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Whole recombinant Hansenula polymorpha expressing hepatitis B virus surface antigen (yeast-HBsAg) induces potent HBsAg-specific Th1 and Th2 immune responses

  • Guanglin Bian
  • , Yuming Cheng
  • , Zekun Wang
  • , Yunwen Hu
  • , Xiaonan Zhang
  • , Min Wu
  • , Zhiao Chen
  • , Bisheng Shi
  • , Shuhui Sun
  • , Yan Shen
  • , Er jia Chen
  • , Xin Yao
  • , Yumei Wen
  • , Zhenghong Yuan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that yeast cell wall components possess adjuvant activities. In the present study, heat-killed whole recombinant Hansenula polymorpha yeast expressing hepatitis B surface antigen (yeast-HBsAg) was generated, and the immune responses elicited by yeast-HBsAg were investigated in mice. The studies showed that yeast-HBsAg as well as yeast greatly promotes the accumulation of immune cells in mouse spleen and contributes to the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). Yeast-HBsAg not only induces significantly higher antibody responses (including IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a), but also increases the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio, while alum combined with HBsAg (HBsAg + alum) only enhances antibody responses, but not the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio compared to HBsAg alone. Analysis of HBsAg-specific cytokines revealed that yeast-HBsAg is associated with production of both IFN-γ and IL-4, but neither IFN-γ nor IL-4 was detected in the HBsAg + alum-immunized group. Moreover, yeast-HBsAg induces potent HBsAg-specific lymphocyte proliferation and Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. In conclusion, yeast-HBsAg enhances both HBsAg-specific Th1 and Th2 immune responses, while alum only enhances Th2 immune responses, suggesting that yeast-HBsAg may be an ideal candidate for an effective vaccine for the control of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)187-194
Number of pages8
JournalVaccine
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Dec 2009
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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