Identification of new candidates as mucosal vaccine adjuvant in TNF family cytokines

Abstract

Preventing infection at the pathogen portal of entry through induction of mucosal immunity is an exciting prospect. Mucosal vaccines administered either orally or nasally are effective in inducing antigen-specific immune responses in both the systemic and the mucosal compartment. However, the mucosal antigen-specific immune response is weak, because most protein antigens applied mucosally can evoke only a weak immune response. One strategy to overcome the weakness of the immune response is the co-administration of mucosal adjuvant with the vaccine antigen. Unfortunately, the development of a safe and effective mucosal adjuvant has proved challenging. Cytokines are promising adjuvants because they are safe, human-derived materials and display potent immune-modulating functions. Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/TNF receptor (TNFR) superfamily are critically involved in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. We determined the potential of TNF superfamily cytokines as mucosal adjuvants for induction of mucosal immune responses. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.