Construction of an HBV DNA vaccine by fusion of the GM-CSF gene to the HBV-S gene and examination of its immune effects in normal and HBV-transgenic mice.
BACKGROUND
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccine can generate both HBsAg-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. The immune response can be improved by inclusion of an adjuvant, such as the cytokine GM-CSF which is known to be a very good adjuvant.


METHODS
To investigate the ability of GM-CSF to enhance HBV-DNA vaccines, we constructed the plasmids by fusion of GM-CSF gene to the HBV-S gene. Normal and HBV-transgenic mice were then immunized with these plasmids.


RESULTS
Our results show that pCDNA3.1-GM-CSF-S induced the most powerful HBsAg-specific humoral and cellular immune response, and that it was able to overcome the non-response to HBsAg in HBV-transgenic mice. In contrast, pCDNA3.1-S-GM-CSF was able to induce only a very poor immune response.


CONCLUSIONS
When the HBV-S gene is fused to the GM-CSF gene, the immune effects of the HBV DNA vaccine both in normal and HBV-transgenic mice can be strengthened and HBV-DNA plasmids fused with GM-CSF may be useful for both preventative and therapeutic purposes.
Qing
Yuling
Y
Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
Chen
Min
M
Zhao
Jiajiang
J
Hu
Huaidong
H
Xu
Hongmei
H
Ling
Ning
N
Peng
Mingli
M
Ren
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010957:Plasmids / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor