{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,30]],"date-time":"2026-10-30T17:05:42Z","timestamp":1793379942286,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":88,"publisher":"American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)","issue":"108","content-domain":{"domain":["www.science.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Sci. Immunol."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>\n            Optimizing vaccine design to induce CD8 T cell responses has been challenging, but lipid nanoparticle (LNP)\u2013encapsulated mRNA vaccines effectively generate CD8 T cell memory. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) supports CD8 T cell expansion and acquisition of effector function, but the role of IL-12 in the generation of CD8 T responses to mRNA vaccination is unclear. Here, we determine that endogenous IL-12 is not required for CD8 T cell responses to mRNA-LNP vaccination. We assessed the adjuvant activity of an mRNA-LNP encapsulating a codon-optimized mRNA that encodes both subunits of IL-12 (LNP\u2013IL-12). Coadministration of LNP\u2013IL-12 with ovalbumin (OVA) mRNA-LNPs enhanced CD8 T cell expansion and effector function and expanded circulating, effector, and tissue-resident memory CD8 T cells. LNP\u2013IL-12 increased CD8 T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus antigens and improved protection against\n            <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Listeria monocytogenes<\/jats:italic>\n            \u2013OVA and B16F0-OVA melanoma. Thus, modification of mRNA-LNP formulations to include a cytokine mRNA provides a strategy to enhance CD8 T cell\u2013mediated protection.\n          <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1126\/sciimmunol.ads1328","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,6]],"date-time":"2025-06-06T17:58:28Z","timestamp":1749232708000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.34133\/aaas_crossmark","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":68,"title":["An\n            <i>Il12<\/i>\n            mRNA-LNP adjuvant enhances mRNA vaccine\u2013induced CD8 T cell responses"],"prefix":"10.1126","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2401-8224","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Emily A.","family":"Aunins","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 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