Induction of neutralizing antibodies against HTLV-I envelope proteins after combined genetic and protein immunizations in mice

DNA Cell Biol. 1997 Dec;16(12):1439-48. doi: 10.1089/dna.1997.16.1439.

Abstract

Direct DNA inoculation can induce both protective humoral and cellular responses against several viruses. The HTLV-I envelope glycoproteins are the major antigens recognized by sera of HTLV-I infected patients that generate neutralizing immune responses in vitro and in vivo. We compared immune responses elicited after a single inoculation of two plasmids encoding the complete HTLV-I envelope proteins followed or not by gp62 Baculovirus recombinant protein boosts in BALB/c mice. First, we observe that the coexpression of env and rex genes is not sufficient to raise a detectable specific humoral response after a single DNA inoculation. Protein boosts generated a high antibody response in mice primed with DNA expressing HTLV-I envelope proteins as compared to naive and negative control vector primed groups. This humoral response presented high neutralizing antibody titers. These results suggest that a single inoculation of DNA expressing HTLV-I env gene can stimulate memory B-cell clones that are able to respond effectively to subsequent encounters with HTLV-I envelope proteins and a specific cellular T helper cell response in mice.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Baculoviridae / genetics
  • Gene Products, env
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • HTLV-I Antibodies / drug effects
  • HTLV-I Antibodies / immunology*
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Sera / pharmacology
  • Immunization / methods
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Plasmids / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / pharmacology*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Gene Products, env
  • HTLV-I Antibodies
  • Immune Sera
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Viral Envelope Proteins