Effects of the adjuvant cholera toxin on dendritic cells: stimulatory and inhibitory signals that result in the amplification of immune responses

Int J Med Microbiol. 2002 Feb;291(6-7):571-5. doi: 10.1078/1438-4221-00169.

Abstract

Cholera toxin (CT) is a potent mucosal adjuvant. When administered through the mucosal route CT amplifies B and T lymphocyte responses to co-administered antigens. Since the discovery of CT as a mucosal adjuvant, other bacterial enterotoxins have been found to have this property. These molecules or their detoxified derivatives are all important for the development of mucosal vaccines for human use, and it is thus necessary to understand their mechanism of action. CT has immunomodulatory effects on different cell types, however, the interaction of CT with dendritic cells (DCs), which have a primary role in the priming of immune responses, may be crucial for its adjuvant activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Division
  • Cholera Toxin / pharmacology*
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Humans
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Cholera Toxin