title: Novel codon-optimized GM-CSF gene as an adjuvant to enhance the immunity of a DNA vaccine against HIV-1 Gag.
abstract: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine. Here we generated a novel codon-optimized murine GM-CSF gene as an adjuvant. The codon-optimized GM-CSF gene significantly increased protein expression levels in all cells tested. Although injection of the wild-type GM-CSF plasmids adjuvanted HIV-1 Gag DNA vaccine induced detectable immune responses, co-administration of plasmids encoding the codon-optimized GM-CSF sequence with the DNA vaccine resulted in a strong antibody and CTL responses and a protective immune response against infection with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HIV-1 Gag. This novel codon-optimized GM-CSF gene offers a practical molecular strategy for potentiating immune responses to vaccines as well as other immunotherapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Department of Life Science, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. jtqiu@cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Jian-Tai
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Ting-Chang
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Cheng-Tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Frank Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yung-Kuei
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: Chyong-Huey
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003062:Codon; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D003062:Codon; D016207:Cytokines; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor