Antitumor immunity induced by recombinant vaccine alpha-fetoprotein-heat shock protein 70 complex

摘要

To construct a recombinant vaccine alphafetoprotein (AFP)-heat shock protein (HSP70) complex, and study its ability to induce specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response and its protective effect against AFP-producing tumor.Methods: A recombinant vaccine was constructed by conjugating mouse alphafetoprotein to heat shock protein 70.By way of intracutaneous injection, mice were primed and boosted with recombinant vaccine mAFP/HSP70, whereas single mAFP or HSP70 injection as controls.The ELISPOT and ELISA were used to measure the frequency of cells producing the cytokine IFN- in splenocytes and the level of anti-AFP antibody of serum from immunized mice respectively.In vivo tumor challenge were carried out to assess the immune effect of the recombinant vaccine.Results: By recombinant mAFP/HSP70 vaccine immunization, the results of ELISPOT and ELISA showed that the number of splenic cells producing IFN- and the level of anti-AFP antibody of serum were significantly higher in mAFP/HSP70 group than those in mAFP and HSP70 groups (108.50 ∮11.70 IFN- 僴spots/106 cells vs 41.60 ∮10.40 IFN- 僴spots/106 cells, 7.32 ∮3.14 IFN- 僴spots/106 cells, P<0.01; 156.32 ∮10.42 g/mL vs 66.52 ∮7.35 g/mL, 5.73 ∮2.89 g/mL, P<0.01).The tumor volume in mAFP/HSP70 group was significantly smaller than that in mAFP and HSP70 groups (42.44 ∮7.14 mm3 vs 392.23 ∮12.46 mm3, 838.63 ∮ 13.84 mm3, P<0.01).Conclusions: The study further confirmed the function of heat shock protein 70ˇs immune adjuvant.Sequential immunization with recombinant mAFP/HSP70 vaccine could generate effective antitumor immunity on AFP-producing tumor.The recombined mAFP/HSP70 vaccine may be suitable for serving as an immunotherapy for HCC.