PEGylated liposomes elicit an anti-PEG IgM response in a T cell-independent manner

We recently reported that intravenous injections of empty PEGylated liposomes without encapsulated or surface coupled proteins elicit a PEG-specific IgM response in rats. In the present study, simultaneous weak anti-PEG IgG and strong anti-PEG IgM responses were detected following intravenous injections of empty PEGylated liposomes. The pattern of immune response appears to differ from the classic primary response against T cell-dependent (TD) antigens. The anti-PEG IgM response was detected in T-cell deficient nude BALB/c mice following intravenous injection of empty PEGylated liposomes, suggesting that empty PEGylated liposomes initiate the immune response against PEG in a T cell-independent manner. In vitro splenic lymphocytes-proliferation assay indicated that TNP-LPS, a typical type 1 T cell-independent (TI) antigen (TI-1 antigen), significantly primed the proliferation, while TNP-Ficoll, a typical type 2 TI antigen (TI-2 antigen), and empty PEGylated liposomes did not prime any proliferation under these experimental conditions. In addition, in splenic marginal zone (MZ) B-cell-depleted rats, the anti-PEG IgM response was diminished, while the immune reactions against TNP-BSA (a TD antigen) and TNP-LPS (TI-1 antigen) were not diminished. These results demonstrate that empty PEGylated liposomes may promote the immune response against PEG as a result of priming the activation of MZ B cells, as TI-2 antigen promotes a specific IgM response. In conclusion, although the mechanistic details behind the immune reaction against empty PEGylated liposomes are not yet clear, the liposomes elicit an anti-PEG IgM response in a T cell-independent manner and appear to be a TI-2 antigen, and splenic MZ B cells may be essential for the immune response against empty PEGylated liposomes.