Figure 1.

Conceptual schematic of therapeutic vaccine. (Step1) The antigen-presenting cells (APCs) (the antigen, i.e., Ang II or DPP4, in this case is known as a hapten) phagocytose the antigen-KLH conjugate and present a T-cell epitope of KLH to T-cells through the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). T-cells recognize it through T-cell receptors and become activated. (Step2) B-cells specifically recognizing the target antigen differentiate into plasmacytes and proliferate with the help of activated T-cells. Then, B-cells produce anti-angiotensin II (Ang II) or DPP4 antibody.