Supramolecular Peptide Nanofibers Engage Mechanisms of Autophagy in Antigen-Presenting Cells

Jai S. Rudra, Arshad Khan, Tara M. Clover, Janice J. Endsley, Andrew Zloza, Jin Wang, Chinnaswamy Jagannath

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Supramolecular peptide nanofibers are attractive for applications in vaccine development due to their ability to induce strong immune responses without added adjuvants or associated inflammation. Here, we report that self-assembling peptide nanofibers bearing CD4+ or CD8+ T cell epitopes are processed through mechanisms of autophagy in antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Using standard in vitro antigen presentation assays, we confirmed loss and gain of the adjuvant function using pharmacological modulators of autophagy and APCs deficient in multiple autophagy proteins. The incorporation of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain-3 (LC3-II) into the autophagosomal membrane, a key biological marker for autophagy, was confirmed using microscopy. Our findings indicate that autophagy in APCs plays an essential role in the mechanism of adjuvant action of supramolecular peptide nanofibers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9136-9143
Number of pages8
JournalACS Omega
Volume2
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)

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