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Prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are commercially available for prevention of infection with cancerogenic HPV genotypes but are not able to combat pre-existing HPV-associated disease. In this study, we designed a nanomaterial-based therapeutic HPV vaccine, comprising manganese (Mn 4+ )-doped silica nanoparticles (Mn 4+ -SNPs) and the viral neoantigen peptide GF001 derived from the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein. We show in mice that Mn 4+ -SNPs act as self-adjuvants by activating the inflammatory signaling pathway via generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in immune cell recruitment to the immunization site and dendritic cell maturation. Mn 4+ -SNPs further serve as Ag carriers by facilitating endo/lysosomal escape via depletion of protons in acidic endocytic compartments and subsequent Ag delivery to the cytosol for cross-presentation. The Mn 4+ -SNPs+GF001 nanovaccine induced strong E7-specific CD8 + T cell responses, leading to remission of established murine HPV16 E7-expressing solid TC-1 tumors and E7-expressing transgenic skin grafts. This vaccine construct offers a simple and general strategy for therapeutic HPV and potentially other cancer vaccines., (Copyright © 2021 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

The Nlrp3 inflammasome is critical for the activation of caspase-1 in response to danger signals and particulate matter. However, its role in sterile inflammation remains unclear because prestimulation of phagocytic cells with microbial molecules is required for caspase-1 activation. We show here that exposure of macrophages and dendritic cells to TNF-alpha promotes ATP- or silica-mediated caspase-1 activation and IL-1beta secretion in the absence of microbial stimulation. The effect of TNF-alpha was abolished in macrophages deficient in TNF receptor I and II, Nlrp3, or ASC, whereas that induced by TLR ligands required MyD88/Trif. In addition to TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha and IL-1beta promoted caspase-1 activation via Nlrp3 in response to ATP. Remarkably, macrophages tolerized to TNF-alpha, but not to LPS, retained full sensitivity to ATP stimulation via Nlrp3. These results provide a mechanism by which danger signals and particulate matter mediate inflammation via the Nlrp3 inflammasome in the absence of microbial infection.