DNA Immunization with Fusion of CTLA-4 to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Core Protein Enhanced Th2 Type Responses and Cleared HBV with an Accelerated Kinetic Th Bias and Clearance of Hepatitis B Virus
2011

DNA Immunization with CTLA-4 Fusion Enhances Immune Response Against Hepatitis B Virus

Sample size: 18 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Yin Ying, Wu Chunchen, Song Jingjiao, Wang Junzhong, Zhang Ejuan, Liu Hongyan, Yang Dongliang, Chen Xinwen, Lu Mengji, Xu Yang

Primary Institution: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Hypothesis

How does the Th1/Th2 bias of primed immune responses by a DNA vaccine influence hepatitis B virus (HBV) clearance?

Conclusion

Viral clearance could be efficiently achieved by a Th1/Th2-balanced immune response, with a small but significant shift in T-cell and B-cell immune responses.

Supporting Evidence

  • Immunizations with pCTLA-4-HBc and pHBc cleared HBsAg significantly faster than control mice.
  • All immunized mice except one were negative for HBsAg at day 10.
  • HBV DNA concentrations in the serum samples of mice were below the detection limit of quantitative PCR.

Takeaway

The study shows that a special type of vaccine can help the body fight off a virus called hepatitis B faster by making the immune system work better.

Methodology

Mice were immunized with different DNA plasmids and then challenged with HBV to monitor immune responses and viral clearance.

Limitations

The study was conducted in a mouse model, which may not fully replicate human responses.

Participant Demographics

Female BALB/cJ mice, 6 weeks of age.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0022524

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication