title: Local response to microneedle-based influenza immunization in the skin.
abstract: Microneedle patches (MN) provide a novel method of vaccine delivery to the skin with the objective of targeting the large network of resident antigen-presenting cells to induce an efficient immune response. Our previous reports demonstrated that cutaneous delivery of inactivated influenza virus-coated MN to mice protects against lethal infection. Protection is correlated with sustained levels of anti-influenza virus serum antibodies, hemagglutination inhibition titers, and robust cellular responses that are often stronger than those generated by intramuscular vaccination. Here we dissect the early events occurring in murine skin after microneedle delivery of inactivated influenza virus. We demonstrate correlation of immunization against influenza virus with a local increase of cytokines important for recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells at the site of immunization. We also observed prolonged antigen deposition, and migration of matured dendritic cells bearing influenza virus antigen from the skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The immunological mechanisms by which MN vaccination confers protective immunity are not well understood. The present study provides a first analysis of the early immune events after microneedle-based vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del Pilar Martin
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Weldon
authors.forename: Vladimir G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Zarnitsyn
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Koutsonanos
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skountzou
authors.forename: Joshy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prausnitz
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Compans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007271:Injections, Intradermal / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated