[Humoral and cellular immunogenecity of genetic vaccine on core gene of hepatitis B virus in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the specific humoral and cellular immunogenecity of genetic vaccine based on core gene of hepatitis B virus in both C57BL/6(H-2b) and BALB/c(H-2d) mice.
METHODS: The in vitro expressing product of genetic vaccine of HBV core antigen (HBcAg) was identified by Western-blot. Both methods of gene gun and intramuscular immunization were used. Anti-HBc(IgG) and its isotypes (IgG1, IgG2a) in mice sera were detected by indirect ELISA. HBcAg specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) activity was measured by 51Chromium release assay.
RESULTS: The expression of HBcAg was confirmed by Western-blot. High titers of serum anti-HBc(1:328,050 by gene gun method and 1:109,350 by intramuscular method) were raised in both H-2b and H-2d mice after immunization with genetic vaccine of HBcAg. The levels of IgG2a isotype were generally higher than those of IgG1 in all groups of mice with both immunization methods. IgG2a was predominant in C57BL/6 mice after intramuscular immunization. These results suggested the Th1 type of immune response in mice after HBcAg genetic vaccination. HBcAg specific CTL activities were more than 50% in both species of mice with both immunization methods.
CONCLUSION: This genetic vaccine of HBcAg shows strong antigenecity in both cellular and humoral immunity. The possibility of its clinical application needs to be further investigated.