title: Immunocontraceptive effect of DNA vaccine targeting fertilin beta in male mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In previous study, two eukaryotic expression plasmids pSG.SS.YL-F(beta.ECD) and pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F(beta.ECD) were successfully constructed and transfected in HEK293 cells. Now, we want to evaluate the immunocontraceptive effect of these two DNA vaccines that target the extracellular domain (Fbeta.(ECD)) of sperm antigen fertilin beta subunit in Kunming male mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA vaccines pSG.SS.YL-F(beta.ECD) and pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F(beta.ECD) were injected into Kunming male mice three times at 0, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. An antifertility effect was observed. Serum antibody and cytokines were also detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both vaccines significantly decreased both the pregnancy rate and the number of newborns. The serum levels of IL-2 and INF-gamma significantly decreased, whereas the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 significantly increased. Compared with pSG.SS.YL-F(beta.ECD), pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F(beta.ECD) was more effective in birth control, and its specific F(beta)-IgG antibody titer in serum was significantly higher and longer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that both pSG.SS.YL-F(beta.ECD) and pSG.SS.C3d3.YL-F(beta.ECD) DNA vaccines are effective in birth control of mice. The immunocontraceptive effect of F(beta.ECD) DNA vaccine in male mice is improved with the addition of immuno-adjuvant C3d3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Research Institute of Surgery, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing City, China.
authors.forename: Zhongyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Fengshuo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000072196:Fertilins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D051722:ADAM Proteins; C000606454:ADAM2 protein, human; C000606458:Adam2 protein, mouse; D000072196:Fertilins