A fusion DNA vaccine encoding middle version of HBV envelope protein fused to interleukin-21 did not enhance HBV-specific immune response in mice

Vaccination with a DNA vaccine encoding CD317-targeting HBs antigen elicits enhanced immunity in mice

BACKGROUND

Conventional hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines fail to induce protective antibody titers in 5-10% of immune-competent vaccines. Therefore, safe and effective HBV vaccines are still clinically needed.

METHODS

In this study, we developed a plasmid DNA vaccine encoding CD317 single-chain fragment variable (α317scFv) linked with the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and detected the humoral and cellular immune responses elicited by this vaccine in BALB/c mice.

RESULTS

Vaccination with this fusion DNA vaccine in BALB/c mice induced more robust antiviral T cell and antibody immunity against HBsAg. Compared with mice vaccinated with control vaccine encoding HBsAg, the level of serum-circulating anti-HBsAg antibody (HBsAb) was nearly double in fusion DNA-vaccinated mice. More interesting, splenic lymphocytes isolated from fusion DNA-vaccinated mice showed more potent proliferation and IFN-γ production after being re-stimulated with recombinant HBsAg in vitro. And not only that, the cytotoxicity of fusion DNA vaccine-sensitized splenocytes was ∼3-fold higher than that of controls.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results reveal that the fusion DNA vaccine can induce more effective immunological protection against HBV, and is a promising candidate for preventing HBV infection.

Effect of the hepatitis B virus S‑ecdCD40L vaccine therapy in HBV transgenic mice: A vaccine‑induced activation of antigen presenting dendritic cells

The classical hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccination plasmid only encodes for a single viral antigen, either the S or the PreS2/S antigen. Many strategies have been employed to improve the effect of these DNA vaccines. Our previous study identified that the fusion gene, HBV S‑ecd cluster of differentiation 40 ligand (CD40L), may promote the activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and enhance their function in vitro. In the current study, the effect of HBV S‑ecdCD40L vaccine therapy on liver DCs was investigated, and its therapeutic potential in HBV transgenic (HBV‑Tg) mice was evaluated. The eukaryotic expression plasmid, pcDNA3.1‑S‑ecdCD40L, was constructed by inserting the HBV S gene and mouse CD40L gene into the vector, pcDNA3.1 (+). HBV‑Tg mice were immunized with pcDNA3.1‑S‑ecdCD40L, pcDNA3.1‑S, pcDNA3.1 or PBS. Following this, immunophenotyping, cytokine production and T‑cell activation were analyzed in the CD11c‑enriched DC population obtained from the liver. Vaccine efficacy was further assessed by the detection of serological and biochemical parameters. When comparing with other control groups, DCs from HBV‑Tg mice immunized with pcDNA3.1‑S‑ecdCD40L exhibited increased expression of immunologically important cell molecules (CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class II), pro‑inflammatory cytokines (interleukin‑12), and enhanced capacity to promote allogeneic T‑cell proliferation. Furthermore, the HBV S‑ecdCD40L vaccine resulted in a significant inhibition of HBV DNA replication and downregulation of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in HBV‑Tg mice, without obvious liver injury. In conclusion, the HBV S‑ecdCD40L vaccine may be a feasible strategy for chronic HBV immunotherapy via promoting DC activation and function.

Modulation of Tim-3 Expression by Antigen-Dependent and -Independent Factors on T Cells from Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) was up-regulated on viral specific T cells and contributed to T cells exhaustion during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, modulation of Tim-3 expression was still not fully elucidated. To evaluate the potential viral and inflammatory factors involved in the inductor of Tim-3 expression on T cells, 76 patients with chronic HBV infection (including 40 chronic hepatitis B [CHB] and 36 asymptomatic HBV carriers [AsC]) and 40 of normal controls (NCs) were enrolled in this study. Tim-3 expressions on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were assessed in response to HBV-encoding antigens, HBV peptide pools, and common γ-chain (γc) cytokines stimulation by flow cytometry. HBV peptides and anti-CD3/CD28 directly induced Tim-3 expression on T cells. γc cytokines also drive Tim-3 up-regulations on both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in patients with chronic HBV infection. However, γc cytokines did not enhance the Tim-3 inductions by either anti-CD3/CD28 or HBV peptides stimulation. Furthermore, γc cytokines-mediated Tim-3 induction could not be abrogated by γc cytokine receptor-neutralizing antibodies. The current results suggested that elevation of Tim-3 expression on T cells could be regulated by both antigen-dependent and -independent manner in patients with chronic HBV infection. The role of γc cytokines in modulation of inhibitory pathway might be evaluated as immunotherapies in humans.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Promotes the Invasion of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Upregulation of Toll-Like Receptor 2

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major risk factors leading to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) plays a pivotal role in HBV-related HCC pathogenesis, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 is also considered to mediate tumor progression. However, the interaction between HBsAg and TLR2 in HCC progression remains unclear. Thus, the aim of the study was to explore the effect of HBsAg-TLR2 pathway on growth and invasion of HBV-related HCC cells and examine the potential mechanisms been involved. The expression of TLR2 was measured in two different HCC cell lines (HepG2 and HepG2.2.15) with or without recombinant HBsAg by real-time reverse polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Cellular proliferation, invasion, cytokine productions, and downstream signaling pathways were also measured in TLR2-silencing HepG2.2.15 cells in response to HBsAg stimulation. The mRNA and protein levels of TLR2 were significantly elevated in HepG2.2.15 cells than those in HepG2 cells. HBsAg simulation increased proinflammatory cytokine production and invasion of HepG2.2.15 cells, while this process was inhibited by TLR2 silence. However, TLR2 siRNA transfection alone did not affect the bioactivities of tumor cells. Moreover, HBsAg increased expression of MyD88 and phosphorylation of NF-κB p50 and p38MAPK. Downregulation of TLR2 inhibited HBsAg-induced MyD88 and p-NF-κB, but not p-p38MAPK in HepG2.2.15 cells. In conclusion, HBsAg stimulation promotes the invasion of HBV-related HCC cells. TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway may be involved in this procession by upregulation of cytokine production. The interaction between TLR2 and HBsAg may contribute to the poor prognosis of HBV-related HCC.