Immunization with dendritic cell-based DNA vaccine pRSC-NLDC145.gD-IL21 protects mice against herpes simplex virus keratitis

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of constructed dendritic cell (DC)-based DNA vaccine (pRSC-NLDC145.gD-IL21) carried by chitosan nanoparticle in preventing primary or recurrent herpes simplex virus keratitis (HSK) in mice. Methods: The expression of constructed plasmid ‘pRSC-NLDC145.gD-IL21’ was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. Plasmids that were embedded in chitosan were inoculated to test its therapeutic effect against primary or recurrent HSK in mice. Humoral and cellular immune response, clinical scores of herpes keratitis and inflammatory infiltration were measured. Results: The expressed glycoprotein D (gD) of pRSC-NLDC145.gD-IL21 DNA/chitosan nanoparticle vaccine could effectively target corneal DCs and significantly alleviate the symptoms of both primary and recurrent HSK mice via eliciting strong humoral and cellular immune response. Conclusion: Our data suggested that DC-based DNA vaccine could be a better choice for HSK treatment in the future.

DNA vaccine expressing herpes simplex virus 1 glycoprotein C and D protects mice against herpes simplex keratitis

AIM

To investigate whether DNA vaccine encoding herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein C (gC) and glycoprotein D (gD) will achieve better protective effect against herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) than DNA vaccine encoding gD alone.

METHODS

DNA vaccine expressing gD or gC combined gD (gD.gC) were constructed and carried by chitosan nanoparticle. The expression of fusion protein gD and gC were detected in DNA/nanoparticle transfected 293T cells by Western-blot. For immunization, mice were inoculated with DNA/nanoparticle for 3 times with 2wk interval, and two weeks after the final immunization, the specific immune responses and clinical degrees of primary HSK were evaluated.

RESULTS

Fusion protein gD.gC could be expressed successfully in cultured 293T cells. And, pRSC-gC.gD-IL21 DNA/chitosan nanoparticle could effectively elicit strongest humoral and cellular immune response in primary HSK mice evidenced by higher levels of specific neutralizing antibody and sIgA production, enhanced cytotoxicities of splenocytes and nature killer cells (NK), when compared with those of gD alone or mocked vaccine immunized mice. As a result, gC-based vaccine immunized mice showed least HSK disease.

CONCLUSION

gC-based DNA vaccine could effectively prevent the progress of primary HSK, suggesting that this DNA vaccine could be a promising vaccine for HSK treatment in the future.