[The immune response in mice inoculated with HIV-1 gag-gp120 chimeric gene DNA vaccine and IL-18 plasmid].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the immune response in mice inoculated with HIV-1 chimeric gene gag-gp120 DNA vaccine and IL-18 plasmid.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were injected i.m with eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAXIL18 containing IL-18 gene and DNA vaccine plasmid pVAXGE containing HIV-1 gag-gp120 chimeric gene. The specific killing activities of spleen CTL and the titers of serum antibodies of the immunized mice were detected.


RESULTS
The specific killing activities of spleen CTL and the titers of serum antibodies in the co-inoculation group were significantly higher than those in the single inoculation group(P<0.05), the vector control group (P<0.01) and PBS control group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The specific cellular and humoral immunity in mice can be induced by co-inoculating HIV-1 gag-gp120 chimeric gene DNA vaccine and IL-18 plasmid indicating that IL-18 augments immune response as immunoadjuvant.
Jiang
Wen-zheng
WZ
Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Quartermaster University of PLA, Changchun 130062, China. wzjiang@hotmail.com
Jin
Ning-yi
NY
Li
Zi-jian
ZJ
Zhang
Li-shu
LS
Wang
Hong
H
Jin
Hong-tao
HT
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D020382:Interleukin-18; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA