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Freyre FM, Aguiar JA, Cinza Z, Figueroa N, Diaz PA, Muzio VL, Lemos G, Freyre G, Coizeau E, Rodríguez C, Pentón E, Campos M, Santos IL, Mahtab MA, Akbar SMF, Guillen GE, Aguilar JC. Impact of the Route and Schedule of Immunization on the Serological and Virological Response of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with HeberNasvac. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2023; 13:73-78. [PMID: 38222949 PMCID: PMC10785140 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
HeberNasvac is a recently developed therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) administered by intranasal (IN) and subcutaneous (SC) routes in a 14 days/10 doses schedule. To compare different schedules and routes of immunizations, a group of patients received four different vaccination regimens in a placebo-controlled factorial study. Subsequently, patients were followed for a minimum time of 48 weeks. Samples collected at the end of the follow-up were compared with initial samples. Groups I and II received the product by IN/SC routes, every 14 and 7 days, respectively. Groups III and IV were treated by SC route alone following a 14 and 7 days schedule. A group of 21 CHB patients received the vaccine in four different schedules and eight patients received placebo for a total of 29 patients enrolled. The 61.9% of vaccinees reduced their VL ≥2Log compared with baseline levels and 25% in placebo group. The 47.6% of vaccines reduced HBV levels to undetectable, 25% in placebo. HBeAg loss and seroconversion to anti-HBeAg was only achieved in vaccinees, 4 out of 9 (44.4%), and 40% (8 out of 20) developed anti-HBs response, none in placebo group. Reduction of HBsAg level in ≥1Log was achieved in the 35.0% of vaccinees and in none of the placebo-treated patients. Considering the individual and factorial analysis, significant HBV DNA reduction was detected in groups I and II, immunized by IN/SC routes. A significantly higher proportion of patients reducing VL to ≥2Log was also detected grouping the patients treated by IN/SC routes (G I + II) and grouping those inoculated every 14 days (G I + III), with 72.7% and 63.6%, respectively, compared with the placebo group (25.0%). The patients immunized every 14 days (G I + G III) also reduced the HBsAg levels compared with baseline. In conclusion, after more than 48 weeks of treatment-free follow-up, HeberNasvac-treated patients demonstrated superior responses compared with the placebo group in terms of antiviral and serological responses. The factorial analysis evidenced that the schedule combining the IN route of immunization and the frequency of 14 days resulted in the stronger antiviral and serological responses. Present results support the study of IN-only immunization schedules in future and was consistent with previous results. Long-lasting follow-ups were done to explore histological variables and the progression of serological variables in order to detect late responders. How to cite this article Freyre FM, Aguiar JA, Cinza Z, et al. Impact of the Route and Schedule of Immunization on the Serological and Virological Response of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with HeberNasvac. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2023;13(2):73-78.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya Milagros Freyre
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Jorge A Aguiar
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Zurina Cinza
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Nelvis Figueroa
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Pablo Arsenio Diaz
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Verena Lucila Muzio
- Direction of Clinical Trials, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gilda Lemos
- Department of Regulatory Affairs, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Giselle Freyre
- Department of Regulatory Affairs, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Edelgis Coizeau
- Department of Regulatory Affairs, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Chabeli Rodríguez
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Eduardo Pentón
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Magalys Campos
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Iván Luis Santos
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Mamun Al Mahtab
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan; Research Center for Global and Local Infectious Diseases, Oita University, Oita, Japan; Miyakawa Memorial Research Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gerardo E Guillen
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Julio Cesar Aguilar
- Direction of Biomedical Research, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
