Immunization of RANTES expression plasmid with a DNA vaccine enhances HIV-1-specific immunity

Cytokines play important roles in regulating immune response. This study ev aluated the adjuvant effect of an expression plasmid encoding RANTES (regul ated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted) chemokine on the i mmunity induced by a DNA vaccine. This vaccine consists of expression plasm ids encoding the env and rev genes of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ( HIV-1). DNA vaccination with RANTES plasmid induced significantly higher ti ters of serum HIV-1-specific IgG and IgG2a antibodies than DNA vaccination alone on both intramuscular and intranasal immunization. This combination a lso increased HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and delayed-ty pe hypersensitivity. Intranasal immunization induced a higher titer of feca l secretory IgA antibody than intramuscular immunization. These results dem onstrate that coadministration of RANTES plasmid dominantly induced HIV-1-s pecific cell-mediated immunity. (C) 1999 Academic Press.