Construction of recombinant adenovirus vector containing AFP and generation of adenovirus-mediated AFP gene modified dendritic cells vaccine

Objective:To construct recombinant adenovirus vectors containing human AFP genes,and infect dendritic cell. Methods: Full length AFP cDNAs were subcloned into pIND vector,followed by being cloned into shuttle2 vector.The AFP gene fragments resulted from the shuttle2-AFP digested with PI-Sce and I-Ceu were linked to the linear adeno-X virus DNA.After packaged with HEK293 cells,the adenovirus expression vector was obtained.The plasmid pAdeno-AFP was identified by endonuclease and PCR.After dendritic cells were infected pAdeno-AFP,the surface molecules of pAdeno-AFP/DC were analysed by flow cytometry.AFP levels in culture supernatant of pAdeno-AFP/DC were measured by ELISA. Results: AFP gene in the inserted DNA of adeno-AFP was confirmed by PCR,and predictive fragments proved by restriction enzyme digestion analysis were exhibited.All the above results indicated that human AFP gene had been connected with pAdeno-X vectors correctly.The recombinant adenovirus vector of human AFP gene packaged in HEK293 cells,it will be used to introduce the target gene into dendritic cell.pAdeno-AFP/DC were able to upregulate CD1a,CD11c,CD80,CD86 and HLA-DR.And pAdeno-AFP/DC could secrete high level of AFP in vitro. Conclusion: The recombinant adenovirus vector of human AFP gene have been constructed successfully.The established AFP -DC vaccine may be a tool of the hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy,and it will be the foundation of future clinical use of DC vaccine.