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Fleites YA, Aguiar J, Cinza Z, Bequet M, Marrero E, Vizcaíno M, Esquivel I, Diaz M, Sin-Mayor A, Garcia M, Martinez SM, Beato A, Galarraga AG, Mendoza-Mari Y, Valdés I, García G, Lemos G, González I, Canaán-Haden C, Figueroa N, Oquendo R, Akbar SM, Mahtab MA, Uddin MH, Guillén GE, Muzio VL, Pentón E, Aguilar JC. HeberNasvac, a Therapeutic Vaccine for Chronic Hepatitis B, Stimulates Local and Systemic Markers of Innate Immunity: Potential Use in SARS-CoV-2 Postexposure Prophylaxis. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2021; 11:59-70. [PMID: 34786358 PMCID: PMC8566153 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction More than 180 million people have been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and more than 4 million coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients have died in 1.5 years of the pandemic. A novel therapeutic vaccine (NASVAC) has shown to be safe and to have immunomodulating and antiviral properties against chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Materials and methods A phase I/II, open-label controlled and randomized clinical trial of NASVAC as a postexposure prophylaxis treatment was designed with the primary aim of assessing the local and systemic immunomodulatory effect of NASVAC in a cohort of suspected and SARS-CoV-2 risk-contact patients. A total of 46 patients, of both sexes, 60 years or older, presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. Patients received NASVAC (100 μg per Ag per dose) via intranasal at days 1, 7, and 14 and sublingual, daily for 14 days. Results and discussion The present study detected an increased expression of toll-like receptors (TLR)-related genes in nasopharyngeal tonsils, a relevant property considering these are surrogate markers of SARS protection in the mice model of lethal infection. The HLA-class II increased their expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell's (PBMC's) monocytes and lymphocytes, which is an attractive property taking into account the functional impairment of innate immune cells from the periphery of COVID-19-infected subjects. NASVAC was safe and well tolerated by the patients with acute respiratory infections and evidenced a preliminary reduction in the number of days with symptoms that needs to be confirmed in larger studies. Conclusions Our data justify the use of NASVAC as preemptive therapy or pre-/postexposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 and acute respiratory infections in general. The use of NASVAC or their active principles has potential as immunomodulatory prophylactic therapies in other antiviral settings like dengue as well as in malignancies like hepatocellular carcinoma where these markers have shown relation to disease progression. How to cite this article Fleites YA, Aguiar J, Cinza Z, et al. HeberNasvac, a Therapeutic Vaccine for Chronic Hepatitis B, Stimulates Local and Systemic Markers of Innate Immunity: Potential Use in SARS-CoV-2 Postexposure Prophylaxis. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2021;11(2):59–70.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoel A Fleites
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Jorge Aguiar
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Zurina Cinza
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Monica Bequet
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Elieser Marrero
- Department of Quality Control Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Idelsis Esquivel
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Marisol Diaz
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Adriana Sin-Mayor
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Maura Garcia
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Sara M Martinez
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Abrahan Beato
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Ana G Galarraga
- Department of Clinical Trials, Luis Diaz Soto Hospital, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yssel Mendoza-Mari
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Iris Valdés
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gerardo García
- Department of Quality Control Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gilda Lemos
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Isabel González
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Camila Canaán-Haden
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Nelvis Figueroa
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Rachel Oquendo
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Sheikh Mf Akbar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
| | - Mamun A Mahtab
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad H Uddin
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Gerardo E Guillén
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Verena L Muzio
- Department of Vaccines, Clinical Trials Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Eduardo Pentón
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Julio C Aguilar
- Department of Vaccines, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
