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Sun H, Chang L, Yan Y, Wang L. Hepatitis B virus pre-S region: Clinical implications and applications. Rev Med Virol 2020; 31. [PMID: 33314434 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major threat to global public health, which can result in many acute and chronic liver diseases. HBV, a member of the family Hepadnaviridae, is a small enveloped DNA virus containing a circular genome of 3.2 kb. Located upstream of the S-open-reading frame of the HBV genome is the pre-S region, which is vital to the viral life cycle. The pre-S region has high variability and many mutations in the pre-S region are associated with several liver diseases, such as fulminant hepatitis (FH), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, the pre-S region has been applied in the development of several pre-S-based materials and systems to prevent or treat HBV infection. In conclusion, the pre-S region plays an essential role in the occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment of HBV-related liver diseases, which may provide a novel perspective for the study of HBV infection and relevant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhen Sun
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Le Chang
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Ying Yan
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Lunan Wang
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China
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Hepatitis B Virus Middle Protein Enhances IL-6 Production via p38 MAPK/NF-κB Pathways in an ER Stress-Dependent Manner. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159089. [PMID: 27434097 PMCID: PMC4951109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
During hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, three viral envelope proteins of HBV are overexpressed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The large S protein (LHBs) and truncated middle S protein (MHBst) have been documented to play roles in regulating host gene expression and contribute to hepatic disease development. As a predominant protein at the ultrastructural level in biopsy samples taken from viremic patients, the role of the middle S protein (MHBs) remains to be understood despite its high immunogenicity. When we transfected hepatocytes with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged MHBs expressing plasmid, the results showed that expression of MHBs cause an upregulation of IL-6 at the message RNA and protein levels through activating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. The use of specific inhibitors of the signaling pathways can diminish this upregulation. The use of BAPTA-AM attenuated the stimulation caused by MHBs. We further found that MHBs accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum and increased the amount of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78/BiP). Our results provide a possibility that MHBs could be involved in liver disease progression.
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Liu H, Wang S, Jia Y, Li J, Huang Z, Lu S, Xing Y. N-Linked Glycosylation at an Appropriate Position in the Pre-S2 Domain Is Critical for Cellular and Humoral Immunity against Middle HBV Surface Antigen. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2016; 236:131-8. [PMID: 26062906 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.236.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a worldwide health problem, and DNA-based vaccines against HBV have been tested for therapeutic applications. HBV possesses three envelope lipoproteins that are translated from a single reading-frame: large, middle, and small HBV surface antigens. Among these envelope proteins, the middle HBV surface antigen (MHBs) contains a constitutive N-linked glycosylation site at position 4 (Asn4) in the amino-terminal portion (MQWNSTTFHQ) of pre-S2 domain. Asn4 (shown in bold) is essential for secretion of viral particles and conserved among all serotypes of HBV, but its influence on the immunogenicity of MHBs remains unknown. Here, we constructed four MHBs genes carrying mutations, underlined, in the amino-terminal portion of pre-S2 domain. One mutant protein contains Q at position 4 (MQWQSTTFHQ). In addition, each of three mutant MHBs proteins contains a N-linked glycosylation site (N-X-S/T), relocated to position 5 (MQWQNTTFHQ), 6 (MQWQSNTSHQ) or 7 (MQWQSTNFTQ) in pre-S2 domain. The expression and immunogenic properties of mutant DNA vaccines were examined in 293T human renal epithelial cells and in BALB/c mice, respectively. We showed that Asn4 was critical for secretion and immunogenicity of MHBs. Moreover, the MHBs protein that carries a N-linked glycosylation site at position 5 or 7 retained the properties similar to wild-type MHBs. In contrast, the secretion-defective mutant protein carrying Asn at position 6 induced only marginal humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, despite the N-linked glycosylation. In conclusion, N-linked glycosylation at an appropriate position in pre-S2 domain is an essential requirement for DNA vaccine expressing MHBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 2) Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Children's Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Yu Z, Jiang T, Zhu M, Pan K, Yan F, Zhu J. Effects of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 signaling molecule on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells with hepatitis B virus surface antigen stimulation in vitro. Mol Med Rep 2016; 13:2785-90. [PMID: 26820685 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.4815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) on the immune function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MD‑DCs), and the moderating role of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain‑containing molecule‑3 (Tim‑3) signaling molecule. The monocytes, obtained from healthy adult peripheral blood, were incubated with recombinant human granulocyte‑macrophage colony‑stimulating factor and interleukin (IL)‑4 to induce DCs. DC‑associated cell markers were detected using flow cytometry. MD‑DCs were treated with HBsAg (5 µg/ml) in vitro for 48 h and subsequently, cell markers, lymphocyte stimulatory capacity, signaling protein and downstream cytokines were assessed. In addition, a Tim‑3 monoclonal antibody was used to inhibit the Tim‑3 signaling pathway, and subsequently