J Korean Med Sci.  1999 Apr;14(2):187-192. 10.3346/jkms.1999.14.2.187.

DNA-mediated immunization of mice with plasmid encoding HBs antigen

• Yoon SJ
• Park JW
• Ahn SY
• Choe BK
• Suh MH

• KMID: 648079
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1999.14.2.187

Abstract

In order to develop an experimental DNA vaccine for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) DNA was subcloned into an E. coli-eukaryotic cell shuttle vector and was expressed in the Baculovirus expression system. Intramuscular, intradermal, and intraperitoneal injections of 30 microg of the plasmid DNA expressing HBsAg induced humoral and cellular immune responses in ICR mice. The first IgG antibodies were detected after ten days and specific IgG antibody titers peaked after two months of a single intramuscular DNA injection. Anti-HBs antibody titers gradually increased and peaked at four months following intradermal DNA injection, and in case of intraperitoneal injection they peaked at seven months. Generation of HBs-specific helper T lymphocytes was also investigated through the production of interleukin-2 by T helper cells. Boosting effects of HBs DNA were investigated without much results. In general, DNA-mediated HBs immunization induced humoral and cellular immune responses in mice that appears to simulate immune responses in human during the course of HBV vaccination.

Keyword

Vaccines; DNA; Hepatitis B surface antigens

MeSH Terms

Animal
Cloning, Molecular
DNA, Viral/immunology*
Hepatitis B/prevention & control*
Hepatitis B Antibodies/immunology
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/genetics*
Hepatitis B Vaccines/immunology*
Human
Interleukin-2/biosynthesis
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred ICR
Plasmids/immunology*
Spleen/immunology
Spleen/cytology
Vaccination
Vaccines, DNA/immunology*