Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Increased Expression of Interferon-Stimulated Genes After Local Administration of Nasalferon or HeberNasvac

• Published in: DNA and cell biology Vol. 43; no. 2; p. 95
• Main Authors: Aguiar Santiago, Jorge Agustín, Marrero Miragaya, Maria Acelia, Figueroa Oliva, Dariel Adrian, Aguilar Juanes, Andres, Idavoy Corona, Arletis, Martínez Fernández, Seknia, Morán Bertot, Ivis, Rodríguez Hernández, Meilyn, Canales López, Eduardo, Hernández Esteves, Ingrid, Silva Girado, José Angel, Estrada Vázquez, Regla Caridad, Gell Cuesta, Omar, Mendoza-Marí, Yssel, Valdés Prado, Iris, Rodríguez Ibarra, Chabeli, Palenzuela Gardon, Daniel Octavio, Pentón Arias, Eduardo, Guillén Nieto, Gerardo, Aguilar Rubido, Julio Cesar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Aged; Humans; Immunity, Innate - genetics; Pandemics; Vaccines - pharmacology; ISG20; HeberNasvac; innate immunity; Nasalferon; interferon stimulated genes
• ISSN: 1557-7430
• DOI: 10.1089/dna.2023.0283

HeberNasvac, a therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B, is able to safely stimulate multiple Toll-like receptors, increasing antigen presentation and in a phase II clinical trial (Profira) in elderly volunteers who were household contacts of respiratory infection patients. Thus, a new indication as a postexposure prophylaxis or early therapy for respiratory infections has been proposed. In this study, we evaluated the expression of several interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) after mucosal administration of HeberNasvac and compared this effect with the nasal delivery of interferon alpha 2b (Nasalferon). Molecular studies of blood samples of 50 subjects from the Profira clinical trial who were locally treated with HeberNasvac or Nasalferon and concurrent untreated individuals were compared based on their relative mRNA expression of OAS1, ISG15, ISG20, STAT1, STAT3, and DRB1-HLA II genes. In most cases, the gene expression induced by HeberNasvac was similar in profile and intensity to the expression induced by Nasalferon and significantly superior to that observed in untreated controls. The immune stimulatory effect of HeberNasvac on ISGs paved the way for its future use as an innate immunity stimulator in elderly persons and immunocompromised subjects or as part of Mambisa, a nasal vaccine to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.