Relationship between Protein Conformational Stability and Its Immunogenicity When Administering Antigens to Mice Using Adjuvants

Abstract

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are crucial in the immune system by breaking down antigens into peptide fragments that bind to major histocompatibility complex molecules. Previous research suggests that stable proteins may hinder CD4+ T cell stimulation by impeding antigen processing and presentation. Conversely, some proteins require stabilization to activate the immune response. This discrepancy may be influenced by various factors, including protein characteristics and the use of different adjuvants in animal experiments. Here, we investigated the effects of adjuvants on antigen administration, specifically focusing on the stability of the CH2 domain. Together with the previous study, we show that protein stability is also crucial in triggering an immune response in mice by binding protein antigens to B cell receptors on APCs. Together with the study so far, we propose that intrinsic protein stability is crucial for binding to B cell receptors on APCs in mice when administering antigens with adjuvants.