[Immune responses to recombinant expression plasmid encoding hepatitis C virus core antigen].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility of DNA immunization with recombinant expression plasmid containing hepatitis C virus (HCV) core gene against HCV infection.


METHODS
The recombinant plasmid containing HCV C gene was constructed and expressed transiently by using lipofectamine in the mouse SP2/0 cells. After appraisal and purification, these plasmid and control DNA were directly injected intramuscularly into BALB/c mice, HCV C specific antibody in the sera was checked with ELISA. Proliferative responses of spleen cells from experimental and control mice were determined by (3)H thymidine incorporation and cytotoxicity T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was measured by standard 4-h (51)Cr release assays.


RESULTS
All immunized mice developed anti-HCV core antibodies and this antibody was dose and immune number dependent. Lymphoproliferative responses for HCV core antigen were higher in immunized mice than in control mice (P < 0.05), stimulation indices (SI) were 2.42 - 6.10. CTLs might induce approximately 63.13% lysis of pcDNA HCV C transfected SP2/0 target cells.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that HCV C gene immunization is a promising method of vaccination against HCV infection.
Feng
Z
Z
Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038.
Zhou
Y
Y
Jia
Z
Z
Lian
J
J
Li
J
J
Li
W
W
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins