Efficacy of Artemisia annua polysaccharides as an adjuvant to hepatitis C vaccination

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The traditional Chinese medicine Artemisia annua can prevent and treat hepatitis following an unclear mechanism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of A. annua polysaccharides (AAP) on hepatitis C virus (HCV). A pcDNA3.1/NS3 expression vector was constructed. Ninety female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups: high-dose AAP (1 mg/mL) + HCV/NS3 plasmid; middle-dose AAP (0.5 mg/mL) + HCV/NS3 plasmid; lowdose AAP (0.1 mg/mL) + HCV/NS3 plasmid; HCV/NS3 plasmid; high-dose AAP (1 mg/mL); normal saline control (N = 15). Except the control group and the high-dose AAP group, other groups were inoculated with 50 μg pcDNA3.1-HCV/NS3 plasmid. Serum antigenic-specific antibody was detected after the last immunization, and the levels of secreted IFN-γ and IL-4 were measured. pcDNA3.1/ NS3 plasmid was successfully constructed, and the extracted product contained HCV/NS3 sequence. Compared with single inoculation with HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine, the specific antibody levels induced L.D. Bao et al. 4958©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (2): 4957-4965 (2015) by middle-dose AAP plus HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine were significantly different in weeks 1, 3 and 5 (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the antibody levels induced by high-dose and low-dose AAP as adjuvant compared with those of single inoculation with DNA vaccine (P > 0.05). The level of serum IFN-γ secretion was significantly higher than that of IL-4 secretion. Compared with the single HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine group, AAP plus HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine groups had significant increased IFN-γ levels (P < 0.05), but the IL-4 levels were not significantly different among these groups (P > 0.05). AAP, as the adjuvant of HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine, can widely regulate the humoral immunity and cellular immune function of normal and cyclophosphamide-induced immunocompromised mice. AAP can promote IFN-γ secretion probably by inducing Th1-type cellular immune response.

Hepatitis C virus DNA vaccines: a systematic review

“…On the other hand, Behzadi et al have shown in their study that the use of complete Freund’s adjuvant, monophosphoryl lipid A can induce the production of Th1/Th2 cells and CD8+ T-cells in all the immunized groups [ 26 ]. Interestingly, an eccentric study on vaccine development have shown that polysaccharides derived from Artemisia annua could be utilized as an adjuvant and modulate immune response induced by a NS3 plasmid DNA vaccine by increasing IFN-γ but not antibody or IL-4, suggesting the mechanism to be the result of modulation of Th1 response [ 44 ]. Synthesized Poly(D,L-lactic acid)-co-poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PLA–PEG–PLA) and poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid;PLGA)–PEG–PLGA used as micelles with encapsulated plasmid pcDNA3.1 also had appealing results as adjuvants with no considerable side effects in single oral immunization with DNA/polymers with noticable immune responses in in vivo tests [ 45 ].…”

Glycoproteins isolated from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz improve protective immune response induction in a mouse model

“…Glycoproteins are the active components of AMK protein extract and its immune stimulating activity is due to the carbohydrate, rather than protein residues AMK extract showed two major groups of bands around 27 kDa and smaller than 15 kDa together with a broad spectrum of molecular weights by CBB staining and mainly of approximately 200, 27, and 13 kDa by Schiff reagent staining [Fig. 6 In summary, glycoproteins and polysaccharides derived from traditional medicines could be potentially used as efficacious vaccine adjuvant candidates or adjuvant boosters (Bao et al, 2015;Pi et al, 2014). The current findings highlight that AMK extracts, especially protein extract, are useful as adjuvant and/or adjuvant booster to improve the efficacy of vaccination by enhancing systemic immune response.…”

Advance in studies on traditional Chinese medicines to treat infection with the hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus

“…Results of a study by Bao et al suggested that an extract of A. annua, when used as an adjuvant of HCV/Nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) DNA vaccine, increased antibody levels in vivo and promoted IFN-γ secretion by increasing a Th1-type cellular immune response (48). Galla chinensis, also called Wu-BeiZi, is a TCM that is commonly used to treat dysentery, bleeding, coughing, sweating, and rectal prolapse.…”