Long-term persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody induced by DNA-mediated immunization results in liver and kidney lesions in mice.
DNA-mediated immunization has been recognized as a new approach for prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the side effects of this approach have not been well described. Here we report that DNA-mediated immunization by intramuscular injection of plasmid DNA encoding HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) induced long-term persistence of HBsAg and HBsAg-specific antibody (anti-HBs) in the sera of the immunized BALB/c mice and resulted in liver and kidney lesions. The lesions persisted for 6 months after injection. Lesions were also found in normal mice injected with the sera from immunized mice, and in HBV-transgenic mice injected with anti-HBs antibody, or sera from immunized mice. Furthermore, lesions were accompanied by deposition of circulating immune complex (CIC) of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibody in the damaged organs. These results indicate that long-term persistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in the immunized mice can result in deposited CIC in liver and kidney, and in development of lesions. The use of DNA containing mammalian replication origins, such as the plasmids used in this study, is not appropriate for human vaccines due to safety concerns relating to persistence of DNA; nevertheless, the safety of DNA-mediated immunization protocols still needs to be carefully evaluated before practical application.
Zi
Xiao-Yuan
XY
Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R China.
Yao
Yu-Cheng
YC
Zhu
Hai-Ying
HY
Xiong
Jun
J
Wu
Xiu-Ju
XJ
Zhang
Nan
N
Ba
Yue
Y
Li
Wen-Lin
WL
Wang
Xin-Ming
XM
Li
Jian-Xiu
JX
Yu
Hong-Yu
HY
Ye
Xu-Ting
XT
Lau
Joseph T Y
JT
Hu
Yi-Ping
YP
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010957:Plasmids / Q000009:adverse effects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D019444:Vaccines, DNA