title: [Enhancement of herpes simplex virus-1 glycoprotein-D DNA vaccine induced specific immune responses by coimmunization with interleukin-2 genetic adjuvant].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immune responses and protection from virus challenge, induced by the coinjection of IL-2cDNA with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein-D (gD) DNA vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two DNA vaccines (pgD and pIL-2) were constructed by inserting the gD gene and IL-2 cDNA into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1, respectively. The BALB/c mice were inoculated intramuscularly three times at 2-week intervals. Two weeks after the final immunization, mice were bled for antibody assay and spleen cells were separated for Th cell proliferation and cytokine assays. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was detected by the pinna-swelling test. Corneal protection under HSV-1 virus challenge was continuously observed with slit-lamp microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-2 cDNA coinjection remarkably enhanced the specific IgG2a level when compared with gD plasmid vaccination alone. Th cell proliferation and secretion of cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) were significantly increased by IL-2 cDNA coinjection. However, the production of IL-10 was inhibited. The DTH response was also enhanced by IL-2 coinjection. When the mice were challenged with HSV-1, the cornea epithelial lesions were significantly alleviated by IL-2 coinjection as compared with gD vaccination alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-2 cDNA can enhance both the humoral and cellular immune responses, and thus increase the vaccine potency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100005, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming-zhao
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Guo-xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yu-fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hong-wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bao-ling
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fang-tian
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xue-mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019556:COS Cells; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011897:Random Allocation; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014162:Transfection; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007376:Interleukin-2; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C039447:glycoprotein D, Human herpesvirus 1; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D004247:DNA