title: Non-cytolytic antigen clearance in DNA-vaccinated mice with electroporation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the potential of electroporation (EP)-mediated hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccination for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were vaccinated with HBV DNA vaccine encoding for the HBV preS(2)-S antigen, combined with or without EP. HBV surface antigen expression plasmid was administered into mice liver via a hydrodynamic injection to mimic HBV infection. The clearance of antigen in the serum and liver was detected by ELISA assay and immunohistochemical staining. The histopathology of the liver tissues was examined by HE staining and serum alanine aminotransferase assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The immunogenicity of HBV DNA vaccine encoding for the HBV preS(2)- S antigen can be improved by EP-mediated vaccine delivery. The elicited immune responses can indeed reduce the expression of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in hepatocytes of the mouse model that was transfected to express HBsAg using the hydrodynamic injection method. The antigen clearance process did not cause significant toxicity to liver tissue, suggesting a non-cytolytic mechanism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EP-aided DNA vaccination may have potential in mediating viral clearance in chronic hepatitis B patients.
authors.affiliation: Schools of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Jin-liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yong-gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jun-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Wen-ka
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Guang-ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guo-yu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Gui-rong
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Yu-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA