Immune response induced by recombinant plasmid co-expressing HBsAg and HBcAg in HBV DNA transgenie mice

Objective To observe immune response induced hy recombinant plasmid co-express- ing HBsAg and HBcAg in transgenic mice.Methods Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-SC co-ex- pressing HBsAg and HBcAg were constructed and inoculated muscularly into C_(57)BL/6 HBV DNA transgenic mice 100 μg per time.boosted 2 and 4 weeks later.4,8,12 weeks later after the first inocu- lation,the sera samples were collected for detection of anti-HBs,anti-HBc and HBV DNA level. Meanwhile.HBsAg and HBcAg were detected in their liver tissue biopsy samples.Results 4,8,12 weeks later after the first inoculation,the positive rate of anti-HBs were 55%,67% and 33% respec- tively.The positive rate of anti-HBc was lower than 20%.The sera HBV DNA titers and HBsAg. HBcAg content in liver tissue declined obviously.At the same time.no change was observed in control mice inoculated with only empty plasmid vector.Conclusions The data showed that pcDNA3.1-SC inoculation might inhibit replication of HBV DNA and expression of HBsAg.HBcAg in mice.It is suggested that pcDNA3.1-SC could be the potential candidate used as therapeutic DNA vaccine for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.