目的:研究IL-2对肺炎支原体(Mycoplasma pneumoniae,Mp)P1C核酸疫苗经肌注免疫BALB/c小鼠后的免疫应答水平和免疫保护作用。方法:将P1C-IL-2核酸疫苗肌注免疫BALB/c鼠,ELISA检测疫苗免疫后56天小鼠血清IgG和IgG亚类、支气管灌洗液中SIgA、IFN-γ和IL-4的水平;用2×107 Mp菌落形成单位鼻饲感染BALB/c鼠,建立感染小鼠模型,病理切片检测Mp感染后小鼠肺部炎症病理改变;将系列10倍稀释的支气管灌洗液接种于SP4固体平板,并进行菌落计数。结果:P1C-IL-2核酸疫苗免疫组小鼠血清中的总IgG、IgG1、IgG2a、IFN-γ和IL-4水平均较P1C单基因疫苗组显著增高(P〈0.05),但两组支气管灌洗液中SIgA差异无显著性(P〉0.05)。Mp感染后第1、3、6天P1C-IL-2双基因疫苗组小鼠肺组织病理评分(HPS)较P1C单基因疫苗免疫组显著增高,但支气管灌洗液中的Mp菌落数明显减少;第9天后两组HPS和Mp菌落数差异无显著性。结论:IL-2能显著增强P1C疫苗肌注的免疫保护作用和免疫应答水平,但同时在Mp感染早期激发了较重的肺组织炎症。
Objective: To investigate the immune responses and immune protection of a Mycoplasma pneumoniae ( M. pneumoni- ae) P1C DNA vaccine fused with interleukin 2 gene by intramuscular immunization. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized by in- tramuscular inoculation of PBS, control DNAs, PIC DNA vaccine, or P1C-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine. Levels of the anti-Pl C protein serum IgG, IgG isotypes, BAL fluids IgA, IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The mice were challenged intranasally with 2×10^7 CFU M. pneumoniae strain (M129) , and the histopathologic score (HPS) were obtained in a blind fashion. Serial 10-fold dilutions of BAL fluids were immediately cultured on SP4 agar plates, quantification was performed by counting colonies on plated specimens. Results: Serum total IgG, IgG! and IgG2a isotypes and levels of IFN-γand IL-4 in P1C-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine immunized mice were increased significantly than those in P1C DNA vaccine immunized mice ( P 〈 0.05 ), while there was no significant differences in BAL fluids IgA between these two immune groups ( P 〉 0.05 ). The lung tissues inflammation was aggravated and the HPS of P1C-IL- 2 DNA vaccines immunized mice were significantly increased than those in P1C DNA immunized mice on day 1 to 6 after challenged with M. pneumoniae( P 〈0. 05 ), and the P1C-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine conferred significantly better protection than P1C DNA vaccine characterized by lower detectable number of M. pneumoniae strains in BAL fluids. On day 9 to 12, the HPS and the number of M. pneu- moniae strains were no significant differences between these two groups ( P 〉 0.05 ). Conclusion: The PIC-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine can increase systemic immune responses and protective effects against M. pneumoniae infection, but mice pre-immunized with P1C-IL- 2 DNA vaccine can develop a severe histopathological change as early as 1 to 6 days.