Antigen delivery via two molecules on the CD8- dendritic cell subset induces humoral immunity in the absence of conventional "danger"

Abstract

Targeting antigen to dendritic cells (DC) in vivo might be an effective method of modulating immune responses. Given the functional specializations among DC subsets, we investigated how targeting different receptors on different DC subsets may influence antibody (Ab) production. We show here that targeting FIRE (174/80-like receptor) or CIRE (C-type lectin receptor), two molecules expressed on the surface of immature CD8- DC in the mouse, increases Ab production 100-1000-fold over a non-targeted control. This response was equivalent to that achieved with CpG adjuvant. In contrast, targeting CD205, which is primarily expressed on CD8+ DC, did not elicit an Ab response unless an adjuvant was a..