title: Skin tattooing as a novel approach for DNA vaccine delivery.
abstract: Nucleic acid-based vaccination is a topic of growing interest, especially plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding immunologically important antigens. After the engineered pDNA is administered to the vaccines, it is transcribed and translated into immunogen proteins that can elicit responses from the immune system. Many ways of delivering DNA vaccines have been investigated; however each delivery route has its own advantages and pitfalls. Skin tattooing is a novel technique that is safe, cost-effective, and convenient. In addition, the punctures inflicted by the needle could also serve as a potent adjuvant. Here, we a) demonstrate the intradermal delivery of plasmid DNA encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (pCX-EGFP) in a mouse model using a tattooing device and b) confirm the effective expression of EGFP in the skin cells using confocal microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Yung-Nung
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Jared M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: Xunqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Zolla-Pazner
authors.forename: Xiang-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D013653:Tattooing / Q000379:methods*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D004247:DNA