TITLE: Novel therapeutic approach for hemophilia using gene delivery of an engineered secreted activated Factor VII

AUTHOR CONTACT:
Katherine A. High
Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Phone: 215-590-4521
Fax: 215-590-3660
E-mail: high@email.chop.edu

View the PDF of this article at: https://www.the-jci.org/press/20106.pdf

Skinning an Immune Response

To be most protective, vaccines need to induce a strong systemic and mucosal immune response. Transcutaneous immunization (TCI), or application of an antigen to the surface of the skin to induce an immune response, is a particularly desirable form of vaccination given its ability to block pathogens at their point of entry. The details of the mechanisms through which TCI triggers such a response and its relative safety and efficacy remain unknown. Igor Belyakov and colleagues, of the National Cancer Institute, investigate the process by which TCI generates a protective immunity using an HIV peptide as an antigen in a mouse model system. The researchers showed TCI with the HIV peptide in mice resulted in activation of dendritic cells. The dendritic cells then migrated from the skin to the gut mucosa where they presented antigen to the resident lymphocytes. The results from this study add significant information to our understanding of TCI action, and indicate that it is a safe and effective strategy for developing pathogen protection.

TITLE: Transcutaneous immunization induces mucosal CTLs and protective immunity by migration of primed skin dendriti
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Contact: Laurie Goodman
lgoodman@the-jci.org
212-342-4159
Journal of Clinical Investigation
2-Apr-2004