Interferon Subtype Gene Therapy for Regulating Cytomegalovirus Disease

Delivery of type I interferon (IFN) subtypes by intramuscular inoculation of mice with a recombinant mammalian expression vector encoding IFN stimulates the immune response. Such immunomodulation drives towards a Th1-like response. The degree of stimulation of the immune response was influenced by several parameters of the naked deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccination protocol. Pretreatment of mice with bupivacaine increased transgene expression in situ . The specific subtype gene of type I IFN, the DNA concentration, the combined use of two or more subtypes, and the timing of the DNA immunisations were all found to influence the level of efficacy of IFN gene therapy in a mouse model for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease. In addition, adjuvant therapy, using type I IFN genes, for DNA virus vaccination (CMV glycoprotein B) enhanced viral-specific immunity and reduced the severity of myocarditis in mice. Thus, type I IFN gene therapy has potent adjuvant properties when delivered as DNA and can be used to regulate virus infection and disease via pleiotropic actions in the stimulation of immune responses.