Background/Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by impaired self-tolerance causing damage to multiple organs including the cardiovascular system. Current therapies do not decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in SLE. Previous studies have shown that immunizations with peptides derived from apolipoprotein B (ApoB) reduce atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice. In the present study we investigated if a vaccine based on the apo B peptide p210 (CVX-14) can inhibit atherosclerosis in mice with an SLE-like phenotype.

Methods: : MRL/lpr ApoE^-/- mice received subcutaneous injections with PBS, CVX-14 or adjuphos alone at week 6, 9, 11 and 21 of age. Atherosclerosis was assessed by Oil Red O staining of the aorta and plaque inflammation by CD68 immunostaining of aortic root sections and qPCR of carotid arteries. The response to immunization was also assessed by flow cytometry of spleen cells and measurement of antibodies

Results: : Immunization with CVX-14 reduced plaque development in the aorta by 55.5% (p=0.01) and plaque area with positive macrophage staining (CD68) by 66.2% (p=0.005) as compared with the PBS control. Arteries from CVX-14 treated mice were also found to have reduced expression of TNF-a and TGF-b mRNA. Plasma cholesterol was increased in CVX-14 treated mice, but there was no effect on plasma triglycerides, p210 IgG or cytokine levels. Both CVX-14 and adjuphos alone increased the fraction of regulatory T cells in the spleen

Conclusion: Apo B peptide based vaccines represents a possible novel approach for prevention of CVD in SLE that warrants further investigation

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/immunization-with-apob100-peptide-vaccine-reduces-atherosclerosis-development-in-a-mouse-model-of-systemic-lupus-erythematosus/