title: Th2-Th1 shift with the multiantigenic formulation TERAVAC-HIV-1 in Balb/c mice.
abstract: In chronic HIV infection a progressive Th1 to Th2/Th0 cytokine-profile shift is related to disease progression. One of the possible benefits of a therapeutic vaccination might be to counterbalance this phenomenon to allow viral replication control under a Th1-type immune response. TERAVAC-HIV-1 is a multiantigenic formulation vaccine candidate against HIV-1 which comprises the recombinant protein CR3 that contains T cell epitopes and the surface and nucleocapsid antigens of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Previous studies showed that such virus like particles of the HBV provide a Th1 adjuvant effect. The present studies examined the capacity of TERAVAC to elicit a Th1 response in the presence of an ongoing HIV-specific Th2-type response in Balb/c mice. To examine this issue, we injected subcutaneously the animals with CR3 or viral lysate in alum which resulted in a Th2-type response. The CR3-specific Th2-type response was verified by induction of IL-4 and IL-10 secretion in ex vivo stimulated splenocytes without secretion of IFN-γ and IgG2a antibodies in serum. Further subcutaneous and simultaneous subcutaneous-nasal immunizations of the same mice with TERAVAC promoted IFN-γ secretion and production of IgG2a antibodies in accordance with a Th1-type response. This result suggests a therapeutic benefit of this vaccine candidate in the restoration of the Th1-type HIV-specific cellular response in seropositive patients.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología (CIGB), P.O. Box 6162, Havana 10600, Cuba.
authors.forename: Darien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García-Díaz
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Yaimín
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Santisteban
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.forename: Yanet
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terrero
authors.forename: Enma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iglesias
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells; D018418:Th2 Cells; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic