Abstract
The immune system is the major defense barrier in vertebrates. It is can recognize and eliminate foreign invaders. The strict self / non-self recognition can prevent it from attacking self tissues. In the processes of B and T cell maturation, both cell types pass through severe clonal selection to prevent them from recognizing self antigens. However, many autoimmune diseases still occur, hinting that it may be possible to induce autoimmune response against specific self antigen.Since 1980, antibody therapies have been developed to treat many diseases, including treating certain cancers and immune suppression. Recently, humanized antibodies generated by recombinant DNA technology can minimize the response by human immune system. Furthermore, it can enhance completement system and NK cells. These characteristics make them more suitable as therapeutic reagents.In our research, we have chosen B cell surface protein, CD20, as a model. Cytokines like IL2 or IFNg and foreign proteins are used as fusion partners to induce autoimmune response. DNA, protein and cell vaccines are investigated as immunization approaches. Our goal is to develop an immunogen to induce autoimmune response against self CD20 for B cell lymphoma therapy.Taken together, the data suggest that we can induce specific autoimmune response. In the studies of immunizing mice with CD20_human IgGg1, the autoimmune response against CD20 can be detected by the flow cytometery and an ELISA assay. The ELISA data also show positive results of the cell vaccine approach. As for the DNA vaccine, the response is still too weak to be detected.Therapeutic antibodies need to be given at large amounts frequently. Our vaccine approach may provide longer protection with smaller amounts of drug. If the approach works, it may offer a more convenient and efficient therapeutic method to improve upon some current antibody therapies.