Using immune cells for vaccination
Our body fights infection and pathogen invasion through specialised immune cells known as dendritic cells (DCs). Upon encounter of pathogenic or inflammatory stimuli, these cells present antigens onto MHC receptors to antigen-specific immune cells such T and B lymphocytes as well as natural killer (NK) cells. Activation of these cells in turn results in infection clearance and immunological memory. Clinical trials have so far shown that DCs pulsed with antigen have potential in the treatment of cancer and in the eradication of infectious diseases. Exploitation of this unique property of DCs for vaccination was the subject of the EU-funded ‘Dendritic cells as natural adjuvants for novel vaccine technologies’ (DC-VACC) project. Project scientists aimed to optimise reagents and protocols for efficient antigen delivery and targeting, and to improve antigen processing and presentation by DCs for use in vaccine technology. They developed different vectors expressing microbial or tumour antigens which when introduced into DCs would be presented onto MHC surface receptors. Results indicated that these DCs were capable of activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in vitro. Additionally, upon injection in animal models, enhanced protection against subsequent tumour challenge was observed. Although in its infancy, the DC-VACC approach demonstrated the potential of antigen-loaded DCs for vaccination against infectious diseases and as a means of enhancing anti-tumour therapy.
