Toxoplasma gondii antigen-pulsed-dendritic cell-derived exosomes induce a protective immune response against T. gondii infection

Infect Immun. 2004 Jul;72(7):4127-37. doi: 10.1128/IAI.72.7.4127-4137.2004.

Abstract

It was previously demonstrated that immunizing mice with spleen dendritic cells (DCs) that had been pulsed ex vivo with Toxoplasma gondii antigens triggers a systemic Th1-biased specific immune response and induces protection against infection. T. gondii can cause severe sequelae in the fetuses of mothers who acquire the infection during pregnancy, as well as life-threatening neuropathy in immunocompromised patients, in particular those with AIDS. Here, we investigate the efficacy of a novel cell-free vaccine composed of DC exosomes, which are secreted antigen-presenting vesicles that express functional major histocompatibility complex class I and II and T-cell-costimulatory molecules. They have already been shown to induce potent antitumor immune responses. We investigated the potential of DC2.4 cell line-derived exosomes to induce protective immunity against toxoplasmosis. Our data show that most adoptively transferred T. gondii-pulsed DC-derived exosomes were transferred to the spleen, elicited a strong systemic Th1-modulated Toxoplasma-specific immune response in vivo, and conferred good protection against infection. These findings support the possibility that DC-derived exosomes can be used for T. gondii immunoprophylaxis and for immunoprophylaxis against many other pathogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Antigens / pharmacology*
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology
  • Cell Division / immunology
  • Cytokines / drug effects
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / prevention & control

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M