[Induction of antibody to hepatitis C virus E2 antigene can be enhanced by coinjection of interleukin-2 and HCV E2 expression plasmid].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the modulation effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene on the immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 gene when codelivered.


METHODS
An expression vector of HCV E2 gene (p3E2) was constructed and its expression was detected in mammalian cells by transient expression. BALB/c mice were given injections of p3E2 only or together with IL-2 gene intraepidermally once or twice, and the induced humoral immune responses were evaluated.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry showed that the constructed vector was successfully expressed in mammalian cells. Mice immunized with both p3E2 and IL-2 genes exhibited a significant increase in the production of anti-HCV E2 antibody compared with the mice immunized only with p3E2.


CONCLUSIONS
Humoral immune responses of BALB/c mice to HCV E2 antigen can be enhanced when HCV E2 gene and IL-2 gene are coinjected.
Ma
W
W
Institute of Hepatology, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100044, China.
Feng
B
B
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus