Humoral and cellular immunogenecity of nucleic acid vaccine of hepatitis B core antigen in rhesus monkeys / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe humoral and cellular immunogenecity of nucleic acid vaccine of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in rhesus monkeys. Methods Rhesus monkeys of the experimental group and the control group received intramuscular injections of a HBcAg nucleic acid vaccine(pJW4303/HBc) and a control plasmid (pJW4303), respectively. Anti HBc titers, isotypes of anti HBc IgG in sera of the rhesus monkeys pre and post vaccinations, and IFN ? as well as IL 4 levels in the culture supernatant of PBMC isolated from the monkeys were detected by an enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay. HBcAg specific proliferation activities of PBMC in the monkeys were measured by 3H TdR incorporation assay. Results It was observed in rhesus monkeys of experimental group an obvious anti HBc response after immunization with HBcAg nucleic acid vaccine. The major isotypes of anti HBc IgG was IgG2 and IFN ? was predominant compared with IL 4 in the culture supernatant of rhesus monkeys' PBMC, both indicating Th1 type of immune responses. HBcAg specific proliferation activities of PBMC in the experimental group were significantly stronger than those in the control group. Conclusions The nucleic acid vaccine based on HBcAg shows a good humoral and cellular immunogenecity in rhesus monkeys.