ID: 80: Intravaginal Fc-fused IL-7 attract DNA vaccine-induced CD8 T cell in the genital tract

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in woman worldwide, and about 75% of its case are caused by persistent infection with the most common high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) types. Recent studies indicate the importance of systemic immune activation and higher number of T-cell trafficking at the tumor site correlates with positive results. Systemic IL-7 has been reported to have the ability to enhance the magnitude and intensity of the antigen-specific T cell response. However, It is not well known the role of IL-7 in mucosal tissue. In this study, we reveal that intravaginal IL-7-Fc administration induces upregulation of T cell recruitment-related chemokine in the genital tract. These chemokine attract CD8+ T cells expressing their receptor. Intravaginal instillation of IL-7-Fc after intramuscular DNA vaccination increase the number of vaccination-induced CD8 T cell in the genital mucosa of mice, with enhance the systemic DNA-induced CD8+ T cell response in the spleen. Most interestingly, intravaginal IL-7-Fc following DNA vaccination increase survival rate than DNA alone group in orthotopic murine cervical cancer model. These findings suggest that combination treatment of mucosal IL-7-Fc administration followed systemic therapeutic vaccination is an effective strategy for cervical cancer treatment.