the immune responses of MD‑DCs to HBsAg stimulation were determined using the aforementioned method. The cell phenotype expressions of MD‑DCs were all significantly increased with cluster of differentiation (CD)11c at 70.09±0.57%, human leukocyte antigen‑DR at 79.83±2.12%, CD80 at 48.33±7.34% and CD86 at 44.21±5.35%. The treatment of MD‑DCs with HBsAg resulted in a CD80 and CD86 enhanced expression, enhanced lymphocyte stimulatory capacity, upregulated expression of Tim‑3 and nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB), as well as enhanced cytokine secretion of IL‑6, IL‑10 and interferon (IFN)‑γ. However, a reduced immune response of MD‑DCs in response to HBsAg stimulation was observed when the Tim‑3 signaling pathway was inhibited prior to stimulation. The expression of NF‑κB was decreased and the cytokine secretion level of IL‑6, IL‑10 and IFN‑γ were downregulated. The treatment with HBsAg in vitro resulted in an enhanced immune response of MD‑DCs, which may be positively regulated by the Tim-3 signaling molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjun Yu
- Medical Research Center of Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang 317000, P.R. China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Medical Research Center of Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang 317000, P.R. China
| | - Min Zhu
- Medical Research Center of Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang 317000, P.R. China
| | - Kechuan Pan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang 317000, P.R. China
| | - Fei Yan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang 317000, P.R. China
| | - Jiansheng Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang 317000, P.R. China
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Toita R, Kawano T, Kang JH, Murata M. Applications of human hepatitis B virus preS domain in bio- and nanotechnology. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21:7400-7411. [PMID: 26139986 PMCID: PMC4481435 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i24.7400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a member of the family Hepadnaviridae, and causes acute and chronic infections of the liver. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) contains the large (L), middle (M), and small (S) surface proteins. The L protein consists of the S protein, preS1, and preS2. In HBsAg, the preS domain (preS1 + preS2) plays a key role in the infection of hepatocytic cells by HBV and has several immunogenic epitopes. Based on these characteristics of preS, several preS-based diagnostic and therapeutic materials and systems have been developed. PreS1-specific monoclonal antibodies (e.g., MA18/7 and KR127) can be used to inhibit HBV infection. A myristoylated preS1 peptide (amino acids 2-48) also inhibits the attachment of HBV to HepaRG cells, primary human hepatocytes, and primary tupaia hepatocytes. Antibodies and antigens related to the components of HBsAg, preS (preS1 + preS2), or preS1 can be available as diagnostic markers of acute and chronic HBV infections. Hepatocyte-targeting delivery systems for therapeutic molecules (drugs, genes, or proteins) are very important for increasing the clinical efficacy of these molecules and in reducing their adverse effects on other organs. The selective delivery of diagnostic molecules to target hepatocytic cells can also improve the efficiency of diagnosis. In addition to the full-length HBV vector, preS (preS1 + preS2), preS1, and preS1-derived fragments can be useful in hepatocyte-specific targeting. In this review, we discuss the literature concerning the applications of the HBV preS domain in bio- and nanotechnology.
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Wang Y, Chen K, Wu Z, Liu Y, Liu S, Zou Z, Chen SH, Qu C. Immunizations with hepatitis B viral antigens and a TLR7/8 agonist adjuvant induce antigen-specific immune responses in HBV-transgenic mice. Int J Infect Dis 2014; 29:31-6. [PMID: 25449231 PMCID: PMC4397646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Revised: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The capacity of toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist-conjugated hepatitis B virus (HBV) proteins (HBV-Ag) to overcome established hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-specific immune tolerance was explored. Methods A TLR7/8 agonist, CL097, was conjugated with alum-absorbed HBsAg and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), as confirmed by ultra performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF MS). Mice from two independently generated HBV-transgenic (HBV-Tg) colonies, C57BL/6J-TgN (AlblHBV) 44Bri/J mice and C57BL/6-HBV-1.3 genome-eq mice, were immunized with CL097-conjugated HBV-Ag every 2 weeks, four times. Results After immunization, 8/11 (72.7%) of the AlblHBV mice and 10/13 (76.9%) of the HBV-1.3 genome-eq mice generated serum detectable antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs). HBsAg-specific interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were detected in splenocytes from these mice. Naїve normal mice receiving splenocytes from the mice immunized with CL097-conjugated HBV-Ag generated immediate recall immune responses, e.g., the mice that received CD4+CD25+-depleted splenocytes generated anti-HBs on day 3 after HBsAg challenge while those receiving cells from sham-immunized mice did not. Conclusions Immunization with CL097-conjugated HBV-Ag reversed immune tolerance in HBV-Tg mice and induced antigen-specific immune responses. TLR7/8 agonists appear to be potent adjuvants for the induction of antigen-specific Th1 responses in an immune tolerant state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute/Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Kun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute/Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Zhiyuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute/Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yuetao Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shangmei Liu
- Pathology Department, Cancer Institute/Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongmei Zou
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Hsia Chen
- Departments of Oncological Sciences and Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chunfeng Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute/Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Beijing 100021, China.
