DNA VACCINE CONTAINING SPECIFIC EPITOPE OF APOLIPOPROTEIN (a)

Abstract

The present invention provides an agent for the treatment or prophylaxis of arteriosclerosis comprising an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a), wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.

1 . A method for treating or preventing a lipoprotein(a)-related disease in a mammal, comprising administering effective amount of an expression vector encoding an antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence comprising a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a) in the mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a neutralizing antibody against lipoprotein(a) is produced by administering the expression vector. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the neutralizing antibody suppresses deposition of lipoprotein(a) to a vascular tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the neutralizing antibody decreases the amount of an inflammatory cytokine in a blood. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the lipoprotein(a)-related disease is arteriosclerosis. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the lipoprotein(a)-related disease is arteriosclerosis. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antigen polypeptide is a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence comprising a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a), wherein the amino acid sequence comprising the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the lipoprotein(a)-related disease is arteriosclerosis. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the arteriosclerosis is atherosclerosis. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the inserted amino acid sequence comprises the amino acid shown by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the inserted amino acid sequence further comprises one or more specific epitopes. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the further specific epitope is a specific epitope of apolipoprotein B. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expression vector is administered plural times. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the expression vector is administered 2, 3 or 4 times. 
     
     
         15 . A method of inducing a neutralizing antibody against lipoprotein(a) in a mammal, comprising administering effective amount of an expression vector encoding an antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence comprising a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a) in the mammal. 
     
     
         16 . An expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence comprising a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a), wherein the amino acid sequence comprising the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide. 
     
     
         17 . The expression vector according to  claim 16 , wherein the inserted amino acid sequence comprises the amino acid shown by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         18 . The expression vector according to  claim 16 , wherein the inserted amino acid sequence further comprises one or more specific epitopes.