Abstract
Background and aims: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of malignancy in women with morbidity and mortality (15.0%) in the world. The antitumor activity of azurin protein produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been described before. Mammaglobin-A (MAM-A) protein is especially expressed in 40%-80% of breast cancer types and this protein is a very specific molecular marker for stimulating the immune system. Accordingly, this study investigated the effects of pBudCE4.1-azurin-MAM-A recombinant vector on the induction of the immune system in laboratory mice by the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Methods: The pBudCE4.1-azurin-MAM-A recombinant and empty vectors were purchased and then separately transformed into Escherichia coli for multiplying. Next, each plasmid was extracted and the accuracy of transformation was confirmed by the PCR. These recombinant and empty (control) vectors were separately infused into the thigh muscle of the animals and the healthy group was infused with phosphatebuffered saline. The infusion sites, blood specimens, as well as the serum of the animals were collected and examined by serological and molecular tests.
Results: Molecular and serological studies showed that the serum and expression levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-10 in infused mice with pBudCE4.1-azurin-MAM-A recombinant vector significantly increased compared to healthy animals and injected mice with an empty vector (P<0.05).
Conclusion: In general, the findings revealed that the pBudCE4.1-azurin-MAM-A recombinant vector can stimulate the immune system of the mouse by an increase in the expression levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-10. Thus, it would be better to examine the effects of this recombinant vector as a DNA vaccine on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.