T-helper cell-mediated interferon-gamma, interleukin-10 and proliferation responses to a candidate recombinant vaccine for human parvovirus B19.
Recombinantly expressed virus-like particles of human parvovirus B19 containing the two structural proteins VP1 and VP2 (VP1/2 capsids) or VP2 alone (VP2 capsids) elicit vigorous antibody responses in animal models, whereas only VP1/2 capsids elicit neutralizing antibodies. VP1 is, therefore, essential for protective B-cell immunity. In this study, we determined the ability of VP1/2 capsids containing VP1 and VP2 in the ratio recommended for vaccine use, and of sole VP2 capsids to stimulate T-helper (Th) cells to proliferate and to secrete interferon gamma (IF-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in humans long after natural infection. Similar proliferation, IF-gamma and IL-10 responses were found with the VP1/2 and VP2 capsids. We conclude that, whereas VP1 contains important B-cell epitopes, VP2, the major structural protein of human parvovirus B19, appears to provide the major target for B19-specific Th-cells years or decades after natural infection.
Department of Virology, Haartman Institute and HUCH Diagnostic, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21 (Haarmaninkatu 3), Helsinki 00014, Finland. rauli.franssila@helsinki.fi
Rauli
R
Franssila
Klaus
K
Hedman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma