Application of a gene vaccine targeting HER-2/neu in immunocontraception.
HER-2/neu was widely used as a target for tumor prevention and therapy because of its overexpression in many tumors. However, it also plays an important role in proliferation of endometrium, embryo implantation, and development. Here, HER-2/neu was used in immunocontraception. A gene vaccine encoding the extracellular domain of human HER-2/neu was constructed. After immunization, it especially elicited both humoral and cellular responses in mice. Embryo implantation was interfered by intravenous and intraluminal injection of anti-HER-2/neu serum or lymphocytes. Lower fertility was induced after vaccination when compared with the control groups, while injuries to the uterus and ovary were not observed. Our results suggested a new and impactful target for contraceptive vaccines development.
Ni
Jing
J
Department of Immunology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Ni
Yi
Y
Wang
Xiaohua
X
Xu
Wei
W
Wang
Ying
Y
Xiong
Sidong
S
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic