Complexity of the Cytokine and Antibody Response Elicited by Immunizing Mice withPlasmodium yoelii Circumsporozoite Protein Plasmid DNA

摘要

The number, type, and location of cytokine and Ab-secreting cells activated inmice immunized and boosted with plasmid DNA encoding the circumsporozoite protein of the malarial parasite Plasmodium yoelii (PyCSP) were monitored. The initial humoral response was localized to the draining lymph nodes and was characterized by the production of IgG1 anti-PyCSP Abs and the Th2 cytokine IL-4. In contrast, the secondary response was dominated by IFN-y production (a Thi cytokine) and the secretion of IgG2a anti-PyCSP Abs in the spleen. PyCSP DNA and mRNA were detected only in the quadriceps muscles (sites of plasmid injection), yet these sites