J-LEAPS peptide and LEAPS dendritic cell vaccines.

The J-LEAPS vaccines contain a peptide from β-2-microglobulin covalently attached to disease-related peptides of 8-30 amino acids which contain a T cell epitope. The J-LEAPS vaccines can initiate a protective Th1 immune response or modulate an ongoing Th17 autoimmune response to the peptide. J-LEAPS vaccines activate and direct the nature of the subsequent immune response by promoting the maturation of precursor cells into a unique type of dendritic cell that produces interleukin 12, but not IL-1 or tumour necrosis factor, and presents the antigenic peptide to T cells. Adoptive transfer of JgD-LEAPS dendritic cells, matured with an anti-HSV-1 vaccine, promoted antigen-specific Th1 protection against lethal challenge with the virus. J-LEAPS peptide immunogens and J-LEAPS dendritic cell vaccines have potential applications for antimicrobial prevention and therapy, treatment of autoimmune diseases, and for cancer immunotherapy.