title: Improvement of adaptive immunity by antigen-carrying biodegradable nanoparticles.
abstract: One of the most important aspects in vaccine development is to induce potent antigen-specific immune responses. In this study, we examined the immunological activities of antigen-carrying biodegradable poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA) nanoparticles (NPs) in mice. The immunization with ovalbumin (OVA)-carrying gamma-PGA NPs (OVA-NPs) could induce significant expansion of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells. Unlike complete Freund's adjuvant, subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of OVA-NPs to footpad did not generate injection site swelling. Although OVA-NPs could induce both antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, the dominant induction of either cellular or humoral immunity was found to depend on their administration routes. Strong antibody production was observed by s.c. immunization, yet no antibody was identified by intranasal immunization. Thus, gamma-PGA NPs are a safe and efficient antigen carrier with unique immunological properties.
authors.affiliation: Division of Antiviral Chemotherapy, Center for Chronic Viral Diseases, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uto
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Takami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zenkyu
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; C511775:poly(gamma-glutamic acid); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D010047:Ovalbumin