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Endmann A, Klünder K, Kapp K, Riede O, Oswald D, Talman EG, Schroff M, Kleuss C, Ruiters MHJ, Juhls C. Cationic lipid-formulated DNA vaccine against hepatitis B virus: immunogenicity of MIDGE-Th1 vectors encoding small and large surface antigen in comparison to a licensed protein vaccine. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101715. [PMID: 24992038 PMCID: PMC4081723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently marketed vaccines against hepatitis B virus (HBV) based on the small (S) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) fail to induce a protective immune response in about 10% of vaccinees. DNA vaccination and the inclusion of PreS1 and PreS2 domains of HBsAg have been reported to represent feasible strategies to improve the efficacy of HBV vaccines. Here, we evaluated the immunogenicity of SAINT-18-formulated MIDGE-Th1 vectors encoding the S or the large (L) protein of HBsAg in mice and pigs. In both animal models, vectors encoding the secretion-competent S protein induced stronger humoral responses than vectors encoding the L protein, which was shown to be retained mainly intracellularly despite the presence of a heterologous secretion signal. In pigs, SAINT-18-formulated MIDGE-Th1 vectors encoding the S protein elicited an immune response of the same magnitude as the licensed protein vaccine Engerix-B, with S protein-specific antibody levels significantly higher than those considered protective in humans, and lasting for at least six months after the third immunization. Thus, our results provide not only the proof of concept for the SAINT-18-formulated MIDGE-Th1 vector approach but also confirm that with a cationic-lipid formulation, a DNA vaccine at a relatively low dose can elicit an immune response similar to a human dose of an aluminum hydroxide-adjuvanted protein vaccine in large animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marcel H. J. Ruiters
- Synvolux Therapeutics B.V., Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Obeng-Adjei N, Hutnick NA, Yan J, Chu JS, Myles DJF, Morrow MP, Sardesai NY, Weiner DB. DNA vaccine cocktail expressing genotype A and C HBV surface and consensus core antigens generates robust cytotoxic and antibody responses in mice and Rhesus macaques. Cancer Gene Ther 2013; 20:652-62. [PMID: 24310062 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2013.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There are well over a quarter of a billion chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers across the globe. Most carriers are at high risk for development of liver cirrhosis and subsequent progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. It is therefore imperative to develop new approaches for immunotherapy against this infection. Antibodies and cytotoxic T cells to different HBV antigens are believed to be important for reducing viral load and clearing HBV-infected cells from the liver. Some of the major challenges facing current vaccine candidates have been their inability to induce both humoral and cellular immunity to multiple antigenic targets and the induction of potent immune responses against the major genotypes of HBV. In this study, highly optimized synthetic DNA plasmids against the HBV consensus core (HBc) and surface (HBs) antigens genotypes A and C were developed and evaluated for their immune potential. These plasmids, which encode the most prevalent genotypes of the virus, were observed to individually induce binding antibodies to HBs antigens and drove robust cell-mediated immunity in animal models. Similar responses to both HBc and HBs antigens were observed when mice and non-human primates were inoculated with the HBc-HBs cocktails. In addition to the cytotoxic T lymphocyte activities exhibited by the immunized mice, the vaccine-induced responses were broadly distributed across multiple antigenic epitopes. These elements are believed to be important to develop an effective therapeutic vaccine. These data support further evaluation of multivalent synthetic plasmids as therapeutic HBV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Obeng-Adjei
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - N A Hutnick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J Yan
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., Blue Bell, PA, USA
| | - J S Chu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D J F Myles
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M P Morrow
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., Blue Bell, PA, USA
| | | | - D B Weiner
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Abstract
DNA immunization was discovered in early 1990s, and its use has been expanded from vaccine studies to a broader range of biomedical research areas, such as the generation of high-quality polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies as research reagents. In this unit, three common DNA immunization methods are described: needle injection, electroporation, and gene gun. In addition, several common considerations related to DNA immunization are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixia Wang
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Shan Lu
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
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10
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Wallace A, West K, Rothman AL, Ennis FA, Lu S, Wang S. Post-translational intracellular trafficking determines the type of immune response elicited by DNA vaccines expressing Gag antigen of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1). Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 9:2095-102. [PMID: 23941868 DOI: 10.4161/hv.26009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current study, immune responses induced by Gag DNA vaccines with different designs were evaluated in Balb/C mice. The results demonstrated that the DNA vaccine with the full length wild type gag gene (Wt-Gag) mainly produced Gag antigens intracellularly and induced a higher level of cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses, as measured by IFN-gamma ELISPOT, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) assays against a dominant CD8(+) T cell epitope (AMQMLKETI). In contrast, the addition of a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) leader sequence significantly improved overall Gag protein expression/secretion and Gag-specific antibody responses; however, Gag-specific CMI responses were decreased. The mutation of zinc-finger motif changed Gag protein expression patterns and reduced the ability to generate both CMI and antibody responses against Gag. These findings indicate that the structure and post-translational processing of antigens expressed by DNA vaccines play a critical role in eliciting optimal antibody or CMI responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Wallace
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Vaccines; Department of Medicine; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA
| | - Kim West
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Vaccines; Department of Medicine; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA; Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA
| | - Alan L Rothman
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA
| | - Francis A Ennis
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA
| | - Shan Lu
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Vaccines; Department of Medicine; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA
| | - Shixia Wang
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Vaccines; Department of Medicine; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA
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Ge G, Wang S, Han Y, Zhang C, Lu S, Huang Z. Removing N-terminal sequences in pre-S1 domain enhanced antibody and B-cell responses by an HBV large surface antigen DNA vaccine. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41573. [PMID: 22844502 PMCID: PMC3402421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2012] [Accepted: 06/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the use of recombinant hepatitis B virus surface (HBsAg) protein vaccine has successfully reduced global hepatitis B infection, there are still a number of vaccine recipients who do not develop detectable antibody responses. Various novel vaccination approaches, including DNA vaccines, have been used to further improve the coverage of vaccine protection. Our previous studies demonstrated that HBsAg-based DNA vaccines could induce both humoral and CMI responses in experimental animal models. However, one form of the the HBsAg antigen, the large S antigen (HBs-L), expressed by DNA vaccine, was not sufficiently immunogenic in eliciting antibody responses. In the current study, we produced a modified large S antigen DNA vaccine, HBs-L(T), which has a truncated N-terminal sequence in the pre-S1 region. Compared to the original HBs-L DNA vaccine, the HBs-L(T) DNA vaccine improved secretion in cultured mammalian cells and generated significantly enhanced HBsAg-specific antibody and B cell responses. Furthermore, this improved HBsL DNA vaccine, along with other HBsAg-expressing DNA vaccines, was able to maintain predominantly Th1 type antibody responses while recombinant HBsAg protein vaccines produced in either yeast or CHO cells elicited mostly Th2 type antibody responses. Our data indicate that HBsAg DNA vaccines with improved immunogenicity offer a useful alternative choice to recombinant protein-based HBV vaccines, particularly for therapeutic purposes against chronic hepatitis infection where immune tolerance led to poor antibody responses to S antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohong Ge
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shixia Wang
- China-US Vaccine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yaping Han
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- China-US Vaccine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunhua Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- China-US Vaccine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shan Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- China-US Vaccine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Zuhu Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- China-US Vaccine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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12
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Abstract
Chronic HBV infection remains a leading cause of serious liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in spite of the existence of an effective preventive vaccine. Although the actual antiviral treatments have greatly improved, they only rarely clear viral infection. In this regard, therapeutic DNA vaccination appears to have great promise to stimulate and restore the impaired immune responses in chronic HBV carriers. This review examines preclinical studies of preventive and therapeutic DNA vaccines in different animal models (mouse, woodchuck and duck) and the first clinical studies in chronically infected patients. We also focused on different approaches aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of DNA vaccines such as combination therapy with antiviral drugs and in vivo DNA electroporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucyna Cova
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm U1052, CRCL team 15, 151 cours Albert Thomas, 69003 Lyon, France
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