Vaccinating rabbits with a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) B-Cell epitope carried by heat shock protein-65 (HSP65) for inducing anti-CETP antibodies and reducing aortic lesions in vivo.
Rabbits were vaccinated with a recombinant protein vaccine of HSP65-CETPC comprising mycobacterial heat shock protein-65 (HSP65) and a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) B-cell epitope in alum adjuvant for inducing anti-CETP antibodies in vivo. After anti-CETP antibodies were successfully produced, rabbits were fed with a high-cholesterol diet for 15 weeks, and then the antiatherogenic effects of anti-CETP antibodies were evaluated. The results showed that the fraction of plasma cholesterol in HDL increased and the fraction of plasma cholesterol in LDL decreased in rHSP65-CETPC-immunized rabbits when compared with those in control animals. The average percentage of aortic lesions in the entire aorta area in rHSP65-CETPC-vaccinated rabbits was 23.8% less than in OVA-immunized rabbits (15.14% vs 19.86%) and 30.8% less than in rHSP65 immunized rabbits (15.14% vs 21.87%). The average thickness of hyperplastic coronary artery in rHSP65-CETPC immunized rabbits was 164 +/- 12 microm, significantly lower than in rHSP65-immunized rabbits (197 +/- 15 microm) and in OVA-immunized rabbits (206 +/- 15 microm). Taken together, vaccination with the rHSP65-CETPC vaccine could significantly attenuate atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. Thus, the chimeric protein of rHSP65-CETPC can be further developed into an antiatherosclerosis vaccine in the future.
Gaofu
Qi
Q
Center of Enzyme Engineering, Biopharmaceutical College, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Jun
Long
L
Xin
Yang
Y
Wentao
Liu
L
Jie
Wu
W
Xiuyun
Zhao
Z
Jingjing
Liu
L
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins
D000906:Antibodies; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C506642:CETP protein, human; C060293:HSPD1 protein, human; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins