Intranasal vaccination against angiotensin II type 1 receptor and pneumococcal surface protein A attenuates hypertension and pneumococcal infection in rodents.

Tastuhiko Azegami, Yoshikazu Yuki, Kaori Hayashi, Akihito Hishikawa, Shin-ichi Sawada, Kazuya Ishige, Kazunari Akiyoshi, Hiroshi Kiyono, and Hiroshi Itoh.

Journal of Hypertension. 2018; 36(2): 387-394.

1) Summarize your work in one sentence.

We created an innovative intranasal vaccine that targets hypertension and examined its protective effect on hypertension.

2) Summarize your findings in one sentence.

The intranasal immunization with angiotensin II type 1 receptor-pneumococcal surface protein A (AT1R-PspA) vaccine, consisting of a cationic nanometer-sized hydrogel (nanogel) incorporating AT1R partial peptide conjugated with PspA and cyclic di-GMP adjuvant, attenuated the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats in the long term.

3) Which were the more important methods you used in this work? If it is not a traditional method you can briefly explain the concept of that methodology.

Vaccination may be a promising approach to treating hypertension, because it is likely to involve infrequent re-administration and offer improved adherence. To avoid localized skin adverse reactions caused by traditional vaccines (i.e. injectable vaccines), we focused on the intranasal route of vaccine administration as a noninvasive strategy. Therefore, we applied the nanogel technology, which effectively and safely delivers antigen to nasal epithelium, to the development of noninvasive vaccine against hypertension.

4) What did you learn from this paper, what was your take-home message?

Our data indicated that the intranasal immunization with AT1R-PspA vaccine has the potential to attenuate the development of hypertension without any adverse events. We hope that therapeutic vaccines will contribute to combat human hypertension in the future.