Coexpression of interleukin-2 enhances the immunization effect of a DNA vaccine expressing herpes simplex 1
1Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital--Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.
Abstract:
In this study, DNA vaccines consisting of vector IRES-gD expressing Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein D (gD) and vector IRES-gD-IL-2 coexpressing HSV-1 gD and interleukin-2 (IL-2), respectively, were constructed. After intramuscular inoculation, both vaccines induced in BALB/c mice antibodies as assayed by ELISA and virus neutralization. However, IRES-gD-IL-2 elicited significantly higher levels of IgG (ELISA) and neutralizing antibodies than IRES-gD. Isotyping of sera from mice injected with IRES-gD-IL-2 revealed predominantly IgG2a antibodies. IRES-gD-IL-2 also elicited a higher delayed-type sensitivity (DTH) reaction. However, there was no difference in the protection against lethal challenge with HSV-1 between the two vaccines (P>0.05). The results suggest that the vaccination with IRES-gD-IL-2 can efficiently enhance the immune response of mice to HSV-1, particularly through increased cellular immunity.
Related Concept Videos
Herpes
Vaccinations
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
Genital Herpes
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...


