mouse model resulted in increased mucosal and central memory T cells that were able to better control virus challenge. Thus, ATRA may be an ideal adjuvant for inclusion into vaccination strategies for humans against mucosally transmitted pathogens such as HIV. This study is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This study is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.