Abstract
Protein vaccines combined with adjuvants have been widely used to induce immune responses, especially the humoral immune response, against molecular targets including parasites. Follicular T helper (Tfh) cells are the specialized providers of B-cell help, however, the induction of Tfh cells in protein vaccination has been rarely studied. Here, we report that the Schistosoma japonicum recombinant protein (SjGST-32) combined with tacrolimus (FK506) augmented the induction of Tfh cells, which expressed the canonical markers CXCR5, BCL6, and IL-21, and enhanced the humoral immune responses in BALB/c mice. Furthermore, the expression of IL-21R on germinal center (GC) B cells and memory B cells increased in immunized mice, which indicated that IL-21 from the induced Tfh cells interacted with IL-21R for activation of B cells and maintenance of long-lived humoral immunity. Our results suggest that helminth protein vaccine combined with FK506 induces Tfh cell for stimulating humoral immune responses and inducing long-lived humoral immunity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Female
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Germinal Center / immunology
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Germinal Center / pathology
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Helminth Proteins / immunology*
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Helminth Proteins / pharmacology
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Immunity, Humoral / drug effects
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Immunologic Memory / drug effects
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Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
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Interleukin-21 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology
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Interleukins / immunology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Recombinant Proteins / immunology
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Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
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Schistosoma japonicum / genetics
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Schistosoma japonicum / immunology*
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Schistosomiasis mansoni / genetics
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Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology*
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Schistosomiasis mansoni / prevention & control
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T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / pathology
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Tacrolimus / pharmacology
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Vaccines / immunology*
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Vaccines / pharmacology
Substances
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Helminth Proteins
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Il21r protein, mouse
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Interleukin-21 Receptor alpha Subunit
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Interleukins
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Recombinant Proteins
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Vaccines
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interleukin-21
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Tacrolimus