Authors: Hickey, Danica K.; Bao, Shisan; Ikeda, Luke T.; Carey, Alison J.; Beagley, Kenneth W.

Source: Current Molecular Medicine, Volume 5, Number 6, September 2005 , pp. 599-605(7)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) involves the direct application of antigen plus adjuvant to skin, taking advantage of the large numbers of Langerhans cells and other resident skin dendritic cells, that process antigen then migrate to draining lymph nodes where immune responses are initiated. We have used this form of immunization to protect mice against genital tract and respiratory tract chlamydial infection. Protection was associated with local antibody responses in the vagina, uterus and lung as well as strong Th1 responses in the lymph nodes draining the reproductive tract and lungs respectively. In this study we show that topical application of GM-CSF to skin enhances the numbers and activation status of epidermal dendritic cells. Topical application of GM-CSF also increased the immune responses elicited by TCI. GM-CSF supplementation greatly increased cytokine (IFN and IL-4) gene expression in lymph node and splenic cells compared to cells from animals immunized without GM-CSF. IgG responses in serum, uterine lavage and bronchoalveolar lavage and IgA responses in vaginal lavage were also increased by topical application of GM-CSF. The studies show that TCI induces protection against genital and respiratory tract chlamydial infections and that topical application of cytokines such as GM-CSF can enhance TCI-induced antibody and cell-mediated immunity.

Keywords: systemic immunity; major outer membrane protein (momp); cpg oligodeoxynucleotides; cytotoxic t lymphocyte; mucosal pathogens

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524054863906

Affiliations: 1: Discipline of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

Publication date: 2005-09-01

More about this publication?

• Current Molecular Medicine is an interdisciplinary journal focused on providing the readership with current and comprehensive reviews on fundamental molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, the development of molecular-diagnosis and/or novel approaches to rational treatment. The reviews should be of significant interest to basic researchers and clinical investigators in molecular medicine. Periodically the journal will invite guest editors to devote an issue on a basic research area that shows promise to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of a disease or has potential for clinical applications.

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