Vaccination Route That Induces Transforming Growth Factor β Production Fails To Elicit Protective Immunity against Leishmania donovani Infection

BALB/c mice immunized intraperitoneally (i. p.) and intravenously (i. v.) with Leishmania donovani promastigote membrane antigens (LAg), either free or encapsulated in liposomes, were protected against challenge infection with L. donovani, whereas mice immunized by the subcutaneous (s. c.) and intramuscular routes were not protected. Protected mice showed strong parasite resistance in both the liver and spleen, along with enhanced immunoglobulin G2a and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses. Again, mice vaccinated through the i. p. and i. v. routes showed high levels of NO production after challenge infection. s. c. vaccination resulted in an increased capacity of the spleen cells to produce prechallenge transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) levels during the in vitro antigen recall response, whereas i. p. immunization induced production of prechallenge gamma interferon, interleukin-12 (IL-12), and IL-4 levels, with a Th1 bias. Exposure to antigen-stimulated splenocyte supernatants of i. p. but not s. c. immunized mice activated macrophages for in vitro parasite killing. As an enhanced level of TGF-beta was detected in supernatants from unprotected s. c. immunized mice, neutralization by anti-TGF-beta antibody enhanced in vitro macrophage killing activity. The suppressive role of this cytokine was evaluated in vivo by vaccination with liposomal LAg and anti-TGF-beta antibody. Upon parasite challenge, these animals showed significant protection in both the liver and spleen. Moreover, the addition of recombinant TGF-beta in splenocyte supernatants of i. p. immunized mice in vitro as well as in vivo inhibited the protective ability of the macrophages by the i. p. route. Thus, the induction of high prechallenge TGF-beta limits the efficacy of vaccination by routes that are nonprotective.