title: Immunomodulatory effect of a plasmid expressing CD40 ligand on DNA vaccination against human immunodeficiency virus type-1.
abstract: CD40 ligand is a costimulatory molecule which acts a potent immunomodulator. We found the mice inoculated with human CD40 ligand expression plasmid (pMEhCD40L) combined with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) DNA vaccine exhibited both humoral and cellular antigen-specific immunological enhancement. The expression of hCD40L induced predominantly antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response while it failed to induce mucosal IgA response. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity were induced in a dose-dependent manner. Examination of the relative levels of the two IgG subclasses showed that co-injection of pMEhCD40L enhanced IgG2a response without suppressing IgG1 response. Similarly, the expression of pMEhCD40L enhanced not only T helper 1 (Th1)- but also Th2-type cytokine production. In conclusion, co-inoculation of pMEhCD40L with DNA vaccine was shown to be a useful way to enhance CTL responses without suppressing the humoral immune response in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ihata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watabe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamajima
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okuda
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000235:genetics; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000235:genetics; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand