This study is a preliminary investigation of immune responses, in the blood and in cervical \& vaginal secretions, to proteins ("antigens") taken up across the undersurface of the tongue.
Animal studies have shown that this "sublingual" surface can take up antigens and stimulate immune responses, which may have a different character to responses induced by injecting the same antigens. In previous studies of nasal and oral delivery, we used licensed vaccine preparations as pure and well-characterised model antigens safe for use in humans. We will use a licensed "HPV" vaccine as the source of antigens in this study. The quantity and character of responses (lymphocyte number and pattern of surface proteins, concentration and type of antibodies in fluids) will be measured in detail in various anatomical sites (blood, vaginal secretions) before and after delivery of antigens on three occasions. As well as using established immune assays to characterise the responses, we will develop new research assays to detect populations of lymphocytes and antibodies present in secretions. To ensure we have positive samples to include in our assays and validate new techniques, we will recruit some subjects to receive a standard intramuscular injection, as this is known to be nearly 100% reliable in inducing measurable immune responses. As this is a preliminary study we will recruit enough subjects (based on our previous experience with nasal, oral and injected delivery) to ensure we generate sufficient responses we can measure. We may be able to draw some tentative conclusions about differences in character of immune responses following sublingual or injected delivery, but it is not the intention of this initial study to formally compare these two routes. If we observe that sublingual delivery in humans can induce immune responses, we can select assays to test any differences more formally in subsequent bigger and more focused studies.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
18
1 intramuscular dose (0.5 ml) on month 0, 1 and 4 containing approximately: Human Papillomavirus Type 6 L1 protein 20 micrograms Human Papillomavirus Type 11 L1 protein 40 micrograms Human Papillomavirus Type 16 L1 protein 40 micrograms Human Papillomavirus Type 18 L1 protein 20 micrograms
1 sublingual application on month 0, 1 and 4 of 0.5 ml containing approximately: Human Papillomavirus Type 6 L1 protein 20 micrograms Human Papillomavirus Type 11 L1 protein 40 micrograms Human Papillomavirus Type 16 L1 protein 40 micrograms Human Papillomavirus Type 18 L1 protein 20 micrograms
St George's Vaccine Institute, St George's University of London
London, England, United Kingdom
Concentration and isotype profile of antigen-specific antibody in cervico-vaginal secretions measured by ELISA and/or LUMINEX assay
Time frame: 0, 1, 4 and 5 months after first immunization
Concentration and isotype profile of antigen-specific antibody in serum measured by ELISA and/or LUMINEX assay
Time frame: 0, 1, 4 & 5 months after first immunization
Frequency and isotype profile of antigen-specific antibody secreting cells in blood
Time frame: 0 and 1 week after each immunization
Frequency and expression profile of mucosa-associated homing, memory and regulatory markers on antigen-specific T cells in blood in response to in vitro antigen stimulation
Time frame: 0 and 4 weeks after each immunization
Profile of cytokine secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to in vitro antigen stimulation measured by ELISA
Time frame: 0 and 4 weeks after each immunization
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.