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Aguiar J, García G, León Y, Canales E, Angel Silva J, Gell O, Estrada R, Morán I, Muzio V, Guillén G, Pentón E, Aguilar JC. High Functional Stability of a Low-cost HBV DNA qPCR Primer Pair and Plasmid Standard. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2016; 6:19-24. [PMID: 29201719 PMCID: PMC5578553 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim We studied the functional stability of a primer pair and the standard curve based on a plasmid carrying full-length HBV genome, from a novel low-cost real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. The assay was developed at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) in Havana, to quantify the serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA from chronic HBV-infected (CHB) patients. Materials and methods In-house generated oligonucleotides and plasmids were incubated at 37°C during 1 month and compared with the same materials incubated at –20, 4, and 25°C during the same time in qPCR experiments. Results This work shows that the oligonucleotide pair and the plasmid for the quantitative standard curve are functionally stable in severe temperature conditions during 1 month. Polymerase chain reaction amplification with both materials after its incubation 30 days at 37°C produced similar cycle threshold (CT) values and similar degree of sample quantifications compared with the same materials preserved using the conventional storage conditions at –20°C. Conclusion These results are indicative of the robustness of this low-cost qPCR system for HBV DNA quantification. These results also support that this qPCR assay can be used as a low-cost technology in clinical studies to monitor the viral load changes of serum HBV DNA of CHB patients, which could be used by poor people of third world countries, where there are frequent blackouts and temperature changes that can hinder the primer and plasmid stability. How to cite this article Aguiar J, García G, León Y, Canales E, Silva JA, Gell O, Estrada R, Morán I, Muzio V, Guillén G, Pentón E, Aguilar JC. High Functional Stability of a Low-cost HBV DNA qPCR Primer Pair and Plasmid Standard. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(1):19-24.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Aguiar
- Department of Therapeutic Vaccine against Hepatitis B, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gerardo García
- Department of Quality Control, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yamila León
- Department of Therapeutic Vaccine against Hepatitis B, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Eduardo Canales
- Department of Plant Genomics, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - José Angel Silva
- Department of Oligonucleotide Synthesis, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Omar Gell
- Department of Oligonucleotide Synthesis, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Regla Estrada
- Department of Oligonucleotide Synthesis, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Ivis Morán
- Department of Plant Environmental Biotechnology, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Verena Muzio
- Department of Clinical Studies, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gerardo Guillén
- Department of Therapeutic Vaccine against Hepatitis B, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Eduardo Pentón
- Department of Therapeutic Vaccine against Hepatitis B, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Julio Cesar Aguilar
- Department of Therapeutic Vaccine against Hepatitis B, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba
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Aguilar JC, Lobaina Y, Muzio V, García D, Pentón E, Iglesias E, Pichardo D, Urquiza D, Rodríguez D, Silva D, Petrovsky N, Guillén G. Development of a nasal vaccine for chronic hepatitis B infection that uses the ability of hepatitis B core antigen to stimulate a strong Th1 response against hepatitis B surface antigen. Immunol Cell Biol 2005; 82:539-46. [PMID: 15479440 DOI: 10.1111/j.0818-9641.2004.01278.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
There are estimated to be 350 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B infection worldwide. Patients with chronic hepatitis B are at risk of liver cirrhosis with associated mortality because of hepatocellular carcinoma and other complications. An important goal, therefore, is the development of an effective therapeutic vaccine against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). A major barrier to the development of such a vaccine is the impaired immune response to HBV antigens observed in the T cells of affected patients. One strategy to overcome these barriers is to activate mucosal T cells through the use of nasal vaccination because this may overcome the systemic immune downregulation that results from HBV infection. In addition, it may be beneficial to present additional HBV epitopes beyond those contained in the traditional hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) vaccine, for example, by using the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). This is advantageous because HBcAg has a unique ability to act as a potent Th1 adjuvant to HbsAg, while also serving as an immunogenic target. In this study we describe the effect of coadministration of HBsAg and HBcAg as part of a strategy to develop a more potent and effective HBV therapeutic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Aguilar
- Biomedical Branch, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba.
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Agraz A, Quiñones Y, Expósito N, Breña F, Madruga J, Pentón E, Herrera L. Adsorption-desorption of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (r-HBsAg) fromP. pastorison a diatomaceous earth matrix: Optimization of parameters for purification. Biotechnol Bioeng 2004; 42:1238-44. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.260421014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Toledo H, Baly A, Castro O, Resik S, Laferté J, Rolo F, Navea L, Lobaina L, Cruz O, Míguez J, Serrano T, Sierra B, Pérez L, Ricardo ME, Dubed M, Lubián AL, Blanco M, Millán JC, Ortega A, Iglesias E, Pentón E, Martín Z, Pérez J, Díaz M, Duarte CA. A phase I clinical trial of a multi-epitope polypeptide TAB9 combined with Montanide ISA 720 adjuvant in non-HIV-1 infected human volunteers. Vaccine 2001; 19:4328-36. [PMID: 11457560 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(01)00111-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A phase I clinical trial was performed to examine the safety and immunogenicity of a multi-epitope polypeptide comprising the central 15 amino acids of the V3 loop from six HIV-1 isolates. This protein called TAB9 was emulsified in Montanide ISA720 (Seppic, Paris) and administered intramuscularly at doses of 0, 0.2 and 1 mg to 24 healthy, HIV-1 seronegative adult males. Three immunisations were given at months 0, 1 and 6 in a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial. The placebo was generally well tolerated. However, severe local reactions were observed in TAB9 vaccinated subjects after the second and third inoculations. Seven out of eight volunteers from the lower dose group showed moderate or severe local inflammation, while four out of eight subjects from the higher dose group developed granulomas and sterile abscesses. In general, the reactogenicity depended on the number of inoculations given and the dose of TAB9. Both doses were immunogenic, all immunised volunteers seroconverted and antibodies were broadly reactive against the V3 peptides included in the protein. All vaccine's sera reacted against gp120 in Western blot and 50% of them also neutralised at least one out of five laboratory isolates tested. No differences between doses were found. Anti TAB9 lymphoproliferative responses were observed, being more intense in the high dose group. Due to the strong local reactions that were found in this study, a change in the formulation will be required for further trials with this vaccine candidate in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Toledo
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Autopista Novia del Mediodía. Km 6, La Lisa. Apdo 601, Marianao 13, 11300, Ciudad Habana, Cuba
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González-Griego M, Pentón E, Delgado G, Pérez-Oliva J, Ramos V, Izquierdo M, García G, Levy N, Cinza Z, Valdivia I, Trujillo J, Delahanty A. [Impact of an anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization program in patients undergoing dialysis in Havana, Cuba]. Invest Clin 2000; 41:237-44. [PMID: 11155765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The follow-up of HBV markers in selected high infection risk populations, in patients from the hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis services was used to assess the effectiveness of a special vaccination program. Viral infection markers were studied in prevalence cross sections of the whole population of patients, and also by recording the reports of clinical cases of hepatitis B occurred during that period in those groups of patients. The prevention program consisted of the vaccination of all patients negative to the viral markers and the indication of vaccination for the new cases during the period of the kidney disease, just before the start of the treatment at the hemodialysis unit; besides all the persons susceptible to infection that had already been included in the program, regardless of the stage of the disease. The results show the benefit of the vaccination in these patients, but it is more effective in the period before the treatment with dialysis where there is a lower possibility of being exposed to the virus and the immune system is still competent. Once the program was established, after a follow up o 6 years, there have been no reports of new cases of hepatitis B and the incidence of the disease has been declining.
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Affiliation(s)
- M González-Griego
- División de Farmacéuticos, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología (CIGB), Aptdo, Postal 6162, C. de La Habana CP10600, Cuba.
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Tleugabulova D, Falcón V, Pentón E, Sewer M, Fleitas Y. Aggregation of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen induced in vitro by oxidative stress. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl 1999; 736:153-66. [PMID: 10676995 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4347(99)00453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In order to examine whether oxygen radicals could be responsible for aggregation of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during its assembly in yeast, purified HBsAg was oxidized with ammonium peroxodisulphate (AP) and analyzed by non-denaturing and denaturing size exclusion chromatography, immunoassay and immunoelectron microscopy. As a result, peroxodisulphate radicals induced a reproducible aggregation of HBsAg. At 44 mM AP, the aggregation process took a few hours and the resulting structures were large, branched and non-antigenic. During more gentle oxidation with 9 mM AP and 20-80 microM Cu2+, a continuous structural modification to HBsAg delaying for tens of hours preceded the aggregation event. During this pre-aggregation period, peroxidation of HBsAg lipids and covalent cross-linking of S protein chains occurred that led a complete loss of antigenicity of oxidized particles. In contrast, yeast-derived HBsAg aggregate is decomposed to S monomers under reducing conditions and recognized by anti-HBsAg polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that is has been assembled in vivo from antigenic and reversibly cross-linked particles. Based on these observations, we conclude that oxidation, at least with respect to the specific molecular sites oxidized by AP, is not a primary event in HBsAg aggregate formation in vivo. Since oxidized HBsAg was shown to be irreversibly cross-linked and non-antigenic, there are no suitable techniques for detection HBsAg oxidation in biological samples. Hence, at present, the magnitude of the in-vivo oxidative damage to HBsAg cannot be evaluated and thus, whether the plasma-derived HBsAg undergoes radical-induced oxidation in the course of viral hepatitis remains to be established. If this occurs, this process is expected to contribute to low HBsAg levels in chronic hepatitis B carriers, failure of the currently available immunoassays to identify HBsAg-positive blood donors and inconsistency in the results provided by HBsAg- and anti-HBsAg-based tests in several recent reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Tleugabulova
- Quality Control Department, National Center for Bioproducts, Havana, Cuba
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Abstract
Initially, our work was directed to respond to the question: why hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) produces a very broad peak in preparative size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). For this purpose, we used a multidimensional approach based on SEC fractionation of purified HBsAg followed by the individual analysis of SEC fractions by a battery of assays, such as SEC, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and transmission electron microscopy. As a result, HBsAg particles were shown to be heterogeneous in terms of particle assembly. In order to elucidate the origin of HBsAg heterogeneity, we included here the denaturing SEC into a multidimensional approach. The data from denaturing SEC evidenced the fragmentation of protein monomers within the HBsAg particle that, probably, occurs during fermentation broth, rather than during in vitro HBsAg processing. The fractions isolated from widely separated regions of HBsAg peak differed in the extent of protein fragmentation, suggesting that the variable extent of protein degradation within HBsAg particles may be one of the factors responsible for broadening of the HBsAg peak in SEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Tleugabulova
- Quality Control Department, National Center for Bioproducts, Havana 6, Cuba
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Tleugabulova D, Falcón V, Pentón E. Evidence for the denaturation of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen on aluminium hydroxide gel. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl 1998; 720:153-63. [PMID: 9892077 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4347(98)00425-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite the complexity of the subject of protein-alum interactions, a valuable information can be obtained by analyzing the adsorbed and desorbed protein by common physico-chemical methods. In the present work, to approach the adsorption of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) on alum, the experimental data were supported by complementary analyses of the adsorbed protein by immunoelectron microscopy and the desorbed protein by denaturing size-exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. First, the depletion of HBsAg was investigated. The aspects assessed were the conditions, recovery and chromatographic performance of the desorbed protein. The results obtained strongly suggested the loss of particulate structure of HBsAg after adsorption on alum. This conclusion was further reinforced by direct immunoelectron microscopic visualization of HBsAg in the adsorbed state.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Tleugabulova
- Quality Control Department, National Center for Bioproducts, Havana, Cuba
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Tleugabulova D, Falcón V, Sewer M, Pentón E. Aggregation of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen in Pichia pastoris. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl 1998; 716:209-19. [PMID: 9824234 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4347(98)00297-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The combination of immunoaffinity and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is a powerful tool to analyze multiprotein particle assembly. This approach was used to investigate the source of aggregation of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) detected in purified material. As HBsAg aggregation does not originate in the stresses, such as the concentration of HBsAg solutions, temperature and chaotropic agents, it is less probable that the HBsAg aggregate is produced during the process. To test whether aggregation takes place in vivo, crude yeast extract containing the expressed HBsAg was fractioned on a Sephacryl S-400 column just after cell disruption, and each fraction immunopurified individually. As a result, the HBsAg aggregate was isolated from a fraction corresponding to the elution of large particle aggregates only, not native HBsAg particles. It was biologically active, which demonstrates aggregate formation by specific assembly of partially or wholly folded HBsAg intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Tleugabulova
- Quality Control Department, National Center for Bioproducts, Havana, Cuba
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