Preferential induction of CD4+ T cell responses through in vivo targeting of antigen to dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin-1

RW Carter, C Thompson, DM Reid… - The Journal of …, 2006 - journals.aai.org
RW Carter, C Thompson, DM Reid, SYC Wong, DF Tough
The Journal of Immunology, 2006journals.aai.org
Targeting of Ags and therapeutics to dendritic cells (DCs) has immense potential for
immunotherapy and vaccination. Because DCs are heterogeneous, optimal targeting
strategies will require knowledge about functional specialization among DC subpopulations
and identification of molecules for targeting appropriate DCs. We characterized the
expression of a fungal recognition receptor, DC-associated C-type lectin-1 (Dectin-1), on
mouse DC subpopulations and investigated the ability of an anti-Dectin-1 Ab to deliver Ag …
Abstract
Targeting of Ags and therapeutics to dendritic cells (DCs) has immense potential for immunotherapy and vaccination. Because DCs are heterogeneous, optimal targeting strategies will require knowledge about functional specialization among DC subpopulations and identification of molecules for targeting appropriate DCs. We characterized the expression of a fungal recognition receptor, DC-associated C-type lectin-1 (Dectin-1), on mouse DC subpopulations and investigated the ability of an anti-Dectin-1 Ab to deliver Ag for the stimulation of immune responses. Dectin-1 was shown to be expressed on CD8α− CD4− CD11b+ DCs found in spleen and lymph nodes and dermal DCs present in skin and sc lymph nodes. Injection of Ag-anti-Dectin-1 conjugates induced CD4+ and CD8+ T cell and Ab responses at low doses where free Ag failed to elicit a response. Notably, qualitatively different immune responses were generated by targeting Ag to Dectin-1 vs CD205, a molecule expressed on CD8α+ CD4− CD11b− DCs, dermal DCs, and Langerhans cells. Unlike anti-Dectin-1, anti-CD205 conjugates failed to elicit an Ab response. Moreover, when conjugates were injected iv, anti-Dectin-1 stimulated a much stronger CD4+ T cell response and a much weaker CD8+ T cell response than anti-CD205. The results reveal Dectin-1 as a potential targeting molecule for immunization and have implications for the specialization of DC subpopulations.
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