title: Optimal induction of T-cell responses against hepatitis C virus E2 by antigen engineering in DNA immunization.
abstract: Although DNA immunization is a safe and efficient method for inducing cellular immune responses, it generates relatively weak and slow immune responses. Here, we investigated the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen modifications on the induction of T-cell responses in DNA immunization. It is likely that the strength of T-cell responses has an inverse relationship with the length of the insert DNA. Interestingly, a mixture of several plasmids carrying each gene induced a higher level of T-cell responses than a single plasmid expressing a long polyprotein. Moreover, the presence of a transmembrane domain in HCV E2 resulted in stronger T-cell responses against E2 protein than its absence. Taken together, our results indicate that the tailored modifications of DNA-encoded antigens are capable of optimizing the induction of T-cell responses which is required for eliminating the cells chronically infected with highly variable viruses such as HCV and human immunodeficiency virus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Hyoja Dong, Pohang, Kyungbuk 790-784, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Su-Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus