title: Immunogenicity evaluation of a DNA vaccine expressing the hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 2 gene in C57BL/6 mice.
abstract: Most of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections elicit poor immune responses and 75% to 85% of cases become chronic; therefore, the development of an effective vaccine against HCV is of paramount importance. In this study, we aimed to evaluate co-administration of HCV non-Structural Protein 2 and IL-12 DNA vaccines in C57BL/6 mice.
  
  
  
  A plasmid encoding full-length HCV NS2 protein (non-structural protein 2) was generated and used to vaccinate mice. Negative control (an empty expression vector) was also employed to evaluate the background response. To investigate immune responses against vaccine, C57BL/6 mice received three doses of the vaccine with a two-week interval. Cellular immunity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay for lymphocyte proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase release for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and cytokine assay.
  
  
  
  The findings demonstrated that immunization of mice with plasmid expressing HCV NS2 induced CTL response, interferon gamma production, and lymphocyte proliferation compared to negative control. The results also demonstrated that co-administration of IL-12 with the HCV NS2 plasmid induced significantly better immune response in C57BL/6 mice.
  
  
  
  DNA vaccine encoding HCV NS2 is an effective candidate that can trigger CTL-based immune response against HCV. In addition, the results suggested that combining the DNA vaccine approach with immune stimulatory cytokines may significantly enhance antigen-specific immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gorzin
authors.affiliation: Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gorzin
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alijan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabarraei
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Statistics, Gorgan Para-Medical School, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Behnampour
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irani
authors.affiliation: Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology-GRCGH, Dept. of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.|Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Al Anbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaemi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C097010:NS2 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Hepatitis C virus; NS2 protein; DNA vaccine; IL-12