Polyprenyl Phosphates Induce a High Humoral and Cellular Response to Immunization with Recombinant Proteins of the Replicative Complex of the Hepatitis C Virus

• DOI: 10.1134/s1607672918050083
• Publication Date: 2018-11-05T01:28:49Z
• Authors: O. V. Masalova; E. I. Lesnova; A. A. Onishchuk; A. M. Ivanova; E. V. Gerasimova; A. V. Ivanov; A. N. Narovlyansky; A. V. Sanin; A. V. Pronin; A. A. Kushch
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 570; Immunity, Cellular; Vaccines; 0303 health sciences; Hepacivirus; Virus Replication; Recombinant Proteins; Immunity, Humoral; 3. Good health; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Polyisoprenyl Phosphates; Immunoglobulin G; 616; Animals; Immunologic Factors

The search for new adjuvants remains the critical task for the creation of hepatitis C vaccines due to the weak immunogenicity of biotechnological products. When immunizing mice with the recombinant proteins NS3 and NS5B of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the adjuvant activity of three immunomodulators was compared. Phosprenyl® on the basis of polyprenyl phosphate (PPP), chemically synthesized analogue of the bacterial cell wall glucosaminyl muramyl dipeptide (GMDP), and IFN-α recombinant protein were tested. GMDP increased the activity of IgG1 antibodies 4-6 times but did not stimulate the production of IFN-γ; IFN-α has not shown any adjuvant properties. The introduction of recombinant HCV proteins together with PPP in low doses increased the activity of IgG2a isotype antibodies 4-7 times and increased IFN-γ secretion 3 times. Thus, it was first shown that PPP polarizes the immune response to Th1-type and is a promising adjuvant for the development of a vaccine against hepatitis C.