title: Enhancement of humoral and cellular responses to HBsAg DNA vaccination by immunization with praziquantel through inhibition TGF-beta/Smad2,3 signaling.
abstract: Praziquantel (PZQ), which is used to treat all forms of schistosomiasis, has been shown to induce strong T cell activities and decrease T regulatory cell levels. In our study, we investigated whether PZQ may be used as an adjuvant for a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) DNA vaccine (pcD-S2) in eliciting strong humoral and cellular responses. Our data demonstrate that PZQ as an adjuvant increased T cell proliferation and an HBsAg-specific antibody response that was characterized by a higher ratio of IgG2a/IgG1. Moreover, a higher level of IFN-gamma in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were elicited. In addition, a significantly antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response was also observed. The expression of TGF-beta can be induced by HBsAg, while PZQ as an adjuvant can inhibit the expression of TGF-beta and TGF-beta/Smad2,3 signaling. The frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells was reduced. Importantly, the regulatory function of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells was correspondingly impaired. Together, these results suggest that PZQ can enhance humoral and cellular responses to HBsAg DNA vaccination through inhibition TGF-beta/Smad2,3 signaling.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Agro-Biotechnology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Yiwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Hairui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Youmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Gan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497783:Smad2 protein, mouse; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497791:Smad3 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D011223:Praziquantel