Role of dendritic cells as adjuvants and carrier of microbial antigens in mucosal immunization

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Mucosal immunization can elicit protection against infection at mucosal surfaces as well as systemically. With soluble antigenes, however, it has been difficult to induce antigene specific immunity, as prolonged feeding or large oral doses of protein antigenes may induce oral tolerance. Here we describe a novel approach for mucosal immunization by using ex vivo antigene-pulsed dendritic cells (DC). Infection of mice with Yersinia enterocolitica serves as a model system. Yersinia-derived antigenes are available as recombinant proteins and have been previously characterized as major virulence proteins. Specific aims include characterization of the immunogenicity of in vitro antigene-pulsed DCs, analysis of migration patterns of antigene-pulsed DCs in mucosal tissues and evaluation of their efficacy in the induction of local and systemic immunity. The data will contribute to the understanding of the immunomodulating properties of antigene-pulsed DCs in mucosal tissues. They also might provide clues for the design of vaccines capable of targeting specific immunity to mucosal surfaces.