Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 1, 2004; 10(21): 3137-3140
Published online Nov 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i21.3137
Antigenic and immunogenic changes due to mutation of s gene of HBV
Jun-Hui Ge, Hui-Min Liu, Jing Sun, Le-Zhi Zhang, Jin He, Yu-Li Li, Hong Liu, Yi Xu, Hong-Yu Yu, Yi-Ping Hu
Jun-Hui Ge, Hui-Min Liu, Jing Sun, Jin He, Yu-Li Li, Yi Xu, Hong-Yu Yu, Department of Pathology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
Le-Zhi Zhang, Department of Experimental Diagnosis, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Hong Liu, Yi-Ping Hu, Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by National Science Foundation of China, No. 396670669 and No.39970676; Keystone basic research program of STCM, No. 03DZ14023
Correspondence to: Hong-Yu Yu, Department of Pathology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China. yuhongyu795@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-21-63610109-73703 Fax: +86-21-25070291
Received: January 9, 2004
Revised: March 5, 2004
Accepted: March 12, 2004
Published online: November 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the change of immunological characteristics of HBsAg caused by the mutation at codon 145 of HBsAg using DNA-based immunization.

METHODS: Plasmids expressing mutant and wild type envelope antigens were transfected into human hepatocellular carcinoma cellsviaelectrotransformation. The antigenicity of HBsAg was studied with EIA and immunocytochemical staining. Then plasmids were used to immunize 5 C57BL/6 mice. Sera of mice were detected for anti-HBs and anti-preS2 with ELISA.

RESULTS: The mutant HBsAg could be detected by native antibody in EIA and immunocytochemical study. But the A(450 nm) value of the mutant HBsAg in the supernatant was apparently lower than that of the wild-type. Both mutant and native HBsAg expression plasmid could stimulate a strong humoral immune response to HBsAg and preS2 antigen in mice. Protective antibodies against HBsAg elicited by the native HBsAg occurred earlier than that elicited by the mutant HBsAg about one to two weeks. The occurrence of protective antibodies against preS2 antigen was one to two weeks earlier than that of anti-HBs.

CONCLUSION: The amino acid substitution causes changes of the antigenicity and immunogenicity of HBsAg, but mutant HBsAg can still induce a protective humoral immune response in mice.

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