ABSTRACT
In order to investigate the anti-tumor angiogenesis activity with a recombinant Ag43/FGFR1 chimeric protein(AF)vaccine in a mouse H22 hepatoma model,tumor volume and survival rate of the mice were studied at a 3-day interval,Microvessel density(MVD)was detected by immunohistochemistry.The endothelial deposition of autoantibodies within tumor tissues was examined by immunofluorescent staining,and anti-FGFR1 antibody-producing B cells(APBCs)were tested by enzyme-linked immunospot(ELISPOT)assay.Compared with the three control groups,the tumor volume was significantly decreased and the survival time was significantly prolonged in AF-immunized group(P<0.05).The number of APBCs in AF-immunized mice(129.6±10.9)was more than in controls[6.2±1.1(FGFR1),6.0±1.2(Ag43)and 5.2±1.4(NS),P<0.01].Moreover,the endothelial deposition of autoantibodies was found in tumor tissues from AF-immunized mice,but not in control groups.MVD in AF-immunized group was significantly lower than in FGFR1-immunized group,Ag43-immunized group and NS group(10.3±3.1 vs 39.4±8.6 vs 42.3±9.8 and 43.6±10.6,P<0.01).These findings demonstrated that the AF protein vaccine effectively inhibited tumor angiogenesis and growth via production of autoantibodies against self-FGFR1.