[Application of surface-linked liposomal antigens for the development of vaccines]

Abstract

The potential ability of surface-linked liposomal antigens for application to vaccine development was investigated. During the course of this investigation, a significant difference, which correlated closely with the adjuvant activity of liposomes, was observed in the recognition of liposomal antigens by APCs between liposomes with different lipid components. In addition to this "quantitative" difference between liposomes with differential lipid components, a "qualitative" difference (i.e., the differential ability to induce cross-presentation) was observed among liposomes with different lipid components. Although the precise mechanism underlying this difference is currently unclear, the significant difference in membrane mobility observed between these liposomes might affect their ability to induce cross-presentation. Thus, surface-linked liposomal antigens are potentially applicable for the development of vaccines with the least allergic side effects and for a novel protocol of allergen immunotherapy. In addition, by the utilization of their ability to induce cross-presentation, surface-linked liposomal antigen might potentially serve as a candidate protocol for virus vaccines which induce CTL response, and for tumor vaccine preparation to present tumor antigens to APCs and induce effective antitumor responses.