title: Epidermal powder immunization with a recombinant HIV gp120 targets Langerhans cells and induces enhanced immune responses.
abstract: The recombinant envelope gp120 (rgp120) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a weak immunogen when administered by intramuscular (IM) injection. In the present study, we report that epidermal powder immunization (EPI) elicits robust antibody responses to the rgp120. EPI of mice with a dose 0.2-5 microg of rgp120 protein elicited geometric mean antibody titers that were 18- to 240-fold higher than that elicited by IM injection using a 5.0 microg dose. Targeting antigen to and mobilization of Langerhans cells (LCs) by EPI may explain the enhanced immunogenicity of the rgp120. EPI with rgp120 using sugar and gold particles as carrier resulted in differential antigen entry into the LCs and differential IgG subclass antibody and cellular immune responses. EPI may serve as a useful tool to evaluate vaccine potential of the rgp120 protein.
authors.affiliation: PowderJect Vaccines, Inc., 585 Science Drive, Madison, WI 53711, USA. dexiang_chen@powderject.com
authors.forename: Dexiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuleger
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Y-F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Maa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002465:Cell Movement; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011208:Powders; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D002241:Carbohydrates; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011208:Powders; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic