title: Modulation of the immune response by systemic targeting of antigens to lymph nodes.
abstract: Factors that determine the immunogenicity of an antigen in vivo are still largely unknown. Direct administration of antigens into lymphatic organs appears to enhance immune response. We hypothesized that systemically targeting antigens to lymphatic tissue in vivo might modulate immunity. To test this hypothesis, we measured the humoral immune response elicited by bacteriophage vaccination. We show that the responses against a lymph node-targeted phage are significantly higher than those against control untargeted phage; the effect is specific because it is inhibited by coadministration of the cognate synthetic peptides displayed. Our data suggest that systemic targeting of antigens to lymph nodes through the circulation modulates humoral immune response. This strategy may have broad applications in the development of vaccines, production of antibodies, and immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trepel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Arap
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasqualini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D017104:Bacteriophage M13 / Q000276:immunology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides