Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization

Abstract Matrix-M® adjuvant, containing saponins, delivers a potent adjuvant effect and good safety profile. Given that Matrix-M is composed of Matrix-A and Matrix-C particles, comprising different saponin fractions, understanding their distinct roles can provide deeper insight into the mechanism of...

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Main Authors: Behdad Zarnegar, Berit Carow, Jens Eriksson, Eva Spennare, Pontus Öhlund, Eray Akpinar, Emelie Bringeland, Ingrid Lekberg Osterman, Lena Lundqvist, Johanna Antti, Niklas Handin, Per-Henrik Helgesson, Johan Bankefors, Karin Lövgren Bengtsson, Mikael E. Sellin, Anna-Karin E. Palm, Linda Stertman, Carolina Lunderius Andersson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:npj Vaccines
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01243-5
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author Behdad Zarnegar
Berit Carow
Jens Eriksson
Eva Spennare
Pontus Öhlund
Eray Akpinar
Emelie Bringeland
Ingrid Lekberg Osterman
Lena Lundqvist
Johanna Antti
Niklas Handin
Per-Henrik Helgesson
Johan Bankefors
Karin Lövgren Bengtsson
Mikael E. Sellin
Anna-Karin E. Palm
Linda Stertman
Carolina Lunderius Andersson
author_facet Behdad Zarnegar
Berit Carow
Jens Eriksson
Eva Spennare
Pontus Öhlund
Eray Akpinar
Emelie Bringeland
Ingrid Lekberg Osterman
Lena Lundqvist
Johanna Antti
Niklas Handin
Per-Henrik Helgesson
Johan Bankefors
Karin Lövgren Bengtsson
Mikael E. Sellin
Anna-Karin E. Palm
Linda Stertman
Carolina Lunderius Andersson
author_sort Behdad Zarnegar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Matrix-M® adjuvant, containing saponins, delivers a potent adjuvant effect and good safety profile. Given that Matrix-M is composed of Matrix-A and Matrix-C particles, comprising different saponin fractions, understanding their distinct roles can provide deeper insight into the mechanism of action of Matrix-M and guide future applications. Here, we demonstrate that the antigen and Matrix-M, Matrix-A, or Matrix-C colocalize in lysosomes following uptake by bone marrow–derived dendritic cells. Matrix-M, Matrix-A, and Matrix-C induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), but Matrix-C shows the highest LMP potential. LMP is required for interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 secretion in vitro. In vivo, a robust adjuvant effect of Matrix-M, Matrix-A, and Matrix-C is observed, both in the presence and absence of the NLRP3 inflammasome. LMP induced by Matrix-M, as well as Matrix-A and Matrix-C, also enables antigen cross-presentation. Thus, Matrix-induced LMP explains the capability of Matrix-M–adjuvanted protein vaccines to induce CD8+ T-cell responses.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2059-0105
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Vaccines
spelling doaj-art-c282f0c5930842268f5195d36fb2de302025-08-20T03:42:19ZengNature Portfolionpj Vaccines2059-01052025-08-0110111810.1038/s41541-025-01243-5Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilizationBehdad Zarnegar0Berit Carow1Jens Eriksson2Eva Spennare3Pontus Öhlund4Eray Akpinar5Emelie Bringeland6Ingrid Lekberg Osterman7Lena Lundqvist8Johanna Antti9Niklas Handin10Per-Henrik Helgesson11Johan Bankefors12Karin Lövgren Bengtsson13Mikael E. Sellin14Anna-Karin E. Palm15Linda Stertman16Carolina Lunderius Andersson17Novavax ABNovavax ABDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala UniversityNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala UniversityNovavax ABNovavax ABNovavax ABAbstract Matrix-M® adjuvant, containing saponins, delivers a potent adjuvant effect and good safety profile. Given that Matrix-M is composed of Matrix-A and Matrix-C particles, comprising different saponin fractions, understanding their distinct roles can provide deeper insight into the mechanism of action of Matrix-M and guide future applications. Here, we demonstrate that the antigen and Matrix-M, Matrix-A, or Matrix-C colocalize in lysosomes following uptake by bone marrow–derived dendritic cells. Matrix-M, Matrix-A, and Matrix-C induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), but Matrix-C shows the highest LMP potential. LMP is required for interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 secretion in vitro. In vivo, a robust adjuvant effect of Matrix-M, Matrix-A, and Matrix-C is observed, both in the presence and absence of the NLRP3 inflammasome. LMP induced by Matrix-M, as well as Matrix-A and Matrix-C, also enables antigen cross-presentation. Thus, Matrix-induced LMP explains the capability of Matrix-M–adjuvanted protein vaccines to induce CD8+ T-cell responses.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01243-5
spellingShingle Behdad Zarnegar
Berit Carow
Jens Eriksson
Eva Spennare
Pontus Öhlund
Eray Akpinar
Emelie Bringeland
Ingrid Lekberg Osterman
Lena Lundqvist
Johanna Antti
Niklas Handin
Per-Henrik Helgesson
Johan Bankefors
Karin Lövgren Bengtsson
Mikael E. Sellin
Anna-Karin E. Palm
Linda Stertman
Carolina Lunderius Andersson
Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization
npj Vaccines
title Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization
title_full Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization
title_fullStr Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization
title_full_unstemmed Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization
title_short Matrix-M adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross-presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization
title_sort matrix m adjuvant triggers inflammasome activation and enables antigen cross presentation through induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01243-5
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