Objective: To investigate the modulation effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene on the immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 gene when codelivered.
Methods: An expression vector of HCV E2 gene (p3E2) was constructed and its expression was detected in mammalian cells by transient expression. BALB/c mice were given injections of p3E2 only or together with IL-2 gene intraepidermally once or twice, and the induced humoral immune responses were evaluated.
Results: Immunohistochemistry showed that the constructed vector was successfully expressed in mammalian cells. Mice immunized with both p3E2 and IL-2 genes exhibited a significant increase in the production of anti-HCV E2 antibody compared with the mice immunized only with p3E2.
Conclusion: Humoral immune responses of BALB/c mice to HCV E2 antigen can be enhanced when HCV E2 gene and IL-2 gene are coinjected.