The hinge region fragment of immunoglobulin G improves immunogenicity of recombinant gonadotrophin-releasing hormone conjugated to the T-helper epitope in designing peptide vaccines

Immunology. 2009 Sep;128(1 Suppl):e506-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2008.03020.x. Epub 2008 Nov 24.

Abstract

In our previous study, the hinge fragment (225-232/225'-232') of human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) was used as a space peptide linker for synthesizing the GnRH3-hinge-MVP chimeric peptide, whereby three repeated gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) units and a T-cell epitope from measles virus fusion protein (MVP) were amide-bond-linked at the N and C terminus, respectively, to the hinge peptide for producing anti-GnRH antibody responses. To investigate whether or not the hinge region fragment can improve the immunogenicity of GnRH, we further synthesized and purified GnRH3-hinge-MVP, GnRH3-hinge and GnRH3-MVP using recombinant DNA technology. Under high pH conditions, GnRH3-hinge-MVP was capable of forming double-chain structures. Immunization of male mice with the immunogens of GnRH3-hinge-MVP resulted in the generation of high-titre antibodies specific for GnRH. The synthetic GnRH3-hinge and GnRH3-MVP induced a lower titre of anti-GnRH antibody than GnRH3-hinge-MVP. This was followed by a decrease in serum testosterone levels, which resulted in a low level of expression of the relaxin-like factor gene in the testis. Our data suggest that peptide and T-cell epitopes oriented at the N-terminus or C-terminus of hinge peptides simplify the antigenic peptide conjugates and may be considered as potential synthetic immunogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Gene Expression / immunology
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / immunology*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Insulin / immunology
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Proteins / immunology
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism
  • Testis / immunology
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Testosterone / blood
  • Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology*
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • GnRH3-hinge-MVP
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Insulin
  • Leydig insulin-like protein
  • Proteins
  • Rgl2 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • Viral Proteins
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Testosterone