title: Linkage of Ii-Key segment to gp100(46-58) epitope enhances the production of epitope-specific antibodies.
abstract: Linkage of the Ii-Key segment of the Ii protein to MHC class II epitope gp100(46-58) using a polymethylene linker significantly enhances the production of epitope-specific antibodies in HLA-DR4-IE transgenic mice. This enhancement is not restricted by the spacer length in between the Ii-Key and epitope. The use of either IFA or CFA induced only epitope-specific IgG1. In contrast, CpG adjuvant induced both IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes. These results indicate that the Ii-Key hybrid technology is a novel and potent method to increase the immunogenicity of a MHC class II epitope. It can also be used to more efficiently generate epitope-specific antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Antigen Express, Inc., 100 Barber St., Worcester, MA 01606-2478, USA.
authors.forename: Nikoletta L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kallinteris
authors.forename: Shuzhen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xueqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Hofe
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.forename: Minzhen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; C408982:CPG-oligonucleotide; D000939:Epitopes; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; C045084:invariant chain