A human papillomavirus 8 E7 protein produced in plants is able to trigger the mouse immune system and delay the development of skin lesions

Arch Virol. 2011 Apr;156(4):587-95. doi: 10.1007/s00705-010-0893-8. Epub 2011 Jan 15.

Abstract

We investigated the potential of Nicotiana benthamiana to express the E7 protein of human papillomavirus 8 (HPV-8), a paradigm genotype among cutaneous HPVs. The protein, modified in its putative pRb-binding domain (E7(QGD)), was transiently expressed in leaves following infiltration with agrobacteria carrying either a binary vector combined with silencing suppressor constructs or replicating tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based vectors with different targeting signals. HPV-8 E7(QGD) yields ranged from 250 ng to 4.6 mg per gram of fresh leaf tissue. The highest yields were obtained with TMV-based vectors targeting the antigen to the apoplast. HPV8-CER (H2(q)) mice transformed with the complete early region of HPV-8 showed a delay in the onset of skin papillomatous lesions and produced E7-specific immunoglobulins G when inoculated subcutaneously with leaf extracts expressing E7(QGD). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the plant-made HPV-8 E7(QGD) induced a specific cytotoxic response in C57BL/6 (H2(b)) mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / immunology*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / metabolism
  • Papilloma / immunology
  • Papilloma / prevention & control*
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / genetics
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / immunology*
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Skin
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 8