A preliminary study on anti-liver cancer immunity of the virus-like particulate peptide-nucleic acid vaccine / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To construct a novel virus-like particulate peptide-nucleic acid vaccine (VPNV) of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), and to study its anti-liver cancer immunity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cationic antigenic peptide was synthesized and purified, and then human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) and TERT gene were cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pTCAE. The peptide was combined with the nucleic acid vaccine to make a VPNV, which was transfected into eukaryotic cell COS-7. The immunogenicity of hGM-CSF and hTERT were detected using ELISA and Western blot. The efficacy of VPNV for inducing antigen specific CTL response was determined using the lactate dehydrogenase release method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>VPNV was verified capable to trigger specific CTL responses and has shown a specific cytolytic activity to liver cancer cell HepG2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A VPNV which can stimulate antigen specific CTL response was successfully constructed. This paves the way for our further investigation of anti-liver cancer immunity in mice.</p>