title: Interleukin-12 gene adjuvant increases the immunogenicity of virus-like particles of human papillomavirus type 16 regional variant strain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the immunogenicity of virus-like particles (VLP) of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) isolated in East China and the adjuvant potential of interleukin-12 (IL-12).
  
  
  METHODS
  The variant HPV16 L1VLP expressed in sf9 insect cells were purified with cesium chloride gradient centrifugation. BALB/c mice were vaccinated with VLP (L1N), VLP with Freund's adjuvant (L1A) or VLP with IL-12 recombinant plasmid (L1P). HPV16 VLP specific IgG and IFN-γ level in the serum were detected by ELISA, and the percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) in spleen cells was detected with flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The titers of serum IgG antibodies in vaccinated groups were higher than in negative control and the serum antibodies mainly recognized conformation-dependent HPV16 VLP epitopes. Splenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets increased after vaccination in every experimental group, and CD8(+) increased obviously in L1P group. The ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) decreased in L1P group and increased in the other two groups, compared to control group. Vaccination induced specific secretion of IFN-γ in the serum of vaccinated group (p<0.05), especially in the L1P group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VLP of HPV16 variant strain isolated in East China could induce humoral immunity and cellular immunity in mice, and IL-12 recombinant plasmid can enhance cellular immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Lanlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qingmeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology Key Laboratory of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qinglong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. Electronic address: zhangyunyan1972@yahoo.com.cn.
authors.forename: Yunyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. Electronic address: guangmeizhang@126.com.
authors.forename: Guangmei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; D018664:Interleukin-12
keywords: Cellular immunity; Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus type 16; IL-12; Virus-like particle