title: The immunogenicity of the tumor-associated antigen α-fetoprotein is enhanced by a fusion with a transmembrane domain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ability of recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA) vector to induce an immune response against a well-tolerated self-antigen.
  
  
  METHODS
  rMVA vectors expressing different form of α-fetoprotein (AFP) were produced and characterized. Naïve mice were vaccinated with MVA vectors expressing the AFP antigen in either a secreted, or a membrane-bound, or an intracellular form. The immune response was monitored by an IFNΓ ELISpot assay and antibody detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vaccination with the membrane-associated form of AFP induced a stronger CD8(+) T-cell response compared to the ones obtained with the MVA encoding the secreted or the intracellular forms of AFP. Moreover, the vaccination with the membrane-bound AFP elicited the production of AFP-specific antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AFP transmembrane form is more immunogenic. Expressing a membrane-bound form in the context of an MVA vaccination could enhance the immunogenicity of a self-antigen.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U948, Biothérapies Hépatiques, CHU Hotel Dieu, 44093 Nantes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Lucile
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Judor
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gauttier
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geist
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rooke
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vassaux
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conchon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma