title: Modulation of the Immune Response to DNA Vaccine Encoding Gene of 8-kDa Subunit ofEchinococcus granulosusAntigen B Using Murine Interleukin-12 Plasmid in BALB/c Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current study was designed to evaluate immune responses induced by DNA vaccines encoding 8-kDa subunit of antigen B (HydI) ofEchinococcus granulosusand murine interleukin 12 (IL-12) as genetic adjuvants in BALB/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression plasmid pcDNA3.1 containing HydI (pcHyd1) as vaccine along with the murine interleukin 12 (pcMIL12) as adjuvant were used. Thirty-five mice in the five experimental groups received PBS, empty pcDNA3.1, pcHydІ, pcMIL-12, and pcHydІ+ pcMIL-12 in days zero, 14thand 28th. Two weeks after the last immunization, evaluation of the immune response was performed by evaluating the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, IFN-γ and IL-4, determination of IgG isotyping titer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice that received the pcHydI+pcMIL12 exhibited higher levels of lymphocyte proliferation compared to mice that received the pcHydI alone (P<0.001), and produced significantly more IFN-γ in comparison to other groups (P< 0.001). In addition, they produced significantly less IL-4 than mice receiving the PBS and the empty plasmid (P<0.023). The IgG2a levels were clearly higher in pcHydI+pcMIL12 group in comparison with the groups of pcHydI alone, empty plasmid, and PBS. In contrast, IgG1 was elevated in the group of pcHydI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-delivery of IL-12 with DNA encoding 8-kDa subunit of antigen B was effective significantly in inducing the immune response in mice.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran; Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hakim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bandehpour
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: Skin and Leprosy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khamesipour
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aryaeipour
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hajar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaghoobi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Bagher
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rokni
keywords: Antigen B; Cytokines; Genetic adjuvant; Hydatid disease; Immunization; Th1/Th2