Objective: To explore the possibility of cell-medicated immune response induced with heat shock protein 70 (HSP70)-HBsAg protein complex in vitro.
Methods: HSP70-HBsAg complex was reconstituted in vitro which was injected into mice in order to observe that whether HSP70-HBsAg would stimulate humoral and cellular immune responses. HSP70, HSP70-HBsAg complex and HBsAg were used to activate the dentritic cell (DC) individually, which would initiate homogeneic T lymphocyte to transform to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL). The cytotoxicity of CTL was detected with MTT assay.
Results: HSP70-HBsAg complex elicited both humoral and cellular immune responses against HBsAg in mice. Specific CD8+ CTL response was readily induced by HSP70-HBsAg complex and HBsAg, especially the former.
Conclusions: HSP70-HBsAg complex is immunogenic and HSP70 can lead to great efficient CTL response. And HSP70-HBsAg complex may be used as a protein vaccine for immunotherapy for chronic hepatitis B.